Archives

The Dazz Band

TOP SONGS

“Let It Whip”

“Dazz Dazz”

“Heartbeat”

Biography

 

The Dazz Band are known most for the 1982 funk marvel “Let It Whip.” In terms of crossover funk hits, the song is up there with “Fire” and “Fight the Power,” other Top Ten pop singles minted respectively by fellow Buckeye State natives the Ohio Players and the Isley Brothers. Instantly an inspiration for multiple rap versions, “Let It Whip” earned the Clevelanders a Grammy and can lay rare claim to having been adapted for marching bands and a cappella groups alike while being sampled and covered through each subsequent decade. Without “Let It Whip,” the Dazz Band’s important role in the evolution of funk would still be incontestable. Uncommonly versatile, they have spotlighted with equal brightness their vocal, horn, and rhythm sections since their late-’70s start (when they were known as Kinsman Dazz). From 1980 through 1998, the group placed 19 additional singles on Billboard’s R&B chart — such as “On the One for Fun,” “Joystick,” and the Top 20 U.K. pop hit “Let It All Blow” — during which they also put together four straight Top 20 R&B albums, most notably the gold-certified Keep It Live, the LP that spawned “Let It Whip.” The group has continued to perform well into the 2020s with a lineup featuring several original and early members.

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The S.O.S. Band

TOP SONGS

“Take Your Time Do It Right”

“Just Be Good To Me”

“Tell Me If You Still Care”

Biography:

The S.O.S. Band hit with a two-million-selling single, “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” their first time out, before having several hit singles written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The Atlanta, GA-borne band was started in 1977, when keyboardist/vocalist Jason Bryant, saxophonists Billy Ellis and Willie “Sonny” Killebrew, guitarist Bruno Speight, bassist John Alexander Simpson, drummer James Earl Jones III, and lead vocalist Mary Davis formed a group called Santa Monica that played at Atlanta nightclub the Regal Room.

Their manager, Bunny Jackson-Ransom (who later managed Cameo), sent a demo to Clarence Avant, head of Tabu Records. After signing the band to Tabu, Avant suggested that the band work with songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah. Abdullah was curious as to why an Atlanta-based band named itself Santa Monica. Keyboardist Jason Bryant replied that the band had an enjoyable concert in Santa Monica, CA. Abdullah then came up with a new band name, the S.O.S. Band, with S.O.S. standing for “Sounds of Success.”

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The Suagrhill Gang

TOP SONGS

“Rappers Delight”

“8th Wonder”

“Apache”

Biography:

Though the Sugarhill Gang inaugurated the history of recorded hip-hop with their single “Rapper’s Delight,” a multi-platinum-seller and radio hit in 1979, the group was cooked up to cash in on a supposed novelty item. Music industry producer and label owner Sylvia Robinson had become aware of the massive hip-hop block parties occurring around the New York area during the late ’70s, so she gathered three local rappers (Master Gee, Wonder Mike, and Big Bank Hank) to record a single. Infectious and catchy, “Rapper’s Delight” borrowed the break from Chic’s “Good Times” and became a worldwide hit, eventually selling more than eight million copies. Most industry people figured rap for a short-lived trend, and though they were dead wrong, the Sugarhill Gang certainly didn’t carry the torch; despite several modest hits (“8th Wonder,” “Apache”), the trio faded quickly and was gone by the mid-’80s, only returning in 1999 with Jump on It, a rap album for children.

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The Chi-Lites

TOP SONGS

“Ohh Girl”

“Have You Seen Her”

“I Wanna Pay You Pay”

Biography:

It started in 1959 when Marshall Thompson formed a vocal group called the “Hi-Lights” in his hometown of Chicago with fellow members Eugene Record, Robert Lester and Creadel “Red” Jones.  After releasing several singles on local labels, the group changed their name in 1964 to “Marshall & The Chi-Lites”.  By the time the group changed their name to The Chi-Lites in 1969 they were signed by Nat Tarnopol and Carl Davis to Brunswick Records, where they would soon become international superstars.

