Grand Central
Grand Central
Grand Central was a band formed in 1971, while in high-school, by Prince (keyboard and guitar) and André Anderson (bass) with Prince’s second cousin, Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith on drums. They initially did not have a name, but when Terry Jackson (percussion) joined they briefly went by Charles; Cousin & Friends, Phoenix, Sex Machine, finally settling for Grand Central. André Cymone’s sister Linda Anderson (keyboard) and soon after William "Hollywood" Doughty (percussion) also joined the group. They rehearsed at Terry Jackson’s house (next to the Anderson’s house where Prince and André lived) and primarily played at local community centers and high school dances. By late 1974, after a recording session at the Cookhouse Studio (Minneapolis, Minnesota), drummer Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith was replaced by Morris Day.
As time went by Grand Central started playing original music. After Morris Day’s mother started managing them in 1975 they changed their name to 'Grand Central Corporation', but weren’t always consistently billed as such. Prince, [André Cymone|André Anderson]] and Morris Day recorded some songs at the Asi Studio in early 1976 more sessions followed in the spring before Prince went solo. It wasn’t until 1976, after Prince and Terry Jackson left the band that they evolved into Shampayne (sometimes spelled 'Champagne'). They disbanded altogether in 1978.
Band Members
- Prince (guitar, keyboard, vox)
- André Cymone (bass, vox)
- Charles ‘Chazz’ Smith (drums), later replaced by Morris Day
- Terry Jackson (timbales)
- Linda Anderson (keyboard)
- William "Hollywood" Doughty (congas)
