Rhythm Heritage

{{Short description|1970s American disco-funk band}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2012}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Rhythm Heritage

|image =

|caption =

|background = group_or_band

|origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|genre = Funk
R&B

|years_active =

|label = ABC

|associated_acts = Ray Parker, Jr.

|past_members = Steve Barri
Michael Omartian
Scott Edwards
Ed Greene

}}

Rhythm Heritage was a 1970s American funk/R&B band, best known for their 1976 US number one single "Theme from S.W.A.T.". It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 1976.{{cite book

| first= Joseph

| last= Murrells

| year= 1978

| title= The Book of Golden Discs

| edition= 2nd

| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd

| location= London

| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/363 363]

| isbn= 0-214-20512-6

| url-access= registration

| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/363

}} They also recorded theme music for several other ABC television shows, including "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow," also from 1976, from Baretta (sung by Sammy Davis Jr.).

Rhythm Heritage was formed in 1975 by producer Steve Barri and session keyboardist Michael Omartian, and included bassist Scott Edwards and drummer Ed Greene.{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2080}} Other musicians who played on some of their recordings included Ray Parker Jr., Jeff Porcaro,[https://www.stereogum.com/2055923/the-number-ones-rhythm-heritages-theme-from-s-w-a-t/columns/the-number-ones/ Theme from SWAT] Stereogum.com Retrieved 20 February 2025 Victor Feldman, Jay Graydon, Dean Parks, Ben Benay, and Bob Walden.