Complex sentence: In the mid- 1970s, he was a founder-member of the jazz-funk band New York Mary, and in 1977 he joined The Woody Herman Band and toured and recorded with the band until April 1978.
Split into simpler sentences: In the mid- 1970s, he was a founding member of the jazz-funk band New York Mary. In 1977 he joined the Woody Herman Band and toured and recorded with the band until April 1978.