Between 1969 and 1974, The Chi-Lites scored eleven Top Ten singles on the Billboard R&B charts, with hits like “Have You Seen Her”, “Give It Away”, “(For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The People”, “Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)”, “A Letter To Myself”, “The Coldest Days of My Life”, “Stoned Out Of My Mind”, “Oh Girl” and thirty seven other Billboard charted singles throughout their career.  During the 1970’s The Chi-Lites were featured on television shows such as Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Sammy and Company, the BBC’s Top of the Pops and the very popular Flip Wilson Show, where they debuted their #1 pop smash “Oh Girl”.  All of The Chi-Lites’ hits were written or co-written by lead singer Eugene Record, who would also become Brunswick’s Vice President of A&R.

In 2000, BMI named “Oh Girl” by The Chi-Lites the 36th most popular song of the 20th century.  That same year The Chi-Lites were inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame followed by their induction into Vocal Groups Hall Of Fame in 2004.  The Chi-Lites have also appeared on screen in the 1996 feature film “Original Gangsters” with Fred Williams, Jim Brown, Pam Grier and Richard Roundtree, as well as the 2003 docu/movie “Only The Strong Survive” by Miramax films.

Grammy-winning audio engineer Bruce Swedien insists that when he recorded Michael Jackson’s vocals for the “Off The Wall” and “Thriller” albums, he used the same techniques he developed with The Chi-Lites in the early 1970s.  In addition to being featured in many films, television shows and commercials, the recordings of The Chi-Lites have been sampled by artists such as Jay-Z, K. Michelle, American Idol winner Fantasia and Beyonce, who sampled The Chi-Lites to create the Grammy winning smash “Crazy In Love”.  In 2021, the Chi-Lites will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

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The Temprees

TOP SONGS

“Dedicated To The One I Love”

“Love Can Be So Wonderful”

“Love Maze”

Biography:

A Memphis soul vocal trio. This polished group formed in 1970 and recorded for We Produce, a Stax offshoot. Bandmembers Harold “Scotty” Scott, Jasper “Jabbo” Phillips, and William Norvell Johnson rode a sumptuously produced remake of the often-covered Five Royales/Shirelles standard “Dedicated to the One I Love” onto R&B play lists in 1972. After “Love’s Maze” made a little noise as a follow-up, the trio moved to Epic for their final hit in 1976, the entirely self-explanatory “I Found Love on a Disco Floor.”

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Surface

TOP SONGS

“Shower Me With Your Love”

“Only You Can Make Me Happy”

“Can We Spend Some Time Together”

Biography:

When you think of the group Surface, the term disco dancefloor doesn’t come to mind. The ’80s soft soul vocal trio known for such lush ballads as “Closer Than Friends” and the million-selling singles “Shower Me With Your Love” and the number one pop hit “The First Time” had one of its first charting records as artists signed to dance music pioneer Salsoul Records. “Falling in Love,” co-written by Surface member David Conley, doesn’t have much in common with the aforementioned titles other than the group name and a (presumably) Conley flute solo. The single made it to number 84 R&B in summer 1983 and the U.K. pop charts. Singer Bernard Jackson who grew up in Stamford, CT, got into the music business through his cousin who lived in New York. Seizing the opportunity, he relocated to New York and began performing around the city. While doing a show in Stamford, his godfather suggested that he contact his nephew David Townsend who was also in the music business. Townsend, a former touring guitarist for the Isley Brothers, was the son of singer/songwriter/producer Ed Townsend who had a hit with “For Your Love” in summer 1958 and wrote the Impressions’ “Finally Got Myself Together (I’m a Changed Man)” and co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” Around 1973, Townsend joined a band called the Port Authority where he met David “Pic” Conley. Townsend, whose father shared hit songwriting tips with him, began writing songs with Conley. After Townsend and Conley met Jackson it was decided that they’d write songs together. The trio became staff writers for EMI Music. Their songs were covered by New Edition (“Let’s Be Friends” from their 1985 MCA LP All for Love) and Sister Sledge (“You’re So Fine”). The trio became performers using the name Surface and moved to Los Angeles. An EMI Music executive brought one of their songs, “Let’s Try Again,” to the attention of Larkin Arnold of Columbia Records. Arnold’s previous successes include Natalie Cole and Peabo Bryson. He signed the group to Columbia and their first single “Let’s Try Again” charted number 80 R&B in late 1986. The debut album Surface included the smooth and sweet “Happy,” which hit number two R&B for two weeks in early 1987, “Lately” (number eight R&B), and the reissued “Let’s Try Again.” The next LP, 2nd Wave yielded “I Missed” (number three R&B), “Closer Than Friends” (number one R&B for two weeks in early 1989), the wedding standard “Shower Me With Your Love” (gold, number one R&B/number five pop), “You Are My Everything” (number one R&B for two weeks), and “Can We Spend Some Time” (number five R&B). Jackson brought the sheet music to a song he had written in 1986 to his friend, songwriter Brian Simpson, who had a recording studio in his garage. After listening to the finished demo tape, Jackson thought that he had a hit. Hiring a mobile 24-track recording studio truck to capture his vocal in the best professional conditions, Jackson sang “The First Time” in Simpson’s house. “The First Time” was the first single from Surface’s 3 Deep album and went gold hitting number one R&B and holding the number one pop for two weeks in early 1991. While “The First Time” was topping the charts, Surface was one of the presenters at the American Music Awards and were enthusiastically congratulated. The hits continued with “All I Want Is You” (number eight R&B, early 1991) and “Never Gonna Let You Down.” “You’re the One” billed as Surface featuring Bernard Jackson made it to number 24 R&B, summer 1991. The group’s last charting single was “A Nice Time for Lovin'” included on their 1991 greatest hits LP The Best Surface: A Nice Time for Loving. Conley and Townsend also produced sides on Rebbie Jackson (“Reaction”) that are on The Rebbie Jackson Collection from U.K. label Expansion distributed by Sony/3MV.

