Bernard Edwards
Encyclopedia
Bernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina
, was a bass player
and record producer
, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic
and on his own. He died of pneumonia
while touring in Japan
.
, New York City
, met Nile Rodgers
in the early 1970s. The two formed the Big Apple Band (active 1972-1976) and then united with drummer Tony Thompson
to eventually form Chic together with singer Norma Jean Wright
.
With Chic (active 1976-1983), Edwards created era-defining hits such as "Dance, Dance, Dance
", "Everybody Dance
", "Le Freak
", "I Want Your Love" and "Good Times". Edwards also worked with Nile Rodgers to produce and write for other artists, using Chic to perform everything musically and vocally except lead vocals. Those productions with Norma Jean Wright
, Sister Sledge
, Sheila and B. Devotion
, Diana Ross
, Johnny Mathis
, Debbie Harry
and Fonzi Thornton
led to more hits such as "Saturday", "He's The Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Spacer", "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "Backfired" to name a few. (In the song "We Are Family," Kathy Sledge gives Edwards a brief shout-out, singing "Yeah, come on Bernard, play...play your funky bass, boy!")
Chic split in 1983 due to personal and artistic differences between Edwards and Rodgers.
Edwards released a solo album the same year, and in 1985 he was instrumental in the formation of the supergroup
Power Station
. The band's first album was produced by Edwards and featured Chic drummer Tony Thompson
, and Duran Duran
members John
and Andy Taylor
as well as singer Robert Palmer. Edwards followed this by producing Robert Palmer's hit album Riptide
. He continued to produce artists throughout the 1980s and 90s. Among others, he worked with Diana Ross, Adam Ant
, Rod Stewart
, Air Supply
, ABC
and Duran Duran.
Edwards was the father of multi-platinum record producer Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr.
who has produced songs for Jennifer Lopez
, Beyoncé Knowles
, Busta Rhymes
, Bishop Lamont
, Tony Yayo
and more.
Edwards teamed up with Nile Rodgers again for the Chic reunion in the early 1990s and released the album Chic-Ism
in 1992.
In 1996 Nile Rodgers was named JT Superproducer of the Year in Japan, and was invited to perform there with Chic in April of that year. Just before the concert at the Budokan
Arena in Tokyo
, Edwards fell ill, but despite Rodgers' insistence, he refused to cancel the gig. He managed to perform but had to be helped at times. After the concert he retired to his hotel room where he was later found dead by Rodgers. The cause of death was ruled to be pneumonia
.
(bequeathed
to Duran Duran's John Taylor after his death), a Fender Precision Bass
, and a B.C. Rich
"Eagle" bass during the prime of Chic. Later he would also use a Spector
NS. He also was known to play a G&L L-1000 and a Sadowsky
standard.
s when released and was the inspiration for "Another One Bites the Dust
" by Rock group Queen
.
The Chic song "Good Times" was credited on Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight" in 1979 ("based on the music from the song 'Good Times' N.Rogers/B Edwards", is on the vinyl label)- the first rap
song to become a mainstream hit. The following twenty-odd years has seen it sampled by artists of diverse genres, from Rap to Punk
and Techno
to Pop
. Duran Duran
bassist John Taylor
often played the song in homage during his solo performances, and cited Edwards as his primary influence.
On 19 September 2005 Edwards was honored posthumously for his outstanding achievement as a producer, when he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame
at a ceremony held in New York
.
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
, was a bass player
Bass Player
Bass player can refer to:*Bass Player , an album by Rhombus*Bass Player , a magazine for bassists*Bassist, or bass player, a musician who plays the bass guitar...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
and on his own. He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
while touring in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
History
Edwards, who grew up in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
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...
, met Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
in the early 1970s. The two formed the Big Apple Band (active 1972-1976) and then united with drummer Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Anthony T. "Tony" Thompson was a session drummer best known as a member of Chic. He was raised in the middle-class community of Springfield Gardens, in Queens, NY.-Chic:...
to eventually form Chic together with singer Norma Jean Wright
Norma Jean Wright
Norma Jean Wright was the lead vocalist of the soul, R&B and disco group Chic, from 1977 to 1978. Before joining Chic in 1977, she sang in the female trio, the Topettes, and toured for a short time with The Spinners...
.
With Chic (active 1976-1983), Edwards created era-defining hits such as "Dance, Dance, Dance
Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
"Dance, Dance, Dance " is a 1977 disco song recorded by Chic. It was the group's first hit, reaching #6 on both the pop and R&B charts and reached #1 on the dance play charts. Luther Vandross provided backup vocals...
