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Exposé (band)
Encyclopedia
Exposé is an American vocal group. Primarily consisting of lead vocalist
s Ann Curless
, Jeanette Jurado
, and Gioia Bruno
, the group achieved much of their success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming the first group to have four top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100
chart from their debut album, including their 1988 #1 hit "Seasons Change
".
The group was popular in dance clubs, mainstream Top 40 and adult contemporary charts in the United States. The group actively toured and recorded music from 1985 to 1995, then retired from recording and public performances until 2003, and currently tour today.
, a Miami disc jockey and producer, decided to form a dance-based group. Working with his partners Ismael Garcia and Frank Diaz at Pantera Productions, talent scouts hired Sandra Casañas (Sandeé), Alejandra Lorenzo (Alé), and Laurie Miller as the group's lineup, under the title X-Posed. The next year, the trio recorded "Point of No Return
" for Pantera Records as a 12-inch vinyl single, which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart. The song helped to introduce a still-popular genre of music that became known as freestyle
, which often features keyboard riffs, a sing-along chorus, and electro funk drum-machine patterns in the music arrangement. The success of "Point of No Return" quickly led Exposé to sign with Arista
/BMG Records, which promptly assumed distribution of the 12-inch vinyl single. A year later, Exposé recorded and released its second club-dance Latin freestyle 12-inch single, titled "Exposed to Love
". These songs were released during the period when radio began airing continuous mixes of House/Club/Dance songs in major markets. As such, Exposé realized continued success, including a club tour to key cities. Impressed with the performance of the two singles and its sound, Arista granted approval for the group to record an album.
and Gioia Bruno
. Miller began a solo career; she was replaced by Ann Curless
.
Lorenzo returned to the dance charts with the Vendetta Records releases "I Wanna Know" in 1988, and "Stop Me if I Fall in Love" in 1990, while Miller evolved into a headline performer frequently showcasing her talents on cruises with a more intimate jazz style, and formed her own entertainment company called Xica productions.
Casañas later resurfaced as a solo artist (Sandeé) and released a solo album, Only Time Will Tell, which garnered the club hits "You're The One", "Love Desire", and the Clivilles & Cole-produced bassline-heavy hit "Notice Me". She continued to tour actively in dance clubs and Freestyle shows, until her death on December 15, 2008, of a seizure
at the age of 46. All three original members: Casañas, Lorenzo and Miller later contributed vocals on songs on the Miami group Will to Power
s 1988 (debut album).
s, Exposé alternated lead vocals among its members.
Led by the huge pop
/dance
hit "Come Go with Me
", which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, the group solidified its freestyle music connection. During the summer of 1987, a re-recorded version of "Point of No Return" was released, with Jurado performing lead vocals, and it too topped out at #5 on the Hot 100. While the initial distribution of Exposure to suppliers contained the original 1984 version of that song, subsequent pressings contained the new vocal version; this has led to the original pressings of the album being considered a collector's item. "Let Me Be the One
", a mid-tempo R&B track with Bruno on lead vocal, garnered significant R&B
support and reached #7 on the Hot 100. The group's biggest hit occurred in February 1988 with the #1 Hot 100 single, "Seasons Change
". Along with that came a Soul Train Award nomination for Best New Artist
; television appearances on American Bandstand
, Solid Gold
, Showtime at the Apollo
, and The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers; and the group was tapped to be the opening act for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
during its national tour. Exposure remains one of the most successful dance albums ever released, reaching triple platinum status.
Exposé also performed backing vocals on Kashif
's 1987 Arista
/BMG Records album, Love Changes, on the track, "Who's Getting Serious?"
During the group's peak, Exposé endured legal issues behind the scenes. Similar to the girl groups of the 1960s, the members of Exposé had a restrictive contract, and there were reports in the media of backstage battles. According to Bruno, they were only paid $200 (US) per show. Reportedly, the record label intervened to keep peace between the members and the producers. Despite this intervention, the members filed a lawsuit and ultimately settled their legal case for a renegotiated contract.
