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Scottish funk and R&B band known for their instrumental prowess and soulful sound, achieving major success in the 1970s.Formed in Dundee, Scotland, in 1972, the Average White Band (AWB) became unlikely international stars in the American-dominated funk scene. Despite their name and origins, they mastered a tight, authentic funk and R&B sound. Their breakthrough came with the instrumental hit 'Pick Up the Pieces' (1974) from the album 'AWB', which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. The band experienced tragedy with the overdose death of founding drummer Robbie McIntosh in 1974. They continued, releasing successful albums like 'Cut the Cake' (1975) and 'Soul Searching' (1976). AWB's music, characterized by horn-driven grooves and precise musicianship, has been heavily sampled in hip-hop. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes but continues to perform and record, led by original members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre.

• The band's name, 'Average White Band', was chosen partly as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of their racial identity in a genre dominated by Black American artists, but their musical authenticity quickly earned respect.
• Founding drummer Robbie McIntosh died from a heroin overdose in 1974, mistakenly administered by an acquaintance of singer Cher after a party at actor Gig Young's house. Keyboardist Malcolm 'Molly' Duncan was also present and nearly died.
• Their biggest hit, the instrumental 'Pick Up the Pieces', was recorded in Criteria Studios, Miami, with Atlantic Records legends Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd producing. It famously features a saxophone section riff that directly challenges comparisons to James Brown's J.B.'s.
• Despite their massive US success, particularly with 'Pick Up the Pieces' reaching #1, the band initially struggled to gain significant recognition in their native UK.
• Their music has been sampled extensively by hip-hop artists, including Tupac Shakur ('Shorty Wanna Be a Thug'), The Notorious B.I.G. ('The World Is Filled'), A Tribe Called Quest ('Check the Rhime'), and many others.
• Original members Alan Gorrie (bass/vocals) and Onnie McIntyre (guitar/vocals) have been the core constants throughout the band's history, continuing to tour under the AWB name.