", "Everybody Dance
Everybody Dance (song)
"Everybody Dance" is the second single from the first album Chic by the Chic. It features Norma Jean Wright on lead vocals. Luther Vandross appears on background vocals...
", "Le Freak
Le Freak
"Le Freak" is a successful 1978 disco song by the disco band Chic. It was the band's third single album and first Billboard Hot 100 and soul music number-one song. Along with the tracks, "I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number one on the disco charts for seven weeks...
", "I Want Your Love" and "Good Times". Edwards also worked with Nile Rodgers to produce and write for other artists, using Chic to perform everything musically and vocally except lead vocals. Those productions with Norma Jean Wright
Norma Jean Wright
Norma Jean Wright was the lead vocalist of the soul, R&B and disco group Chic, from 1977 to 1978. Before joining Chic in 1977, she sang in the female trio, the Topettes, and toured for a short time with The Spinners...
, Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
, Sheila and B. Devotion
Sheila (and) B. Devotion
Sheila & B. Devotion was a disco group fronted by French singer Sheila between 1977 and 1980. This formation briefly reached popularity in Europe and to a lesser extent in the US club circuit during the disco era...
, Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
and Fonzi Thornton
Fonzi Thornton
Fonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
led to more hits such as "Saturday", "He's The Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Spacer", "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "Backfired" to name a few. (In the song "We Are Family," Kathy Sledge gives Edwards a brief shout-out, singing "Yeah, come on Bernard, play...play your funky bass, boy!")
Chic split in 1983 due to personal and artistic differences between Edwards and Rodgers.
Edwards released a solo album the same year, and in 1985 he was instrumental in the formation of the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Power Station
Power Station (band)
Power Station was a 1980s supergroup made up of singer Robert Palmer, former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor and Andy Taylor . Bernard Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer. For a short time he also functioned as Power...
. The band's first album was produced by Edwards and featured Chic drummer Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Anthony T. "Tony" Thompson was a session drummer best known as a member of Chic. He was raised in the middle-class community of Springfield Gardens, in Queens, NY.-Chic:...
, and Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
members John
Nigel John Taylor
John Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
and Andy Taylor
Andy Taylor (guitarist)
Andy Taylor is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station....
as well as singer Robert Palmer. Edwards followed this by producing Robert Palmer's hit album Riptide
Riptide (album)
Riptide is the ninth solo album by the British singer Robert Palmer, released in November 1985. It featured his hit single "Addicted to Love" which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, helped by a memorable music video...
. He continued to produce artists throughout the 1980s and 90s. Among others, he worked with Diana Ross, Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
, ABC
ABC (band)
ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
and Duran Duran.
Edwards was the father of multi-platinum record producer Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr.
Focus...
Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr is a Atlanta-based Grammy Award–winning producer who first rose to fame when signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. Since then he has produced tracks for Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé Knowles, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, Tony Yayo, Stat Quo,...
who has produced songs for Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Bishop Lamont
Bishop Lamont
Philip Martin , better known as Bishop Lamont is an American rapper from Carson, California. He was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label but left in 2010.-Biography:...
, Tony Yayo
Tony Yayo
Marvin Bernard , better known by his stage name Tony Yayo, is a Haitian American rapper and member of the hip hop group G-Unit...
and more.
Edwards teamed up with Nile Rodgers again for the Chic reunion in the early 1990s and released the album Chic-Ism
Chic-Ism
Chic-Ism is the eighth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on the WEA label in 1992. It is the final Chic album of original material.The album includes singles "Chic Mystique" and "Your Love"...
in 1992.
In 1996 Nile Rodgers was named JT Superproducer of the Year in Japan, and was invited to perform there with Chic in April of that year. Just before the concert at the Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
Arena in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Edwards fell ill, but despite Rodgers' insistence, he refused to cancel the gig. He managed to perform but had to be helped at times. After the concert he retired to his hotel room where he was later found dead by Rodgers. The cause of death was ruled to be pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
Basses
Edwards played a Music Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay
Music Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
(bequeathed
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
to Duran Duran's John Taylor after his death), a Fender Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
, and a B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
"Eagle" bass during the prime of Chic. Later he would also use a Spector
Spector
Spector is an American based company that manufacturers bass guitars. Founded in 1974 by self-taught luthier Stuart Spector, Spector's first few instruments were essentially crude experiments in instrument design and craftsmanship...