, The Cover Girls
, Sweet Sensation
and Seduction
. Shortly after the success of the singles "What You Don't Know
" (#8) and "When I Looked at Him
" (#10), the release of the single "Tell Me Why
" made music history for the group when they became the first girl group to have seven back-to-back Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. "Tell Me Why" addressed the issue of street gangs and youth and rewarded the group with additional praise for its socially-conscious lyrics. "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue
" and "Stop, Listen, Look & Think
" followed soon afterwards. "Stop, Listen, Look & Think" was also included in the movie The Forbidden Dance
(1990), a theatrical film released during the Lambada
dance craze of that period.
Their continued success granted Exposé their first headlining tour and continued television appearances on Soul Train
, The Pat Sajak Show
, The Byron Allen Show, and the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
broadcast on December 31, 1989, among others.
The popularity of the group also increased overseas to countries such as Japan, where Bruno, Curless and Jurado appeared in a few music video
-style television commercials in 1989 for Takara, a Japanese soft drink. The music used in the Japanese commercials was the song "What You Don't Know" with slightly different lyrics in the chorus than the regular version.
With the commercial appeal of Exposé's first two albums, Arista Records released the music-video compilation, Video Exposure, on VHS and laser disc formats in 1990. It contained music videos for the first eight singles released by Bruno, Curless and Jurado—from "Come Go with Me" through "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue."
Exposé performed backing vocals on Barry Manilow
's 1990 Arista
album Because It's Christmas on the track "Jingle Bells
" and also appeared in Manilow's long-form music video of "Because It's Christmas." This version of "Jingle Bells" was patterned after the 1943 Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters version.
In August 1990, while touring with Exposé, Bruno began having throat problems—later linked to a benign tumor on her vocal cords—and which caused the group to cut the tour short. The group took time off from their schedule in hopes that she would recover. Ultimately, Bruno lost her voice, and could not sing at all for several years—she also had to keep talking to a minimum. She was replaced by Kelly Moneymaker
in 1992.
, which integrated more adult contemporary material in addition to their established freestyle, house, R&B, pop, and love-ballad repertoire. It was also the first album to use producers besides Martineé, with Clive Davis
taking over as executive producer and Martineé only contributing production to four songs. The album was aimed to demonstrate musical growth for the group and to compete with the success of Wilson Phillips
, which had great success in 1990 with its debut album
.
The third album was not as commercially successful as their previous two, but it still achieved gold status, and several singles fared better on the adult-contemporary charts. The group, however, did manage to crack the U.S. Top 40 pop chart with "I Wish the Phone Would Ring
" and "I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me
", a top-ten pop single which also reached #1 on the adult contemporary chart
. Subsequent releases "As Long as I Can Dream
" and "In Walked Love
" featured Curless in the lead-vocal spotlight. A final, club-marketed single in 1995 saw the release of the group's first remake. "I Specialize in Love
" featured Curless and Jurado on lead with Moneymaker supporting lead vocals toward the song's conclusion. The original version was performed by Sharon Brown
and was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1982. Among the group's television appearances during this period include Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Les Brown Show, and the Brazilian actress-singer children's show Xuxa
.
In 1995, Exposé recorded the Diane Warren
-penned song "I'll Say Good-Bye for the Two of Us", which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
with Jurado performing lead vocals; that same year, the song was issued on its Greatest Hits. The song is distinctive for the group as Jurado performs solo without backing vocals.
, the current owners of Arista, have released two other variations of greatest hits collections, as well as a collection of popular remixes from the group's 12-inch singles, including the extended version of the original 1985 "Point of No Return."
