Hudson People is a disco-funk project led by composer Reginald Hudson. The project emerged when the long-shelved track “Trip to Your Mind,” originally recorded with the band Body Heat, was finally released in 1979 after the group had already disbanded. Today, the track is widely regarded as one of the standout disco/jazz-funk recordings of its era and remains a timeless classic.

Earlier in his career in the United States, Hudson performed as a keyboardist for The Emotions, touring nationwide alongside acts such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Ramsey Lewis. In Chicago, he also collaborated with notable blues artists including Bobby Rush, Syl Johnson, and Muddy Waters. Body Heat, with whom Hudson would later record in London, was a GI band based in the Nuremberg area. Hudson himself, originally from the U.S., was not part of the military. He recalls: “Body Heat invited me to London to play and record with them. They had management, a house, and wanted me to write most of the material for their upcoming sessions.”

After several months in London, Hudson relocated to Germany with the band, where he lived from the late 1970s until 2017. During this period, he continued developing the Hudson People project, writing and recording material for release in the UK on labels such as Virgin and United Artists. Later compositions, including “Boogie On Downtown,” were primarily recorded in Germany. For that track, Hudson brought in the horn sections of the Commodores and The Emotions, recording the brass parts in London. Although a full-length Hudson People album never materialized, Hudson remained active as a writer and recording artist.

In the early 1980s, Hudson collaborated closely with John Davis, recording the LP “Shake It – Make It Loose,” released under the alias J.D. “Puma” Lewis. The album was notably sponsored by Puma and recorded at the renowned Hartmann Digital studio. Another standout recording from this period is “Expand Your Mind,” again featuring John Davis on lead vocals. Both releases have since become highly sought-after classics among 1980s funk, disco and boogie collectors.

Alongside his music career, Hudson also worked as a manager for Puma and for companies such as Warwick Guitars. During this time, he collaborated with prominent artists including Elton John, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana, John Entwistle (of The Who), Iron Maiden, Def Leppart, Alphonso Johnson (of Weather Report and Santana) and last but not least Billy Cobham. Together with Cobham, Hudson developed a signature drummer’s shoe, which was ultimately never released.

In 2025, the Hudson People project was revived for a live concert. The Berlin performance marked a rare opportunity to experience Hudson People’s music on stage—reimagined with new arrangements while retaining the warmth and character that define Hudson’s work.