40 Karats formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s with Jimy Sohns on vocals and guitar, Ron Walters on bass, and Gary Helgeson on drums. They self-produced their debut album "Forever in Motion" in 1979 after facing rejection from record labels, and it found some critical notice despite limited distribution.
Their 1985 album "Everywhere We Go" gave the band its signature anthem, a song that became their most recognizable track. They followed it with albums like "Lost and Found" in 1988 and "Life and Times" in 1990. Other songs in their catalog include "Hands Up" and "Memory Lane."
Over time, other musicians contributed to their recordings. Benmont Tench played keyboards on various tracks, Bob Dylan added harmonica to "Lost and Found," and Bonnie Raitt sang on "Life and Times." While the core trio remained, the band's lineup saw changes around them.
Their music sometimes addressed social and political topics, which drew criticism from some quarters at the time. They kept performing and recording into the 1990s.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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