After the group broke up, Jurado performed in the stage play Mad Hattan and supplied vocals for contemporary jazz guitarist Nils
and Safe Sax; Moneymaker married soap opera actor Peter Reckell
and released two solo albums (Like a Blackbird and Through These Basement Walls); Curless engaged in songwriting, supplying vocals to several club-dance projects, and also provided academic instruction on music and the music business. Eventually, both Jurado and Curless married and had children, temporarily retiring from performing.
In 1997, Bruno fully recovered from her throat tumor and began singing again. After a small stint with the band Wet, she worked on a solo career focused mostly on dance-oriented material. Her first album, Expose This, was released in the spring of 2004.
. Members of Safe Sax, including music director/guitarist Steve Fansler, were part of the live band Exposé used. While there was a desire to do more shows, according to Moneymaker they were unable to gets things active at that time.
In 2006, Jurado announced on MySpace
they had signed with a major booking agency, and Bruno announced she was back with Exposé for the first time in 15 years. Moneymaker has stated she might fill in for any member who may not be available, or to appear with the full lineup on special occasions.
On October 21, 2006, Exposé kicked off its tour at the American Airlines Arena in Miami for the Freestyle Explosion concert, with the lineup of Curless, Jurado, and Bruno. On November 29, 2006, at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee, Exposé performed a 16-song show with a full band led by Steve Fansler, marking their first full concert together with Bruno since 1990. The group performed sets at freestyle concerts and gay pride events throughout the country. The group continues to perform at special events throughout the United States, including venues such as Epcot
and Mohegan Sun
's Wolf Den.
In 2010, Exposé informed fans on Facebook that they are recording a new album. Exposé recorded a 2011 version of their hit "Point Of No Return" working with dance producer Giuseppe D. and Chris cox. The cd single was released on June 20, 2011.
Exposé mentioned this victory, and performed for the first time with Moneymaker as a guest at the LA Gay Pride Festival on June 14, 2009, making it the first time all four core members, Jurado, Bruno, Curless, and Moneymaker, appeared on stage together. The plaintiffs appealed in the The Eleventh Circuit court, and the judgement was affirmed in a published opinion by the district court on June 21, 2011.
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
s Ann Curless
Ann Curless
Ann Curless-Weiss is a popular music singer, most notable for being a member of Exposé.-Education:Curless was raised in Miami Beach, Florida and attended school there...
, Jeanette Jurado
Jeanette Jurado
Jeanette Livier Jurado is a member of the popular girl group Exposé. She was born on November 14, 1965, in Pico Rivera, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.Jurado is a member of Exposé, along with Ann Curless and Gioia Bruno, then later Kelly Moneymaker...
, and Gioia Bruno
Gioia Bruno
Gioia Bruno is an Italian-born American popular music singer, most noted as a member of the vocal group Exposé.-Early life and career:...
, the group achieved much of their success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming the first group to have four top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart from their debut album, including their 1988 #1 hit "Seasons Change
Seasons Change
"Seasons Change" is a pop–R&B song written and produced by Lewis Martineé for the American girl group Exposé's debut album, Exposure . It was the group's fourth single released. The song's lyrics describe relationships fading away due to the changes brought about by time...
".
The group was popular in dance clubs, mainstream Top 40 and adult contemporary charts in the United States. The group actively toured and recorded music from 1985 to 1995, then retired from recording and public performances until 2003, and currently tour today.
Formation of the group and original members (1984–1986)
Exposé was initially formed in 1984 when Lewis MartineéLewis Martineé
Lewis Antonio Martineé is a freestyle music producer and former DJ based in Miami, Florida. In addition to founding the girl group Exposé in 1984, he also wrote and produced all of the songs on its first two albums, Exposure and What You Don't Know . He also contributed to the group's third...
