Bringing unforgettable sounds into the world, each one different from others, bands have genuinely made their contributions in more ways than one. Like others, Mind Body & Soul has been fulfilling its purpose of captivating and unifying the world through funky, soulful music since 2012. Even amid the pandemic, the band strives to bring their music to global audiences through remote performances and put together a new album.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mind Body & Soul continued to positively impact listeners with their new album called Love Is. The band also performed remotely at Seattle’s first-ever remote HempFest2020. Furthermore, the band landed interviews, received raving reviews, graced articles on various platforms, and shared their journey on podcasts and the radio. They remained the talk of the town by being featured on local newspapers, online zines, and blogs.
Mind Body & Soul also received two awards from The Independent Music Network—Video of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. The band took their influence even further by dominating charts with their hits Just a Matter of Time, Do It Right, and Love Is. Living up to their reputation, Mind Body & Soul continues to make listeners happy with their latest single, Friends Before Lovers. The band is currently reaching listeners not only in the United States but also in Canada through the Canadian Soul radio JAZZFM91.
“Bands like these are important during the pandemic to keep our spirits high, especially during the holidays,” shared Dr. Funk. The founder is also determined to pay Mind Body & Soul success forward through Music & Art Forever, a non-profit organization Dr. Funk is currently forming. The non-profit aims to provide opportunities in the arts for the youth.
Mind Body & Soul was put together by Rhythmm Epkins, better known as Dr. Funk, a genuine funk and soul artist from Queens, New York. Growing up in a musically-inclined family, Dr. Funk learned how to play various instruments at a young age—piano, drums, bass, and the cello. Falling in love with music early on in life cemented his desire to change lives and positively impact perspectives. He witnessed how bands like Earth, Wind, & Fire, The Gap Band, Morris Day and The Time, and other groups made their mark, and Dr. Funk aimed to share his passion with others by creating his group.
Dr. Funk wanted to build a band that embodies the genuine spirit of funk and soul, playing and making music founded on a deep personal connection. Hence, Mind Body & Soul was born. Together with his brother, guitar player Power Morcillo, Dr. Funk searched for the best members to be in the band by holding auditions. Their journey was not completed overnight, but with hard work and dedication, the band eventually found the right musicians.
Ray Zepeda joined the Mind Body & Soul in 2012 to play the saxophone. Then trombone player Ricky Lucchese, trumpet player Brent Williams, drummers Cesareo Garasa and Lamar Brooks, keyboardist Eric Barefield, and percussion player Farid Zariff completed the band. Looking back at their efforts to build the band, Dr. Funk shares that the process was a labor of love and it was a journey worth taking.
From there, Mind Body & Soul amazed audiences and music labels through their performances. After four months of being together, the band landed its first contract with Bentley Records. Additionally, the group has also traveled widely to perform across the country. The band impacted their listeners because of its distinct way of portraying love, radiating positive energy and resilience, which is not often the case in the music industry. Dr. Funk and his team are dedicated to create music capable of accompanying listeners through their life journey and help them grow as individuals.
In five years, Mind Body & Soul aims to win their first Grammy and tour the world to bring organic funk music to more listeners. Currently, the band is busy working on their new album, My Life.Learn more about the band on their website.