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Switch

TOP SONGS

“There’ll Never Be”

“I Called Your Name”

“I Wanna Be Closer”

Biography:

During the early to mid-’70s, Bobby DeBarge, Eddie Fluellen, Phillip Ingram (brother of James Ingram), Jody Sims, and Gregory Williams were in the Ohio-based White Heat. The band backed Barry White and recorded a self-titled album — released by RCA in 1975 — produced by the maestro. Budgetary constraints forced White to cut ties with the band, which subsequently morphed into Hot-Ice, an outfit that featured DeBarge, Sims, and Williams, as well as DeBarge’s brother Tommy. That band released an album on Polydor in 1977. Jermaine Jackson helped them secure a contract with Motown offshoot Gordy. As Switch, the band proved to be popular in clubs, as well as within the quiet storm radio format. Their singles “There’ll Never Be” (1978), “I Call Your Name” (1979), and “Love Over and Over Again” (1981) reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s R&B chart. After Switch’s fifth and final album for Gordy, the DeBarge brothers departed to support sibling group DeBarge. By the time Switch released Am I Still Your Boyfriend? (1984) on Total Experience, Sims and Williams were the only original members, along with Fluellen (who had joined for the third album), Renard Gallo, and Gonzales Ozen. That album sold poorly, and Switch broke up. Bobby DeBarge passed away due to AIDS complications in 1995. Throughout the 2000s, the band’s recordings were sampled by the likes of De La Soul (“A Brighter Tomorrow”), Ne-Yo (“It Just Ain’t Right”), Rich Boy (“Throw Some D’s”), and Erykah Badu (“That Hump”). Ingram, Williams, and Fluellen reunited, added new members, and toured during the same decade. Bassist Tommy DeBarge died on October 21, 2021 due to kidney and liver failure; he was 64 years old.

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Confunkshun

TOP SONGS

“Love’s Train”

“Baby I’m Hooked”

“Straight From The Heart”

Biography:

First formed as a backing band, Con Funk Shun became one of the premiere party-funk groups of their time before turning to R&B ballads in the early ’80s. Aside from being the primary musicians on all their albums, the band also contributed to each of their albums as writers, arrangers, and producers. Signed to Mercury in 1976, Con Funk Shun hit the top of the R&B charts one year later with “Ffun,” written as a tribute to funk band Brick. The group found much success at Mercury; over a ten-year span, they released one hit after another (including “Shake and Dance with Me,” “Chase Me,” “Got to Be Enough”) and were a popular concert attraction. In the ’80s, Con Funk Shun began receiving more fame for their ballads, and re-entered the R&B Top Ten with “Baby I’m Hooked (Right into Your Love),” “Electric Lady,” and “Burnin’ Love.” Though the band dissolved after their last album with Mercury, they reunited in the ’90s and began performing at oldies festivals.

