The Whatnauts
The Whatnauts were a Baltimore‑based soul trio formed in 1969, originally consisting of Billy Herndon, Garrett Jones, and Jerry “J.J.” Johnson. They recorded for A&I International and later Stang Records, the New Jersey label run by Sylvia and Joe Robinson. The group became known for tightly arranged sweet soul and socially conscious material produced by George Kerr, who shaped much of their early catalog. Their recordings from 1969–1974, including “Message from a Black Man” and “I’ll Erase Away Your Pain,” became staples in East Coast soul collections and were later sampled heavily in hip‑hop. The Whatnauts also collaborated with The Moments on the 1974 single “Girls,” one of the most recognized releases on Stang Records. Their catalog has been reissued extensively due to continued demand among collectors and DJs.
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