, a Miami disc jockey and producer, decided to form a dance-based group. Working with his partners Ismael Garcia and Frank Diaz at Pantera Productions, talent scouts hired Sandra Casañas (Sandeé), Alejandra Lorenzo (Alé), and Laurie Miller as the group's lineup, under the title X-Posed. The next year, the trio recorded "Point of No Return
Point of No Return (Exposé song)
"Point of No Return" is a single by the female dance-pop trio Exposé. Written and produced by Lewis Martineé, the single was originally released in 1985 with Alejandra Lorenzo as the lead singer...
" for Pantera Records as a 12-inch vinyl single, which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. The song helped to introduce a still-popular genre of music that became known as freestyle
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
, which often features keyboard riffs, a sing-along chorus, and electro funk drum-machine patterns in the music arrangement. The success of "Point of No Return" quickly led Exposé to sign with Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
/BMG Records, which promptly assumed distribution of the 12-inch vinyl single. A year later, Exposé recorded and released its second club-dance Latin freestyle 12-inch single, titled "Exposed to Love
Exposed to Love
"Exposed to Love" is a 1985 dance single by the female dance-pop trio Exposé. It was the original group's second single after "Point of No Return," with Alé Lorenzo singing lead vocals. "Exposed to Love" remains the only single to feature vocals from the original group's lineup. The single is...
". These songs were released during the period when radio began airing continuous mixes of House/Club/Dance songs in major markets. As such, Exposé realized continued success, including a club tour to key cities. Impressed with the performance of the two singles and its sound, Arista granted approval for the group to record an album.
Personnel changes (1986)
During the recording of the group's first studio album Exposure, the personnel of the group changed. Reports vary based on the source. According to People magazine, one of the original singers quit while two of the girls were fired midway through the recording of the first album, but according to Billboard, all three were fired. Arista records felt that the three original singers lacked star potential. Martinee states that he made the decision himself to replace the three girls, while Miller maintains it was all their choice, and Jurado confirms that Lorenzo wanted to leave. Shortly thereafter, Casañas pursued a solo career and Lorenzo pursued other ambitions; they were replaced by Jeanette JuradoJeanette Jurado
Jeanette Livier Jurado is a member of the popular girl group Exposé. She was born on November 14, 1965, in Pico Rivera, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.Jurado is a member of Exposé, along with Ann Curless and Gioia Bruno, then later Kelly Moneymaker...
and Gioia Bruno
Gioia Bruno
Gioia Bruno is an Italian-born American popular music singer, most noted as a member of the vocal group Exposé.-Early life and career:...
. Miller began a solo career; she was replaced by Ann Curless
Ann Curless
Ann Curless-Weiss is a popular music singer, most notable for being a member of Exposé.-Education:Curless was raised in Miami Beach, Florida and attended school there...
.
Lorenzo returned to the dance charts with the Vendetta Records releases "I Wanna Know" in 1988, and "Stop Me if I Fall in Love" in 1990, while Miller evolved into a headline performer frequently showcasing her talents on cruises with a more intimate jazz style, and formed her own entertainment company called Xica productions.
Casañas later resurfaced as a solo artist (Sandeé) and released a solo album, Only Time Will Tell, which garnered the club hits "You're The One", "Love Desire", and the Clivilles & Cole-produced bassline-heavy hit "Notice Me". She continued to tour actively in dance clubs and Freestyle shows, until her death on December 15, 2008, of a seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
at the age of 46. All three original members: Casañas, Lorenzo and Miller later contributed vocals on songs on the Miami group Will to Power
Will to Power (band)
Will to Power is the name of an American dance-pop group that originated in southern Florida in the mid-1980s. The group recorded a number of hit singles on the Billboard dance and pop charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, most notably "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley", a medley of 1970s...
s 1988 (debut album).
Exposure (1986–1988)
In February 1987, the new lineup of Exposé released its debut album, Exposure, on Arista Records. Notably, unlike many classic girl groupGirl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
s, Exposé alternated lead vocals among its members.
Led by the huge 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...
/dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
hit "Come Go with Me
Come Go with Me (Exposé song)
"Come Go with Me" is a single by the freestyle girl group Exposé. The song was written by producer and group founder Lewis Martineé and appears on their 1987 debut album, Exposure. Jeanette Jurado sang the lead vocal on "Come Go with Me"....
", which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, the group solidified its freestyle music connection. During the summer of 1987, a re-recorded version of "Point of No Return" was released, with Jurado performing lead vocals, and it too topped out at #5 on the Hot 100. While the initial distribution of Exposure to suppliers contained the original 1984 version of that song, subsequent pressings contained the new vocal version; this has led to the original pressings of the album being considered a collector's item. "Let Me Be the One
Let Me Be the One (Exposé song)
"Let Me Be the One" is a 1987 song by the freestyle girl group Exposé. The song was written by producer and group founder Lewis Martineé and appears on their debut album, Exposure...
", a mid-tempo R&B track with Bruno on lead vocal, garnered significant R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
support and reached #7 on the Hot 100. The group's biggest hit occurred in February 1988 with the #1 Hot 100 single, "Seasons Change
Seasons Change
"Seasons Change" is a pop–R&B song written and produced by Lewis Martineé for the American girl group Exposé's debut album, Exposure . It was the group's fourth single released. The song's lyrics describe relationships fading away due to the changes brought about by time...
". Along with that came a Soul Train Award nomination for Best New Artist
Soul Train Music Awards of 1988
The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards were held on March 30, 1988 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. The show was broadcast live in select cities and aired later in other areas...
; television appearances on 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...
, 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...
, Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...
, and The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers; and the group was tapped to be the opening act for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Lisa Lisa and her band Cult Jam were an urban contemporary band and one of first freestyle music groups to emerge from New York City in the 1980s. Cult Jam consisted of guitarist/bassist Alex "Spanador" Moseley, and drummer/keyboardist Mike Hughes...
during its national tour. Exposure remains one of the most successful dance albums ever released, reaching triple platinum status.
Exposé also performed backing vocals on Kashif
Kashif (musician)
Kashif Saleem is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and record producer.-Career:Kashif became well-known from playing keyboards in the renowned funk band B.T. Express. He played synthesizer bass using the miniMoog while touring with the group...
's 1987 Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
/BMG Records album, Love Changes, on the track, "Who's Getting Serious?"
During the group's peak, Exposé endured legal issues behind the scenes. Similar to the girl groups of the 1960s, the members of Exposé had a restrictive contract, and there were reports in the media of backstage battles. According to Bruno, they were only paid $200 (US) per show. Reportedly, the record label intervened to keep peace between the members and the producers. Despite this intervention, the members filed a lawsuit and ultimately settled their legal case for a renegotiated contract.
What You Don't Know (1989–1990)
The group's second album, What You Don't Know (1989), was certified gold. The success of Exposé in the U.S. led to similar girl groups being created by producers and existing ones being signed to major labels, such as Company BCompany B (band)
Company B was a Latin freestyle dance-pop/Hi-NRG trio formed in 1986 by Cuban-American producer Ish "Angel" Ledesma , featuring members Lori L. , Charlotte McKinnon and Susan Johnson. Before the groups self titled Album was released, Charlotte McKinnon left and was replaced by Lezlee Livrano...
, The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls is a New York City-based freestyle-urban-dance-pop girl group that achieved the majority of its chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, Sweet Sensation
Sweet Sensation
Sweet Sensation was a Puerto Rican female freestyle-dance music trio from The Bronx, New York.-History:Formed in 1986, In The Bronx . The original group members were Betty LeBron and sisters Margie and Mari Fernandez. Originally on Next Plateau Records, in 1988 they were picked up by Atco and...
and Seduction
Seduction (band)
Seduction was a female dance-pop, urban contemporary, house music, and freestyle trio from New York assembled and produced by Robert Clivillés and David Cole , consisting of members April Harris , Michelle Visage , and Idalis DeLeon .Originally intended as a studio project, and prior to any...
