Larry Dodson (front, left) said the May 25-June 3 tour of Iraq and Kuwait changed the lives of the funkmasters in the super group that performed before U.S. troops. (Courtesy photo)

“This is Larry,” the voice said. “I’m calling you from Kuwait.”

True to his word, Larry Dodson of the Bar-Kays was checking in with the Tri-State Defender to share his experience as part of the super group of funkmasters on tour of Iraq and Kuwait.

The superband – members of the Bar-Kays, The Dazz Band and Con Funk Shun – entertained U.S. troops during four concerts.

“We got a little closer to danger than maybe we thought we would in Baghdad,” said Dodson.

“We did everything we possibly could do within the time we’ve been there. We’ve had a chance to sing to sick people and cheer them up and cheer the staff up. I think we signed, realistically, about 2,000  autographs.”

They saw the site where the first bomb hit, had access to airplane cockpits and were in a hospital emergency room when casualties were brought in by helicopter.

“(This trip) changed everybody’s life. You can ask anybody. . .We had a chance to talk to military people at every level,” said Dodson

“The most fascinating thing is that on every level black people are running things. They got this over here. . . .We walked into the command center where there are computers and they control everything that happens in the Middle East. It was 90 percent black people. It’s not anything like CNN,” he said.

 “I hate to bring a racial tone to this, but I have to say that I have been very, very proud.”

Everybody is focused, he said.

“They are just saying that their main concern is to get these kids home safe to their families. They don’t talk much about why they are fighting,” said Dodson.

“They got a job to do and the morale is great. Nobody is complaining. Everybody is out to protect the interest of who they are fighting for.”

Dodson emphasized a point he and fellow Bar-Kay James Alexander emphasized before they left for the May 25-June 3 tour.

“We ain’t trying to toot our own horn,” he said. “We are blessed to be able to give our people the insight they don’t know.”