NS. He also was known to play a G&L L-1000 and a Sadowsky
Sadowsky
Sadowsky Guitars Limited is a Queens, New York based high-end guitar, bass guitar, and preamp manufacturer. The company took its name from the company founder, Roger Sadowsky. Sadowsky is an alumnus of SUNY Geneseo, and built the business from the ground up, in 1979, after 7 years of guitar...
standard.
Influence
Bernard Edwards is considered one of the most important bass players of the 20th century. His bass line from Chic hit "Good Times" has become one of the most copied pieces of music in history, and had a huge influence on musicians of many genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s when released and was the inspiration for "Another One Bites the Dust
Another One Bites the Dust
"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the English rock band Queen. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game . The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100, number two on the R&B charts and...
" by Rock group Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
.
The Chic song "Good Times" was credited on Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight" in 1979 ("based on the music from the song 'Good Times' N.Rogers/B Edwards", is on the vinyl label)- the first rap
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
song to become a mainstream hit. The following twenty-odd years has seen it sampled by artists of diverse genres, from Rap to Punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
to Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
bassist John Taylor
Nigel John Taylor
John Taylor is an English musician who is best known as the bass guitarist and co-founder of pop rock band Duran Duran....
often played the song in homage during his solo performances, and cited Edwards as his primary influence.
On 19 September 2005 Edwards was honored posthumously for his outstanding achievement as a producer, when he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame
Dance Music Hall of Fame
The Dance Music Hall of Fame was created in 2003 when music industry veteran John Parker thought that something needed to be done to honor the creators and innovators of dance music...
at a ceremony held in 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...
.
Chic
- ChicChic (album)Chic is the debut album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1977. It includes the hit singles "Dance, Dance, Dance " - originally released on label Buddha Records - and "Everybody Dance"...
(1977) - C'est ChicC'est ChicC'est Chic is the second studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1978. C'est Chic includes the band's classic hit "Le Freak" which topped the US Hot 100 chart, US R&B, and US Club Play in October 1978, selling six million copies in the US alone and is to date both...
(1978) - Risqué (1979)
- Real PeopleReal People (album)Real People is the fourth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1980, including the singles "Rebels Are We" and "Real People"...
(1980) - Take It OffTake It Off (album)Take It Off is the fifth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in late 1981. The album includes the single "Stage Fright" which did reach #35 on the US R&B chart, it was however the first Chic single failing to enter the US Pop charts, and the Take It Off album only...
(1981) - Tongue in ChicTongue in ChicTongue In Chic is the sixth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in late 1982. The album includes the single "Hangin'"...
(1982) - Believer (1983)
- Dance, Dance, Dance: The Best of ChicDance, Dance, Dance: The Best of ChicDance, Dance, Dance: The Best of Chic is a greatest hits album of recordings by American R&B band Chic, released by Atlantic Records/Rhino Records/Warner Music in 1991. The compilation covers the hits and best-known album tracks from the band's early career, 1977–1979, with the addition of 1982...
(1991) - Chic-IsmChic-IsmChic-Ism is the eighth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on the WEA label in 1992. It is the final Chic album of original material.The album includes singles "Chic Mystique" and "Your Love"...
(1992) - The Best of Chic, Volume 2The Best of Chic, Volume 2The Best of Chic, Volume 2 is a greatest hits album of recordings by American R&B band Chic, released by Atlantic Records/Rhino Records/Warner Music in 1992...
(1992) - Live at the BudokanLive at the Budokan (Chic)Live at The Budokan is a live album by American R&B band Chic, released on Nile Rodgers' label Sumthing Else in 1999. The album contains the concert at Tokyo's Budokan on April 17, 1996 that was to be the very last performance by fellow Chic member Bernard Edwards who died the following day...
(1999)
Production
- Norma JeanNorma Jean (album)Norma Jean is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer Norma Jean Wright, released on Bearsville Records in 1978. The album was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of the band Chic, and was the project directly following the band's successful selftitled debut album Chic, which...
, Norma Jean WrightNorma Jean WrightNorma Jean Wright was the lead vocalist of the soul, R&B and disco group Chic, from 1977 to 1978. Before joining Chic in 1977, she sang in the female trio, the Topettes, and toured for a short time with The Spinners...
(1978) - We Are Family, Sister SledgeSister SledgeSister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
(1979) - King of the WorldKing of the World (album)King of the World is a 1980 album by French disco act Sheila and B. Devotion. The album which was both written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of American R&B band Chic includes the hit single "Spacer" which reached #18 on the UK charts in early 1980 and was a Top 10 hit in most of...