. Shortly after the success of the singles "What You Don't Know
What You Don't Know (Exposé song)
"What You Don't Know" is a 1989 song by the American girl group Exposé. It was written and produced by the group's founder, Lewis Martineé, and appears on Exposé's second album, What You Don't Know....
" (#8) and "When I Looked at Him
When I Looked at Him
"When I Looked at Him" is a 1989 song by the pop-freestyle girl group Exposé. It was written and produced by the group's founder, Lewis Martineé, and it appears on their second album What You Don't Know...
" (#10), the release of the single "Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why (Exposé song)
"Tell Me Why" is a 1989 song by the American girl group Exposé. It was written and produced by the group's founder, Lewis Martineé. The song was included on Exposé's second album, What You Don't Know...
" made music history for the group when they became the first girl group to have seven back-to-back Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. "Tell Me Why" addressed the issue of street gangs and youth and rewarded the group with additional praise for its socially-conscious lyrics. "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue
Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue
"Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue" is the title of a 1990 song by the American girl group Exposé. Written by acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Lewis Martineé, the song was included on the group's second studio album, What You Don't Know. Lead vocals on the track were performed by...
" and "Stop, Listen, Look & Think
Stop, Listen, Look & Think
"Stop, Listen, Look & Think" is a song by the American girl group Exposé. It was written and produced by the group's founder, Lewis Martineé, and can be found on their 1989 second album, What You Don't Know...
" followed soon afterwards. "Stop, Listen, Look & Think" was also included in the movie The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance is a 1990 drama film starring former Miss USA Laura Harring...
(1990), a theatrical film released during the Lambada
Lambada
Lambada is a dance from Pará, Brazil. The dance became internationally popular in the 1980s, especially in Latin America and Caribbean countries...
dance craze of that period.
Their continued success granted Exposé their first headlining tour and continued television appearances 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...
, The Pat Sajak Show
The Pat Sajak Show
The Pat Sajak Show is an American late-night television talk show which aired on CBS from January 9, 1989 to April 13, 1990.-Cast:The show was hosted by Pat Sajak, best known as host of the game show Wheel of Fortune...
, The Byron Allen Show, and the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest is a television program that airs every New Year's Eve on ABC. It has been hosted by Dick Clark since its first airing on Sunday, December 31, 1972. Ryan Seacrest has been the program's co-host since the December 31, 2005 telecast...
broadcast on December 31, 1989, among others.
The popularity of the group also increased overseas to countries such as Japan, where Bruno, Curless and Jurado appeared in a few music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
-style television commercials in 1989 for Takara, a Japanese soft drink. The music used in the Japanese commercials was the song "What You Don't Know" with slightly different lyrics in the chorus than the regular version.
With the commercial appeal of Exposé's first two albums, Arista Records released the music-video compilation, Video Exposure, on VHS and laser disc formats in 1990. It contained music videos for the first eight singles released by Bruno, Curless and Jurado—from "Come Go with Me" through "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue."
Exposé performed backing vocals on Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
's 1990 Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
album Because It's Christmas on the track "Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
" and also appeared in Manilow's long-form music video of "Because It's Christmas." This version of "Jingle Bells" was patterned after the 1943 Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters version.
In August 1990, while touring with Exposé, Bruno began having throat problems—later linked to a benign tumor on her vocal cords—and which caused the group to cut the tour short. The group took time off from their schedule in hopes that she would recover. Ultimately, Bruno lost her voice, and could not sing at all for several years—she also had to keep talking to a minimum. She was replaced by Kelly Moneymaker
Kelly Moneymaker
Kelly Susan Moneymaker is a popular music singer, who is most noted for replacing Gioia Bruno in the music group Exposé.Moneymaker was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska...
in 1992.
Exposé (1992–1995)
After Kelly Moneymaker joined Exposé, the group released its self-titled, third album ExposéExposé (album)
Exposé is the third album released from the group Exposé. This album's music style is less Latin influenced with more adult-contemporary material...
