Formation
Automatic Man formed in San Francisco around 1975 when drummer Michael Shrieve decided to quit Santana to explore other musical avenues. That led him to work with ex-Traffic/Spencer Davis group singer/keyboardist Steve Winwood, percussionist Stomu Yamashta, and synthesizer player Klaus Schulze on the Go album, an album of experimental progressive rock that had been released by Island Records a year later. It was at those sessions guitarist Pat Thrall met Shreive, and the two decided to work together. Lou CasaBianca, who had originally managed Eddie Money and who had also been a recording session engineer on GO, became their manager and producer.
Next to join Automatic Man was 25-year-old keyboard player and singer, Todd Cochran, then known under the alias of "Bayete" (pronounced Bay-yet-tay). Cochran was a child prodigy and formally trained keyboard player attending the Trinity College of Music in England as a teen. Cochran had also been part of the jazz scene for nearly a decade, playing with renowned jazz artist Julian Priester. He also released two jazz-funk solo albums on Prestige Records in 1972 and 1973. Completing the lineup was bass guitarist Doni Harvey, who performed around the SF/Bay Area with his brothers and in blues, jazz, and soul bands, playing both bass and guitar. According to Harvey's brother, Regi Harvey, Doni joined the band sheerly by chance,
"During the break we heard a band practising in the big space. We went in to see who it was. It turned out to be "Automatic Man". That night the bass man wasn't working out and stomped out of the room.They spotted Don and asked him to sit in and to finish rehearsing. He stepped up to the plate that night. When they stopped for a break we went back in the small space we were practising in to finish. During that time they asked him to join the band. One of the reasons was that he played so well that they were that impressed. The other was that Doni and I had gone to Junior College with the keyboard and main writer "Bayete" at the newly opened "Skyline College. Lou CasaBianca the manager noticed the camaraderie and jumped on it ."
The final line up played around the Bay Area building up a fan base performing many high profile gigs including the Cow Palace with Poco, and Rush. Impressing Chris Blackwell, president of Island Records, he signed the band to a two record deal.
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