In 1968 South Africa's Hugh Masekela released the album "The Promise of a Future" and from it the single "Grazing in the Grass" (P. Hou). The trumpeter topped the Billboard Top One Hundred.

The vocal version by The Friends of Distinction (Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Jean Love) saw "Grazing in the Grass" (Philemon Hou - Harry Elston) from the album "Grazin'" peak at number three in 1969. It featured Harry Elston on lead vocal with great session musicians including Jim Horn on saxophone, Larry Knechtel, piano and Al Casey on guitar. Like Earth, Wind and Fire, The Friends of Distinction were discovered by football legend Jim Brown.