The Ebony Rhythm Band formed initially as a backing band for The Vanguards; subsequently they were signed to Herb Miller’s Lamp Records imprint while still backing up vocal bands, including The Pearls and The Montiques.  Their sole contemporaneous release was the double sided Lamp 45 with “Soul Heart Transplant” and “Drugs Ain’t Cool”. “Soul Heart Transplant” was a tribute to the first heart transplant recipient in Indianapolis, while the flip side was the winner of an anti-drug contest conducted by the Indianapolis mayor and has a garage rock feel.  This 45 is quite rare and sought after.  

In 1970, they merged with King James Version and moved to Los Angeles, where they morphed into Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign.

In 2004, Now-Again Records released a full length compilation of Ebony Rhythm Band recordings, including the rare 45 and unreleased tracks located in the basement of Les Ohmit Recording Studios.  The band played a few reunion shows in Indianapolis around that time.