9.9
Encyclopedia
9.9 was an American
R&B
group
in the mid 1980s. The group consisted of members Margo Thunder, Leslie Jones and Wanda Perry
. The group formed in 1985 in Boston
, Massachusetts
. They signed to RCA Records
and released their first album, and the single
, "All of Me for All of You". The single reached #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart.
9.9's album reached #79 on the U.S.
Billboard 200
and #15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. 9.9 released a second single titled "I Like The Way You Dance." The group performed on Soul Train
, American Bandstand
, and Solid Gold
. They also provided backing vocals for a single with Patti LaBelle
called "Shy". The group continued until 1987, when disputes over material, production and personal matters forced the group to disband. Leslie Jones now has 2 children and 4 grandchildren and continues to sing in church. Wanda Perry is now married with 2 children. She is also a minister and has recorded several gospel albums available on iTunes
. Margo Thunder went on to form another female group called Lady Soul
. Lady Soul recorded a song and video for the Sister Act
soundtrack called "If My Sisters in Trouble". Margo is now recording as a solo act and just released a single called "Mistreated" also available on Itunes. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
in the 1970s and recorded the single, "Expressway To Your Heart". Perry, Thunder and Jones were all friends and students at Madison Park High School, a school in Roxbury
, Massachusetts. The trio
were all in the same music class together in the school and later became friends. As a trio, the members performed on street corners and at Boston Common
. Eventually, they answered an advertisement in the Boston Phoenix and began performing in clubs under the name "Margo Thunder and Intrigue."
Perry, Thunder and Jones were backing vocalist
s for Joe Frazier
. Eventually, their debut album, 9.9, was released in the summer of 1985.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
in the mid 1980s. The group consisted of members Margo Thunder, Leslie Jones and Wanda Perry
Wanda Perry-Josephs
Wanda Perry-Josephs is a gospel music singer-songwriter and minister from Boston, Massachusetts.Perry-Josephs was formerly a member of RCA Records' 1980s R&B singing group, 9.9 before leaving the group to pursue a solo career as well as her faith in Christianity.Since then, she has released four...
. The group formed in 1985 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. They signed to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and released their first album, and the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "All of Me for All of You". The single reached #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart.
9.9's album reached #79 on the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. 9.9 released a second single titled "I Like The Way You Dance." The group performed on Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
, American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
, and Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
. They also provided backing vocals for a single with Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
called "Shy". The group continued until 1987, when disputes over material, production and personal matters forced the group to disband. Leslie Jones now has 2 children and 4 grandchildren and continues to sing in church. Wanda Perry is now married with 2 children. She is also a minister and has recorded several gospel albums available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. Margo Thunder went on to form another female group called Lady Soul
Lady Soul
Lady Soul is an album by Aretha Franklin, released in 1968. The album was her second R&B chart-topper, the follow-up to "Aretha Arrives" and included some of her biggest hit singles, "Chain of Fools" , and A Natural Woman , and " Since You've Been Gone"...
. Lady Soul recorded a song and video for the Sister Act
Sister Act
Sister Act is a 1992 American comedy film released by Touchstone Pictures. Directed by Emile Ardolino, it features musical arrangements by Marc Shaiman and stars Whoopi Goldberg as a Reno lounge singer who has been put under protective custody in a San Francisco convent and has to pretend to be a...
soundtrack called "If My Sisters in Trouble". Margo is now recording as a solo act and just released a single called "Mistreated" also available on Itunes. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
Formation
Thunder was signed by Capitol RecordsCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in the 1970s and recorded the single, "Expressway To Your Heart". Perry, Thunder and Jones were all friends and students at Madison Park High School, a school in Roxbury
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
, Massachusetts. The trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
were all in the same music class together in the school and later became friends. As a trio, the members performed on street corners and at Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
. Eventually, they answered an advertisement in the Boston Phoenix and began performing in clubs under the name "Margo Thunder and Intrigue."
Perry, Thunder and Jones were backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
s for Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
. Eventually, their debut album, 9.9, was released in the summer of 1985.
External links
- [ 9.9 on ] Allmusic