G.Q. (band)
Encyclopedia
GQ was an American
group
, formed in 1978 in The Bronx
, New York, primarily noted for its success in disco music and R&B. The core membership of the group commenced playing professionally, under different group names, as of 1968.
.
GQ became quite successful playing music
representative of the period's disco
influenced sound. They had several highly-ranked singles in multiple markets (US Pop, US Black, US Disco/Club). Their biggest hit was 1979's "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)", a single from their debut album Disco Nights, which reached #1 (for two weeks) on the R&B singles chart, #3 on the Hot Dance Club Play
and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It sold over one million copies in the US
alone. The track also peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart
. (It was a reworked version of The Rhythm Makers title-track to Soul On Your Side). The follow-up Billy Stewart
remake, "I Do Love You", was also successful, reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Drummer Paul Service was later temporarily replaced by former Rhythm Makers bandmate Kenny Banks, and ultimately replaced by Steve Adorno, who remained a formal member of the group until 2010. As of the time of the departure of Service, the group became a trio. The group continued performing until the early 1990s, though ceased to chart as of the early 1980s. They reunited in 1999 to record the covers album A Tribute to Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart.
Keith Crier is the son of Arthur Crier, a member of the doo-wop group The Halos
, and is the uncle of Keith Sweat
.
Emanuel would later sign with Capitol Records
and record a solo album called Always Be Around released in 1991. He now tours as Mr. Q, an in-name tribute to GQ.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, formed in 1978 in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York, primarily noted for its success in disco music and R&B. The core membership of the group commenced playing professionally, under different group names, as of 1968.
History
GQ was first formed in 1968 as a quartet called Sabu & the Survivors, with "Sabu" being a moniker of member Keith Crier. The group then evolved in the 1970s as The Rhythm Makers, playing primarily funk music. The Rhythm Makers were composed of Emanuel Rahiem Leblanc (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Keith "Sabu" Crier (bass and vocals), Herb Lane (keyboards and vocals) and Kenny Banks (drums and vocals). The group released one album, Soul On Your Side in 1976, from which the group had one major international dancefloor hit, "Zone". At the time that Kenny Banks left The Rhythm Makers and was replaced by Paul Service in 1978, the group's manager suggested that the group name be changed to "GQ", which stood for "good quality". They would sign with Arista RecordsArista 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...
.
GQ became quite successful playing music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
representative of the period's disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
influenced sound. They had several highly-ranked singles in multiple markets (US Pop, US Black, US Disco/Club). Their biggest hit was 1979's "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)", a single from their debut album Disco Nights, which reached #1 (for two weeks) on the R&B singles chart, #3 on the 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...
and #12 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...
. It sold over one million copies in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alone. The track also peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. (It was a reworked version of The Rhythm Makers title-track to Soul On Your Side). The follow-up Billy Stewart
Billy Stewart
Billy Stewart was an American musical artist, with a highly distinctive scat-singing style, who enjoyed popularity in the 1960s.-Biography:...
remake, "I Do Love You", was also successful, reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Drummer Paul Service was later temporarily replaced by former Rhythm Makers bandmate Kenny Banks, and ultimately replaced by Steve Adorno, who remained a formal member of the group until 2010. As of the time of the departure of Service, the group became a trio. The group continued performing until the early 1990s, though ceased to chart as of the early 1980s. They reunited in 1999 to record the covers album A Tribute to Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart.
Keith Crier is the son of Arthur Crier, a member of the doo-wop group The Halos
The Halos
The Halos were an American doo wop group from The Bronx.The group formed with members Al Cleveland, J.R. Bailey, Harold Johnson, and Arthur Crier . Phil Johnson replaced J.R. Bailey shortly after the recording of "Nag". .The group got its start as session musicians, backing up vocalists recorded by...
, and is the uncle of Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality and a major contributor to the new jack swing era.-Music career:...
.
Emanuel would later sign with Capitol Records
Capitol 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...
and record a solo album called Always Be Around released in 1991. He now tours as Mr. Q, an in-name tribute to GQ.
Members
- Emanuel Rahiem Leblanc
- Keith Crier
- Herb Lane
- Paul Service (1978-1979)
- Kenny Banks (1979-1980)
- Steve Adorno (1980-1991)
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | US Black Albums | U.S. Top 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... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Disco Nights | Arista Records 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... |
2 | 13 |
| 1980 | Two Two (GQ album) Two is the second album by American soul/disco group GQ, released in 1980 on the Arista label. It peaked at #9 on the R&B chart and #46 on the pop listing. Unlike its predecessor Disco Nights, no single from this album crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, but "Sitting in the Park" and "Standing... |
9 | 46 | |
| 1981 | Face to Face Face to Face (GQ album) Face to Face is the third and final album by American soul/disco group GQ, released in 1981 on the Arista label. It peaked at #18 on the R&B chart and #140 on the pop listing... |
18 | 140 | |
| 1999 | A Tribute to Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart | ITP Records | - | - |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Pop Singles 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... |
R&B singles chart | 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... |
||
| 1979 | "Disco Nights (Rock Freak) Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) "Disco Nights " was a hit song for soul/disco group GQ Released from the album of the same name, the song spent two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart during the spring of 1979 and peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single also peaked at number three on... " |
12 | 1 | 3 |
| "I Do Love You" | 20 | 5 | - | |
| "Make My Dreams a Reality" | - | 8 | - | |
| 1980 | "Sitting in the Park" | - | 9 | - |
| "Standing Ovation" | - | 12 | 35 | |
| 1981 | "Shake" | - | 23 | - |
| 1982 | "Sad Girl" | 93 | 39 | - |
| 1982 | "Try Smurfin'" | - | - | - |
| 1984 | "You Are The Only One For Me" | - | - | - |