Melvin Bliss

Melvin Bliss was the singer of a single that became a cult hit, "Synthetic Substitution", in 1973. Born Melvin McClelland in Chicago on June 1, 1945 (or 1935, depending on the source), he worked in the U.S. Army, singing in naval bands and pursuing a live career in the 1960s, when early in the following decade he met producer Herb Rooney, whose song "Reward" he covered. Released in 1973 on his own Sunburst Records label, it went unnoticed, while the label disappeared in the bankruptcy of parent company Opal Prodcutions. Released as a B-side, "Synthetic Substitution " enjoyed a comeback thanks to a drum break by Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, sampled by Ultramagnetic MC's in "Ego Trippin'", as well as De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Public Enemy, The Pharcyde and Onyx. In 2011, the song was even the subject of a documentary, Synthetic Substitution: The Story of Melvin Bliss. Melvin Bliss died of a heart attack on July 26, 2010.

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