Shalamar
Shalamar was the creation of Dick Griffey, the booking agent for the television R&B program Soul Train, and British R&B producer Simon Soussan. The group's first single, the 1977 Motown medley "Uptown Festival," featured a bevy of faceless studio musicians; once it became a hit, Griffey decided to form a performing group under the name Shalamar.
Through Soul Train Griffey found Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniels, and Gerald Brown, the three vocalists that became Shalamar; Brown was quickly replaced by Howard Hewitt in 1978. Shalamar's string of dance-soul hits began in 1979 with "Take That to the Bank; " later that year, "The Second Time Around" hit the Top Ten. Throughout the early '80s the group were favorites on the U.S. R&B scene, as well as scoring a number of British hit singles with songs like "A night to remember", "I can make you feel good", "There it is" and "Friends".
In 1983 Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels left the group as a result of a disagreement with the group's management and were replaced by Delisa Davis and Micki Free.
Daniels moved to London where he starred in the musical Starlight Express in the West End and also presented the U.K's version of Soul Train (620 Soul Train). Watley also moved to London where she signed for MCA Records and went on to have a very successful solo musical career.
In 1985 Shalamar won a Grammy award for "Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills," which was featured in Beverly Hills Cop. Howard Hewitt left for a solo career in 1986, signaling the end of the band's career as hit-makers. Sidney Justin replaced Hewitt and the group recorded 1987's Circumstantial Evidence, which was a commercial disappointment. The group faded away soon after the release of 1990's Wake Up.
In 1996 Babyface reunited the original and best loved Shalamar line up - Jody, Jeffrey and Howard on his remake of their earlier composition 'This is for the lover in you'.
Albums
Uptown Festival (1977)
Disco Gardens (1978)
Big Fun (1979)
Three for Love (1980)
Go For It (1981)
Friends (1982)
The Look (1983)
Heart Break (1984)
Circumstantial Evidence (1987)
Wake up (1990)
Tracks currently playing/played on the station
Sweeter As The Days Go By (Album: Go For It)
Attention To My Baby (Album: Three For Love)
Make That Move (Album: Three For Love)
Friends (Album: Friends)
A Night To Remember (Album: Friends)
Closer (Album: The Look)
Over and Over (Album: The Look)
A Mix To Remember (megamix) (Album: Greatest hits/Night To Remember)
soul2soul favourites/recommended
The Second Time Around (Album: Big Fun)
I Owe You One (Album: Big Fun)
Sweeter As The Days Go By (Album: Go For It)
Talk to me (Album: Go For It)
Full Of Fire (Album: Three For Love)
Make That Move (Album: Three For Love)
This Is For The Lover In You (Album: Three For Love)
Attention To My Baby (Album: Three For Love)
Somewhere There's A Love (Album: Three For Love)
Work It Out (Album: Three For Love)
I Can Make You Feel Good (Album: Friends)
A Night To Remember (Album: Friends)
There It Is (Album: Friends)
I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know (Album: Friends)
Friends (Album: Friends)
Over & Over (Album: The Look)
Closer (Album: The Look)
Right here (Album: The Look)
A Mix To Remember (megamix) (Album: Greatest hits/Night To Remember)
Shalamar Album info
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