The Highlighters Band, also known as The Highlighters, started in 1963 at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis.  At that time, the band was playing jazz; the Vietnam War put the band on hold when three members were drafted.  Two of them, Bell and Palmer, returned to Indianapolis in 1966 and the band was restarted with James Bell, DeWayne Garvin, James Boone and James Bradley and their sound moved towards heavy funk, inspired in part by James Brown.  By 1969 they were taking off, releasing “Poppin Popcorn” on Rojam Records and then “The Funky 16 Corners” on their own label, Three Diamonds.  Both were successful regional hits.

The return of original drummer James “Porkchop” Edwards proved problematic, as he rejoined when the members voted to oust Garvin in favor of bringing back Edwards.  Dissension took hold and both Bell and Ball left.  Vocalist Bell became a bandleader, releasing “Amazing Love” and “The Love of My Girl” in quick succession under the moniker James Bell and the Highlighters, though it’s unclear if the Highlighters themselves actually played. The remaining Highlighters members continued, releasing a single on Lulu Records and one on Chess Records with Walter Webb on vocals.  The band finally quit in 1971, with Boone, Brantley and Ball launching a new band, Rhythm Machine.  Bell and Garvin worked for a time with The Turner Brothers; Garvin toured with Marvin Gaye for four years.

When British DJ’s discovered and publicized the fertile but forgotten Indianapolis soul record scene during the 1990’s, Bell restarted the Three Diamonds label, re-releasing “Amazing Love” and “Love of My Girl” on a single 45, and a CD of new material.  Jazzman Records reissued “The Funky 16 Corners” and Stones Throw reissued “Poppin’ Popcorn”, while Stones Throw’s compilation entitled The Funky 16 Corners compiled Highlighters tracks along with others from Indianapolis and elsewhere.  Clifford Ratliff has had a long career as a trumpet player and remains in Indianapolis.

If there is one track that has been the key for Indianapolis’ 1960’s and 1970’s soul scene’s rediscovery, it probably is “The Funky 16 Corners”, the original 45 is highly sought and hard to find, even though there may have been as many as 3,000 copies pressed due to its brisk sales.