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Deniece Williams

TOP SONGS

“It’s Gonna Take A Miracle”

“Let’s Hear It For The Boy”

“Silly”

Biography:

 

Deniece Williams is a four-time Grammy Award winner, Oscar nominee, American Music Award Winner, and a three-time Stellar Award Winner, She is a singer, writer, and a producer. She was born and raised in Gary Indiana and was brought up in the Church of God In Christ.

She first rose to prominence in the 70s when she began singing back up for the great Stevie Wonder as a part of Wonder Love. She appears on his acclaimed masterpiece “Songs In The Key of Life.” She eventually departed from Wonder Love and signed with Columbia Records as a solo artist, teaming up with Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire and his frequent collaborator, Charles Stepney.

It was during the 70’s and 80’s that she rose to prominence and commented her success with the string of singles and albums. Ms. Williams is known for her multi-octave range and soaring soprano, on chart topping hits such as “Free,” “Silly,” “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle,” “Black Butterfly,” “Let’s Hear It For The Boy,” and her classic duets with Johnny Mathis, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” as well as the themes song from the hit TV show Family Ties “Without Us.”

Throughout her five decade long career, “Neicy” (as she is known to many fans) has demonstrated dazzling versatility by scoring hits in the Pop, RnB, Dance, Christian, and Gospel arenas. Always writing, always creating, her entrepreneurial reach extends to Hollywood’s new entertainment experience Rock of Ages, at the Bourbon Room. She is a co-writer of 2 movies/theater projects, “Live at the Crescendo Club, starring Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Pearl Bailey, and also “The Fairytale Chronicles.”

Ms. Williams is the mother of four sons. She is producing with two of her sons (Ken & Kevin Williams) a children’s cartoon show called “Lizzie The Lake Monster.” She and another son (Forrest Westering), has opened up their own coffee shop in Las Vegas, Nevada called the “Culture Coffee Company.” She is helping her youngest son (Logan Westering) launch his podcast called “Straight Outta Detox.” Ms. Williams lives with an attitude of gratitude for all that God has given to her and her family.

 

 

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Atlantic Starr

TOP SONGS

“Always”

“Secret Lovers”

“Send For Me”

Biography:

Grammy SSelf style productions by the Lewis Brothers, which includes “Always”, “Secret Lovers”, “Masterpiece”, and many more, elevates up-to-minute contemporary groves, with the kind of trademark ballads, that have made Atlantic Starr a musical force to reckon with!

From the day Atlantic Starr was conceived, all creative and responsive ears knew, Atlantic Starr’s musical master pieces, had something that was “extra special”! The future of Atlantic Starr, is the revelation of the group’s dynamic producer and lead vocalist Wayne Lewis, along with the equally talented Jonathan Lewis, who is the group’s founders.

The Bright light of Atlantic Starr has not diminished! If anything…it’s gotten even brighter! Atlantic Starr still delivers earthy sensual ballads but has now added surprisingly hot dance-oriented music, that will penetrate the ears of newcomers, and fan base followers alike, to become even greater supporters of their new sound. Atlantic Starr’s enticing ballads like, “Am I Dreaming” and “If your heart isn’t in it”, are very much a part of this new musical adventure, with songs like the first single: “My best friend” and “I’ve Fallen In Love”, performed by Melessa Pierce, and L’ john Epps, captures the essence of the “lovers pursuit”, with soothing voices that accents each note, with total feeling and lots of meaning! A flash in the past, with a bit of the new… Atlantic Starr puts to rest the myth, that they only do ballads. Even the lease inclined to move to the beat will be snapping their fingers and patting their feet!

What Atlantic Starr set out to accomplish in their new musical presentation, is to make the people say, “they are back and better than ever’! This latest endeavor can easily be listened to, from track to track, from their original fan base, while at the same time, crossing over generational boundaries and maintaining popularity and acceptance.

Atlantic Starr, the quality, class act quartet, always has and always will… deliver strong! This new musical quest (Metamorphosis) discloses its songwriting growth and musical progression, with relentless commitment to standard! In a word…Atlantic Starr never really left us…they just took the time they needed to create the legacy that will go down in history as…” GREAT MUSIC PROJECT”!

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