, Sheila and B. DevotionSheila (and) B. DevotionSheila & B. Devotion was a disco group fronted by French singer Sheila between 1977 and 1980. This formation briefly reached popularity in Europe and to a lesser extent in the US club circuit during the disco era...
(1980) - Love Somebody TodayLove Somebody TodayLove Somebody Today is a 1980 album by Sister Sledge. The album which, just like 1979's highly successful We Are Family, was both written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic and includes three due to the anti-disco backlash largely overlooked single releases; "Got To...
, Sister Sledge (1980) - dianaDiana (album)diana is a 1980 album by American R&B and soul singer Diana Ross, released by Motown. Her 11th studio album, it was, and still is, the biggest-selling studio collection of Ross' career.-Conception:...
, Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
(1980) - I Love My Lady, Johnny MathisJohnny MathisJohn Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
(1981) (Unreleased) - Koo KooKoo KooKooKoo is the debut solo album by the American singer Debbie Harry, released in 1981.-Album information:KooKoo was made while Harry and boyfriend Chris Stein were taking a year long break from the band Blondie...
, Debbie HarryDebbie HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
(1981) - unknown title, Fonzi Thornton (1982) (Unreleased)
- Swept Away, Diana Ross (1984)
- Power Station, Power StationPower Station (band)Power Station was a 1980s supergroup made up of singer Robert Palmer, former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor and Andy Taylor . Bernard Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer. For a short time he also functioned as Power...
(1985) - "A View To A Kill" (single), Duran DuranDuran DuranDuran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
(1985) - Heat, Nona HendryxNona HendryxNona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
(1985) - RiptideRiptide (album)Riptide is the ninth solo album by the British singer Robert Palmer, released in November 1985. It featured his hit single "Addicted to Love" which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, helped by a memorable music video...
, Robert Palmer (1985) - CockerCocker (album)Cocker is the tenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 1986.-Track listing:Side 1:# "Shelter Me" - 5:36# "A to Z" - 4:21# "Don't You Love Me Anymore" - 5:25...
, Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
(1986) - Color In Your Life, Missing Persons (1986)
- Hearts In Motion, Air SupplyAir SupplyAir Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
(1986) - Alphabet CityAlphabet City (album)Alphabet City is an album by the band ABC released in 1987.Following a hiatus while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned to the studio to record Alphabet City, which they thought might be their final album. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album...
, ABCABC (band)ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
(1987) - If, Hollywood Beyond (1987)
- Contact, Platinum Blonde (1987)
- Jody Watley, Jody WatleyJody WatleyJody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
(1987) - Out of OrderOut of Order (Rod Stewart album)Out of Order is the 15th album by Rod Stewart, released in 1988. It features the hit singles "Lost In You", "Forever Young", "My Heart Can't Tell You No" and "Crazy About Her"...
, Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
(1988) - Under The One Sky, DistanceDistance (band)Distance was a late-1980s rock/funk band led by bassist/producer Bernard Edwards, patterned after the Power Station. The band was composed of former Chic and Power Station members Edwards and Tony Thompson with future Bad Company member Robert Hart on lead vocals, and noted session musicians...
(1989) - YUI Orta, Ian HunterIan Hunter (singer)Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
/The Hunter Ronson Band (1990) - Break The Silence, The TripletsThe Triplets (band)The Triplets were a Latin pop trio from Mexico. Composed of the triplets Diana, Sylvia, and Vicky Villegas of an American mother and a Mexican father, the group recorded in both English and Spanish. They first gained recognition after winning the MTV Basement Contest in 1986 for the song...
(1990) - Vagabond HeartVagabond HeartVagabond Heart is the 16th studio album by the singer-songwriter Rod Stewart, released in 1991. The album reached #10 in the US, and reached #2 in the UK...
, Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
(1991) - PersuasionPersuasion (Adam Ant album)Persuasion was the planned fifth studio solo album by Adam Ant, planned for 1992-3 but never released. The album has however surfaced as bootlegs and nowadays circulates on file sharing networks...
, Adam AntAdam AntAdam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
(1991) (Unreleased) - Living in FearLiving in FearLiving in Fear is the second album from the supergroup The Power Station, released in 1996. The band had the same lineup as for their previous album in 1985. However, John Taylor was going through a divorce at the time, as well as entering drug rehab, and pulled out before the album was recorded....
, Power StationPower Station (band)Power Station was a 1980s supergroup made up of singer Robert Palmer, former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor and Andy Taylor . Bernard Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer. For a short time he also functioned as Power...
(1996)