Imagination

 

Imagination were a trio from the U.K. that put a synthesized and often clubby spin on soul groups from the '70s. In fact, a couple of '70s groups have direct ties to Imagination; Leee John and Ashley Ingram spent time during that decade playing supportive roles in the Delfonics and Chairmen of the Board, prior to Imagination's formation. Along with drummer Errol Kennedy, vocalist John and bassist Ingram formed the group in 1981. By the end of that year, they already had their first album released and a minor hit in the form of that album's title track, "Body Talk." The group's second album, 1982's In The Heat Of The Night, was their most successful, spawning a trio of U.S. R&B chart hits in the form of "Just An Illusion" (number 27), "Music And Lights" (number 52), and "Changes" (number 46). Those singles were even more popular in their home country, with the first pair reaching the Top Five. The remix collection Night Dubbing appeared the following year, as did the group's third proper album, Scandalous. The group's success fizzled until their mid-'90s breakup (at the time, Leee John was the only remaining original member), though 1984's "This Means War" was able to put a dent in the U.S. R&B chart. John remained active in the entertainment industry, hosting U.K. television programs and continuing his recording career as a solo artist and collaborator. Since the group's split, several compilations have been released; Music Club's The Very Best Of Imagination is the best place to start.

Illusion
Illusion
Illusion
Illusion

Searching for a destiny that's mine
There's another place another time
Touching many hearts along the way
Yeah
Hoping that I'll never have to say

It's just an illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion.
Follow your emotions anywhere
Is it really magic in the air?
Never let your feelings get you down
Open up your eyes and look around
It's just an illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion.

Could it be that it's just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?
Could it be that it's just an illusion now?
Could it be that it's just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?
Could it be that it's just an illusion now?

Could it be a picture in my mind? Never sure exactly what I'll find.
Only in my dreams I turn you on
Here for just a moment then you're gone.
It's just an illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion.

(Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion
(Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion (Ooohhh ah ah) - illusion.

Could it be that it's just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?
Could it be that it's just an illusion now?
Could it be that it's just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?
Could it be that it's just an illusion now? . . .

James Ingram

Born: February 16, 1956 in Akron, OH
Years Active: 80 's, 90 's
Genre: R&B

James Ingram began performing with the band Revelation Funk in the early '70s, moving from Akron, Ohio to Los Angeles in 1973. During the '70s, Ingram supported Ray Charles on the road with backup vocals and piano, played keyboards behind the Coasters on Dick Clark's oldies revues, and was Leon Haywood's musical director. After hearing a demo of him singing "Just Once," Quincy Jones asked Ingram to perform on his new album. Released in 1980 on The Dude, the number 17 "Just Once" was Ingram's first success, resulting in three Grammy nominations -- Best New Artist, Best Pop Male Vocal, and Best R&B Vocal -- winning in the two latter categories. Throughout the '80s, Ingram had steady popular success singing duets, but all of his solo albums failed to make a dent in the charts; in 1990 he scored his first solo hit, "I Don't Have the Heart."

Read More

Dante Thomas-Miss Califonia

Dante Thomas almost gave up on his dream of becoming a singer like Donny Hathaway or Stevie Wonder. On his first attempt, straight out of high school, he left his hometown of Salt Lake City, UT, and hopped a bus for the Big Apple, where he didn't know a soul. He spent his first night in New York on a bench at the Port Authority bus station. The singer made some headway but soon discovered that New York wasn't for him. He went home to Utah with thoughts of finding a regular job. His dream continued to pull at him, however, and he decided to give it a second chance. Fortune rewarded Thomas' persistence. He scored a big hit with his first single, "Miss California." The release went gold in France, Sweden, and Germany, and sold exceptionally well throughout all of Europe. When it hit the airwaves in the U.S., the record claimed a place on the charts in the Top 20. A tour that billed Thomas alongside 'N Sync further broadened the vocalist's fan base.

Read More

Kenny Thomas

Kenny Thomas grew up on Hillside Estate in Stamford Hill and went to Cardinal Pole RC School in Hackney . He was a boxer and a BT technician before turning his hand to a singing career. His breakthrough came in 1991 with his debut hit "Outstanding", a cover of a Gap Band song, which went to number 12 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] He placed another three singles in the UK chart that year including his biggest hit in the July "Thinking About Your Love", which peaked at number four and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks, and "Best Of You", which peaked at number 11 and was in the chart for 7 weeks.[2] The former hit was produced by Tim Lever and Mike Percy formerly of the band, Dead or Alive. Thomas' debut album Voices (1991) made number three in the UK Albums Chart and selling over 600,000 copies.

At the annual BRIT Awards, in February 1992 he was nominated for an award in two categories, Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. His second album in 1993 Wait For Me produced by Ian Green and including contributions from Nu Colours and The Young Disciples, made number 10 in the album chart. The lead single from the album "Trippin On Your Love" originally recorded by The Staple Singers made number 17 in the singles chart. Two more singles from the album followed, both of which failed to make a big impact on the charts. The single "When I Think of You" was released in 1995, this was taken from his intended third album, which remained un-released due to a split with the record label.

