The Southside Movement was an American soul and funk musical group from Chicago, Illinois. The band consisted of vocalist Melvin Moore, guitarist Bobby Pointer, keyboardist Morris Beeks, bassist Ronald Simmons, drummer Willie Hayes, alto saxophonist Milton Johnson, trumpeter Stephen Hawkins, and trombonist Bill McFarland. They initially served as the backing band for the soul duo Simtec & Wylie before issuing their self-titled debut album on the Wand record label in 1973. The Southside Movement's self-titled debut included the Top 20 US Billboard R&B chart hit "I've Been Watching You". Their second album, Movin', released in 1974, featured another breakbeat favorite with the track "Save the World". In 1975, they released their final album, Moving South, after which the group disbanded. Both "I've Been Watching You" and "Save the World" were later featured on the compilation album Ultimate Breaks and Beats. "I've Been Watching You" also appeared on Shaolin Soul and has been sampled in various contemporary songs, including "So What'cha Want" by Beastie Boys, "Show Discipline" by Jadakiss, and "Smoke Dope and Rap" by Andre Nickatina. Bobby Pointer passed away on December 26, 2016, while Stephen Hawkins died on September 23, 2021.
