Milton Bland (October 3, 1930 – July 3, 1986), better known as Monk Higgins, was an American saxophonist born in Menifee, Arkansas.

Biography

Higgins's biggest hits were the instrumental tracks "Who-Dun-It?" (which reached #30 on the US R&B chart in 1966), and "Gotta Be Funky" (#22 on the US R&B chart in 1972). His instrumental "Ceatrix Did It" (1966) was the sign-off song for soul-DJ 'Dr. Rock' on WMPP, East Chicago Heights, Illinois. Higgins worked with a variety of musicians including Gene Harris, Bobby Bland, The Chi-Lites, Junior Wells, Freddy Robinson, Muddy Waters, Cash McCall, Etta James, Blue Mitchell and The Three Sounds. His track "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)" (from the LP Dance to the Disco Sax) was featured on the breakbeat compilation album, Ultimate Breaks and Beats. Late in his career, Higgins performed with his band 'The Specialties' as the featured artists at television actress Marla Gibbs's Los Angeles, California supper club, known as 'Marla's Memory Lane'. Higgins died from respiratory disease in July 1986, in Los Angeles, at the age of 55.

Discography

As leader

45rpm singles LP albums

As sideman

With Blue Mitchell With The Three Sounds With Gene Harris

In popular culture

Higgins received renewed attention in 2024 after his recordings of Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul" and Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park", both from Higgins' 1968 Mac Arthur Park LP, were sampled in rapper Kendrick Lamar's hit songs "Not Like Us" and "TV Off", respectively.