His career enjoyed a brief revival in 2005 when he took part in the televised singing contest on ITV's Hit Me Baby One More Time. He was joined by other one time big pop stars including Shakin' Stevens and Shalamar; the show was eventually won by Stevens.

Thomas supported Level 42 on their autumn 2006 tour of the UK. July 2006 also saw the release of a new studio album called Crazy World. In 2010, Thomas became a qualified acupuncturist, and he is releasing a new album, Breathe, in September 2011. Producers on the album include such UK-based studio-bods as Mark Jaimes & Danny Saxon, 5AM, Sir Piers and The Drizabone Soul Family.
[
Personal life

Kenny is married to the South African singer and songwriter Francisca Blasich and they have a daughter together called Angela.

Discography
Albums

* Voices (1991) UK #3
* Wait For Me (1993) UK #10
* The Best (1999)
* Greatest Hits (2001)
* Crazy World (2006)
* Breathe (2011)

Singles

* "Outstanding" (1990)
* "Outstanding" (reissue) (1991) UK #12
* "Thinking About Your Love" (1991) UK #4
* "Best Of You" (1991) UK #11
* "Tender Love" (1991) UK #26
* "Stay" (1993) UK #22
* "Trippin' On Your Love" (1993) UK #17
* "Piece By Piece" (1993) UK #36
* "Destiny" (1994) UK #59
* "When I Think Of You" (1995) UK #27
* "Crazy World" (2006)
* "The Show Is Over" (2011)

Cynthia-Latin Freestyle singer

Latin Freestyle singer Cynthia

Cynthia Torres, better known as Cynthia is a Spanish-American Freestyle music singer of Puerto Rican descent, she began her career at the age of sixteen singing in a group with future fellow freestyle artist Sa-Fire, which landed Cynthia an audition for a record producer, two weeks later, she landed a contract for the Micmac Records, in her first (self titled) album Cynthia made her major breakthrough in 1990 with the classic club hits "Change on Me" and "Endless Nights "She had a second successful album" Cynthia II "Since signing with Tommy Boy Records in 1992 his career has been somewhat less successful with only some minor club hits

Read More

SURFACE

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.

Eddy Grant

Eddy Grant (born Edmond Montague Grant, 5 March 1948 born in Plaisance, Guyana) is a British reggae musician.

When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park. He had his first number-one hit in 1968, when he was the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the multiracial group The Equals, with his self-penned song "Baby Come Back". The tune also later topped the UK Singles Chart again when it was covered by Pato Banton. Another Equals' hits included "Viva Bobby Joe". In 1971, Grant went home to Guyana following a collapsed lung and heart infection which put him out of action at the beginning of that year. He promptly left The Equals to pursue his solo career.

Also a shrewd businessman, in 1972 he set up the first black-owned recording studio in Europe, Coach House, and began recording his own music on his Ice Records. As a result, he is thought to be the only major recording artist who owns the rights to all his songs. In 1979, Grant scored a hit "Living on the Frontline" under a distribution deal with Columbia Records, which bought the masters to all of his recordings with the Equals and set up a record pressing plant.

In 1981, Grant relocated to Barbados and built the Blue Wave studio complex. Around this time, Grant moved Ice Records distribution in Europe to RCA and recorded the album, Killer on the Rampage. The relationship with RCA proved particularly fruitful as the album would spawn his hits "I Don't Wanna Dance" and "Electric Avenue". Both of these tracks made the UK Top five, with "I Don't Wanna Dance" going to number one in the UK chart in September / October 1982.

Read More

Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat, born on , 1961 in Harlem, New York, is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer and a major contributor to the New jack swing era.

Biography

Sweat has a college degree in communications.

Before becoming a recording artist, Sweat worked for the commodities market in the New York Mercantile Exchange. He sang at nightclubs throughout New York City until he was discovered and offered a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1987.

Read More

Teddy Pendergrass

Born: March 26, 1950
Died: January 13, 2010

Teddy Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. While attending public school, he sang in the citywide McIntyre Elementary School Choir and in the All-City Stetson Junior High School Choir. A self-taught drummer, Pendergrass had a teen pop vocal group when he was 15. By his late teens, Pendergrass was a drummer for local vocal group the Cadillacs.

Read More

Commodores

Formed: 1967 in Tuskegee, AL
Years Active: 70 's, 80 's, 90 's
Genre: R&B

Renowned for the R&B hits "Just to Be Close to You," "Easy," and "Brickhouse," to name but a few, Commodores were one of the top bands during their long tenure at Motown. The group is credited with seven number one songs and a host of other Top Ten hits on the Billboard charts, and their vast catalog includes more than 50 albums.

The members of Commodores, all of whom attended Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, came together as a result of two groups disbanding: the Mystics and the Jays. Initially formed to simply play music as a pastime and to meet girls, the lineup consisted of William King (trumpet), Thomas McClary (guitar), Ronald LaPread (bass), Walter "Clyde" Orange (drums), Lionel Richie (saxophone), and Milan Williams (keyboards). The members nearly went stir-crazy trying to pick a name for the group, but with no success. As a last resort, Orange gave King a dictionary and told him to pick a name -- that name was the Commodores. With Clyde Orange the only learned musician in the group, Commodores began spreading their music throughout their base, which included Tuskegee, Montgomery, and Birmingham, AL.

Read More