Herman Kelly & Life were a late-1970s modern soul/funk group based in Miami, Florida. They were signed to the Miami based record label and disco empire T.K. Records and recorded only one album, Percussion Explosion!, which was released in 1978. The first 12-inch single on the subsidiary TK record label Electric Cat was mislabeled and had a typographical error and stated “Dance To The Drummer Beat”.
“Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” is considered one of the foundation tracks of hip-hop. Another version was also released, this time on the regular TK records label, which was remixed by pioneering remix-specialist DJ Jim Burgess, who was the resident DJ of Studio 54, The Saint, 12 West and many more. “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” was heavily sampled by the hip-hop community on tracks such as N.W.A.’s “Dope Man”, Run D.M.C. ’s “Beats To The Rhyme”, Public Enemy’s “Burn Hollywood Burn”, Michael Jackson’s Refugee Camp remix of his “Blood On The Dancefloor” hit, and sample kings Double Dee & Steinkski’s track “Lesson 3″ amongst many others.
For the first time ever, the original disco version and the Jim Burgess remix of “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat” are now available as a 12-inch, and contain the additional B-side track “Easy Going (Noches Eternas)” and “Who’s The Funky Dj?”.
Exclusively for Record Store Day 2024, Dance to the Drummer’s Beat is cut on 45RPM and is available as a limited edition of 500 numbered copies of on translucent blue vinyl. This 12-inch is housed in the replica picture sleeve from 1978.
