Atlanta Artists
Encyclopedia
Atlanta Artists was a sub-label of Polygram Records founded by Larry Blackmon
of the group Cameo
.
(1981), Blackmon reduced the group from 10 members to a 5-member unit.
This change was made due to the economics of the music industry at that time. Blackmon relocated the group from New York
to Atlanta, Georgia
.
With their core of five members, they released the album Alligator Woman
, a fusion of funk
, new wave
and a synthesizer-driven sound (compared to their previous albums which had more horn arrangements).
followed in 1983 as the first release for Atlanta Artists. This release continued their new musical direction by adding electronic drums to their production. This new sound was a blueprint for their following albums.
The funkgroup Ca$hflow and solo artist Barbara Mitchell (formerly in the female group High Inergy
) signed and released for the label,
while Blackmon produced also artists on other labels:
During Cameo's popular concert tours in the UK around the mid 1980s, Ca$hflow traveled along with them as a supporting act.
Polygram ended the distribution of Atlanta Artists releases around 1991, with the last few productions as a combination with Mercury Records
.
Larry Blackmon
Larry Ernest Blackmon is the lead singer and frontman for the funk and R&B band, Cameo. He came to Cameo from the band, Black Ivory....
of the group Cameo
Cameo (band)
Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
.
Origins
After Cameo's 7th album, Knights of the Sound TableKnights of the Sound Table
Knights of the Sound Table is the seventh album by the funk/R&B band Cameo, released in 1981.-Track listing:#Knights by Nights – 3:31#Freaky Dancin' – 5:23...
(1981), Blackmon reduced the group from 10 members to a 5-member unit.
This change was made due to the economics of the music industry at that time. Blackmon relocated the group from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
With their core of five members, they released the album Alligator Woman
Alligator Woman
Alligator Woman is the eighth album by the funk/R&B band Cameo, released in 1982. It contains the funk classic, "Flirt".The cover artwork model is the Prince protege Denise Matthews, aka Vanity.-Track listing:...
, a fusion of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and a synthesizer-driven sound (compared to their previous albums which had more horn arrangements).
Atlanta Artists history
The album StyleStyle (Cameo album)
Style is the ninth album by the funk/R&B band Cameo, released in 1983. It was their first album to introduce their "Atlanta Artists" label, with which they maintained their distribution through Polygram Records...
followed in 1983 as the first release for Atlanta Artists. This release continued their new musical direction by adding electronic drums to their production. This new sound was a blueprint for their following albums.
The funkgroup Ca$hflow and solo artist Barbara Mitchell (formerly in the female group High Inergy
High Inergy
High Inergy was an American R&B and soul girl group who found fame on Motown Records in the late 1970s. They are best known for their hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off ".-History:...
) signed and released for the label,
while Blackmon produced also artists on other labels:
- Tomi JenkinsCameo (band)Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
- 1989 / ElektraElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... - Bobby BrownBobby BrownRobert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
- 1986 / MCAMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003... - The ReddingsThe ReddingsThe Reddings was an American funk, soul and disco band, founded by Otis Redding's sons Dexter and Otis Redding III together with Mark Lockett ....
- 1985 / Polydor - George HowardGeorge Howard (jazz)George Howard was a Jazz-Funk/ Fusion /Smooth Jazz soprano saxophonist.-Biography:Howard was born September 15, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the late 1970s, he began touring with Grover Washington, Jr., who was one of his idols...
- 1990 / GRPGRP RecordsGRP Records is an American jazz record company, owned by Universal Music Group and operates through its Verve Music Group. The company's name has had different meanings. In its early days, it stood for "Grusin/Rosen Productions," after the founders...
During Cameo's popular concert tours in the UK around the mid 1980s, Ca$hflow traveled along with them as a supporting act.
Polygram ended the distribution of Atlanta Artists releases around 1991, with the last few productions as a combination with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.