, which integrated more adult contemporary material in addition to their established freestyle, house, R&B, pop, and love-ballad repertoire. It was also the first album to use producers besides Martineé, with Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
taking over as executive producer and Martineé only contributing production to four songs. The album was aimed to demonstrate musical growth for the group and to compete with the success of Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Other charted songs:-Awards and nominations:...
, which had great success in 1990 with its debut album
Wilson Phillips (album)
Wilson Phillips is the 1990 debut album by Wilson Phillips. The singles, "Hold On", "Release Me" and "You're in Love", all hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, while "Impulsive" reached the top five...
.
The third album was not as commercially successful as their previous two, but it still achieved gold status, and several singles fared better on the adult-contemporary charts. The group, however, did manage to crack the U.S. Top 40 pop chart with "I Wish the Phone Would Ring
I Wish the Phone Would Ring
"I Wish the Phone Would Ring" is the title of a 1992 song by the American girl group Exposé. The song was written by Michael Margules and Marvin Morrow, and it appears on Exposé's self-titled 1992 album....
" and "I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me
I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me
"I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me" is a popular song that was written by prolific songwriter Diane Warren and recorded by the female pop trio Exposé. It is featured on Exposé's 1992 eponymous album. It was the second single taken from the group's third studio album and was released in early...
", a top-ten pop single which also reached #1 on the adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
. Subsequent releases "As Long as I Can Dream
As Long as I Can Dream
"As Long as I Can Dream" is a song by the American girl group Exposé. It was co-written by Roy Orbison and Diane Warren and appears on the group's self-titled third album...
" and "In Walked Love
In Walked Love
"In Walked Love" is a song by the American girl group Exposé. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, the song can be found on the group's 1992 self-titled third studio album...
" featured Curless in the lead-vocal spotlight. A final, club-marketed single in 1995 saw the release of the group's first remake. "I Specialize in Love
I Specialize in Love
"I Specialize in Love" is a song written by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. It was a hit in U.S. nightclubs in the early 1980s when performed by American singer Sharon Brown, the niece of songwriter Phil Medley...
" featured Curless and Jurado on lead with Moneymaker supporting lead vocals toward the song's conclusion. The original version was performed by Sharon Brown
Sharon Brown (singer)
Sharon Brown is a singer-songwriter and musician who was born in Harlem, New York, U.S.. She is the niece of songwriter Phil Medley, who co-wrote the song "Twist and Shout". She is also the daughter of drummer William Brown, who played with musicians such as The Isley Brothers and Cannonball...
and was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1982. Among the group's television appearances during this period include Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Les Brown Show, and the Brazilian actress-singer children's show Xuxa
Xuxa
Xuxa , Maria da Graça "Xuxa" Meneghel, born March 27, 1963 in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) is a Brazilian television actress, singer and children's television show host...
.
In 1995, Exposé recorded the Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
-penned song "I'll Say Good-Bye for the Two of Us", which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home is a 1995 family film, directed Dwight H. Little, and released by Warner Bros. under its Family Entertainment banner. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Free Willy, also starring Jason James Richter and August Schellenberg. Free Willy 3: The Rescue, was subsequently...
with Jurado performing lead vocals; that same year, the song was issued on its Greatest Hits. The song is distinctive for the group as Jurado performs solo without backing vocals.
Label inactivity and solo projects
Toward the end of 1995, Arista dropped the group, and the members disbanded at the beginning of 1996 to pursue their own projects. However, over time, labels licensing music from Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, the current owners of Arista, have released two other variations of greatest hits collections, as well as a collection of popular remixes from the group's 12-inch singles, including the extended version of the original 1985 "Point of No Return."
