ESG (standing for Emeralds, Sapphires. and Gold) are a New York City band founded in the early 1980's by sisters Renee, Valerie, and Marie Scroggins singing and playing percussion, with guitarist David Miles and Leroy Glover. Their rhythmic complexity and pronounced low end make their music a primal kind of funk, the ='60's soul permutation where rhythm and melody merge. Whatever exposure the group (seen in the 1988 Nicholas Cage movie Vampire's Kiss in the clip accompanying this question) has had on r & b radio, however, has come from their being a source of samples for other singers and rappers; acts in other genres have borrowed from SG as well. Have you heard of then before now?

Until the landmark early 1990's legal case involving the sample-heavy 1989 debut album by hip-hop trio De La Soul, the practice of recording artists sampling--or using bits of other artists' music--was a largely unregulated activity. According to a website that tracks sampling, WhoSampled.com, ESG's music have been sampled 650+ times. But it was tough sloughing for the Scroggins kin, et al to retrieve the royalty money due them for all the music borrowed from them without their consent. In response to the slights they experienced, the EP they released in 1992 is entitled Sample Credits Don't Pay Our Bills!. I find the title a hoot, but have you ever maintained your sense of humor over money owed t you?

Another unusual aspect of ESG apart from their music is that three siblings who all both sing and play instruments lead the group. Singing groups comprised of brothers and/or sisters aren't all that rare, sibs playing instruments together professionally are less abundant, so ESG are in rarefied air as singers and instrumentalists from the same parentage. It may not be music, but have you ever been or are you in business with any of your sisters and/or brothers?

It was only while researching this poll that I discovered ESG are on their final tour. And it doesn't look like they're coming to my state during it. Have you ever seen a singer, solo musician and/or band (comedian or comedy troupe, too, what they hey) on their last run of performances?

The last time I knew of ESG coming to play within a couple hours of my home, it was a few years ago for a fundraising show for what was probably a worthwhile cause, but tickets were %100 or more. I passed on that. Have you ever not attended a concert or the kind of performance because you couldn't afford or justify the price?