Monk Higgins

Milton Bland (October 17, 1936 - July 3, 1986) better known as Monk Higgins, was an American musician and saxophonist who was born in Menifee, Arkansas.^[1]

Higgins biggest hits were the instrumental tracks "Who Dun It" (which reached #30 on the US R&B chart in 1966), and "Gotta Be Funky" (#22 on the US R&B chart). Higgins worked with a variety of musicians including Gene Harris, Bobby Bland, The Chi-Lites, Junior Wells, Freddy Robinson, Muddy Waters, Cash McCall, Etta James, Blue Mitchell and The Three Sounds.^[1] His track "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)" was featured on the breakbeat compilation album, Ultimate Breaks and Beats. Higgins served as a record producer on several of Blood, Sweat, and Tears' albums. Late in his career Monk, together with his band "the Specialties", was the featured performer at television actress Marla Gibb's Los Angeles, California supper club, known as Marla's Memory Lane Club.

Higgins died from respiratory disease in July 1986, in Los Angeles, at the age of 49.^[1]

Partial discography

• Extra Soul Perception Solid State (1969)
• Heavyweight United Artists (1972)
• Little Mama United Artists (1972)
• Dance to the Disco Sax Buddha (1974)
• Live in MacArthur Park Buddha (1975)

With Blue Mitchell

• Collision in Black (1968)
• Bantu Village (1969)

With The Three Sounds

• Elegant Soul (1968)
• Soul Symphony (1969)

With Gene Harris

• The 3 Sounds (1971)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed October 2010

Persondata
Name	Higgins, Monk
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 17, 1936
Place of birth	Menifee, Arkansas
Date of death	July 3, 1986
Place of death