After the group broke up, Jurado performed in the stage play Mad Hattan and supplied vocals for contemporary jazz guitarist Nils
Nils
Nils is a Scandinavian given name, a chiefly Norwegian and Swedish variant of Niels, cognate to Nicholas and Neil. As with Niels, its pet form is Nisse...
and Safe Sax; Moneymaker married soap opera actor Peter Reckell
Peter Reckell
Peter Paul Reckell is an American actor. He is best known for playing Bo Brady, a role he originated in 1983 on the NBC drama Days of our Lives....
and released two solo albums (Like a Blackbird and Through These Basement Walls); Curless engaged in songwriting, supplying vocals to several club-dance projects, and also provided academic instruction on music and the music business. Eventually, both Jurado and Curless married and had children, temporarily retiring from performing.
In 1997, Bruno fully recovered from her throat tumor and began singing again. After a small stint with the band Wet, she worked on a solo career focused mostly on dance-oriented material. Her first album, Expose This, was released in the spring of 2004.
Reformation
After a long hiatus, on August 1, 2003, the lineup of Curless, Jurado, and Moneymaker, reunited briefly for a reunion concert at the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, CaliforniaPaso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
. Members of Safe Sax, including music director/guitarist Steve Fansler, were part of the live band Exposé used. While there was a desire to do more shows, according to Moneymaker they were unable to gets things active at that time.
In 2006, Jurado announced on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
they had signed with a major booking agency, and Bruno announced she was back with Exposé for the first time in 15 years. Moneymaker has stated she might fill in for any member who may not be available, or to appear with the full lineup on special occasions.
On October 21, 2006, Exposé kicked off its tour at the American Airlines Arena in Miami for the Freestyle Explosion concert, with the lineup of Curless, Jurado, and Bruno. On November 29, 2006, at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Potawatomi Bingo Casino is a Native-American casino located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, run by the Potawatomi tribe. It first opened its doors in 1991...
Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee, Exposé performed a 16-song show with a full band led by Steve Fansler, marking their first full concert together with Bruno since 1990. The group performed sets at freestyle concerts and gay pride events throughout the country. The group continues to perform at special events throughout the United States, including venues such as Epcot
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
and Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
's Wolf Den.
In 2010, Exposé informed fans on Facebook that they are recording a new album. Exposé recorded a 2011 version of their hit "Point Of No Return" working with dance producer Giuseppe D. and Chris cox. The cd single was released on June 20, 2011.
Lawsuit over Trademark
In December 2007, Jurado, Bruno, Curless, Moneymaker, Paradise Artists, and Walking Distance Entertainment were named as defendants in a lawsuit by Crystal Entertainment & Filmworks (I & II). At issue was the trademark licensing agreement for the rights to use the name Exposé. The first case was dismissed without prejudice. The second one went to trial. During the process both Paradise Artists and Moneymaker were dismissed as defendants, and a counter suit was filed against the plaintiffs. On May 26, 2009, the court ruled in favor of the defendants on most counts, finding them only guilty of a contractual breach with the plaintiffs. The court also ruled that the plaintiffs did not prove ownership of the mark, and established that due to the line-up being the same since 1986 (with Moneymaker only replacing Bruno because of her illness) and clear identification of the group members on the albums and with touring, the defendants showed common-law proof of ownership and the "[consumer] goodwill associated with Exposé was with the members". The court awarded Jurado, Bruno, and Curless exclusive rights to the name Exposé as a trademark.Exposé mentioned this victory, and performed for the first time with Moneymaker as a guest at the LA Gay Pride Festival on June 14, 2009, making it the first time all four core members, Jurado, Bruno, Curless, and Moneymaker, appeared on stage together. The plaintiffs appealed in the The Eleventh Circuit court, and the judgement was affirmed in a published opinion by the district court on June 21, 2011.
Discography
- 1987: Exposure
- 1989: What You Don't Know
- 1992: ExposéExposé (album)Exposé is the third album released from the group Exposé. This album's music style is less Latin influenced with more adult-contemporary material...