General Caine

General Kane (known as General Caine before 1986) was an American music group fronted by Mitch McDowell. They would go on to have a number of hits during the 1980s.

Background Mitch McDowell (born Mitchell Leon McDowell was born on June 29, 1954, in San Bernardino, California. He died January 22, 1992, in San Bernardino).

He formed the band Booty People. He would later form General Kane.

McDowell took the professional name General Kane in tribute to an officer who had supported his artistic ambitions when he was at military school. Riki Hendrix is related to Jimi Hendrix.

"Spirit of '76" Success would come their way with the song "Spirit of '76". Producers, Steve Gold and Jerry Goldstein were in a room with ABC vice president Otis Smith. Smith played a tape by Booty People and said that he loved the record as a single, but he just didn't know. He said that he thought it had to come down. Goldstein interjected with "Way down". Gold closed his eyes and put his head back and was apparently grooving to the music while Goldstein was dancing in the room. He screamed out, "Now That's funk. Great damn, I love it". Smith then said to get this one ready to go right away and said he going to show them why he was the best at his job and would break in the record for them. Making its debut on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart for the week of 22 May 1976, and the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for the week of 29 May 1976. it peaked at no. 63. no. 55 respectively.

Further activities Members of the group were photographed at a party in Los Angeles which was hosted by their management and Far Out Production. This was for them being signed to ABC and the group WAR for their November release of the album Love Is All Around, which contained previously unreleased material. The Booty People members in the photo were, Ray Goodlow, John Iaun, Rick Hendrix, Mitch McDowell, Richard Smith and Robert Palmer.

In 1977, the group's self-titled debut album was released.

Booty People members such as Mitch McDowell, Robert Palmer, and Joe Phillips broke away and started General Caine.

General Kane's catalogue remained in print through the efforts of their former producer, Grover Wimberly III, who runs his own label, Groove Time Records.

Musicians

Mitch McDowell, bass, percussion and lead vocals / rap Wayne Sanders Wayman Ballinger, lead and background vocals Kevin Goins, lead and background vocals Rodney Trotter, lead and background vocals Daryl Haywood, background vocals Nelson Hardwick Jr., bass vocals Trey Stone, lead guitar Robert Palmer, lead guitar Rick Hendrix, lead guitar David Chadwick, keyboards Jim Morrison, keyboards Tony Patler, keyboards

Brenda Jackson, keyboards Robert G. Summers, keyboards Johnny "Guitar" Carson, lead guitar Dave Dobler, keyboards and synthesizers Craig Owen, drums, background vocals Alvino Bennett, drums Gerry Davis, drums Marion McQuery, trumpet David Findley, trumpet David Jarimillo, trumpet Gary Metz, alto sax Jimmy Carter, tenor and soprano saxophone Sidney Washington, background vocals

Discography Albums Let Me In (1978) Get Down Attack (1980) Girls (1982) Dangerous (1983) In Full Chill (1986) Wide Open (1987)

Singles Year SongUS R&B 1981 "Shake" — "L.R.J. Pop" — "Get Down Attack" — 1982 "Don't Stop" — "The Girls" 72 1983 "Ooh, Aah" — "Bomb Body" 74 1984 "Where's the Beef?" — 1986 "Can't Let Go" — "Crack Killed Applejack" 12 "Hairdooz" — "House Party" — 1987 "Girl Pulled the Dog" 33 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.