High Inergy
Encyclopedia
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 (In the Middle of Turning Me On)
".
, the four ladies that would become known as High Inergy were discovered during a Bicentennial
show in their hometown by Gwen Gordy Fuqua
. The members of the group included lead singer Vernessa Mitchell
, her sister Barbara Mitchell, Linda Howard and Michelle Martin (or Rumph). The Mitchell sisters were singers, while the remaining members were known primarily for their dancing.
Fashioned after Martha and the Vandellas
and The Supremes
(they were actually named after the 1976 Supremes High Energy album with just the 'e' changed to an 'i' in "energy"), the group was signed to Motown's Gordy subsidiary in 1977. They quickly found success with the R&B/pop
hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)," which reached R&B #2 and U.S.
#12.
The group became a trio when Vernessa left after the second album to pursue a career in gospel music
. Barbara Mitchell replaced her sister as lead singer.
The group would score a total of nine R&B hits before disbanding for solo
careers in 1984.
, the group collaborated with labelmates Switch
on the track, "Hold On to My Love." The song features Switch member Bobby DeBarge
as the male lead vocalist. He also produced and co-wrote the song.
Smokey Robinson
performed two duets with Barbara Mitchell on Groove Patrol
, High Inergy's last album, which was released in 1983.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
girl group who found fame on Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the late 1970s. They are best known for their hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)
You Can't Turn Me Off
"You Can't Turn Me Off " is a 1977 single by girl group High Inergy. It was the first single off their debut album, Turnin' On. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Black Singles chart, and #12 on the Pop Singles chart in 1978.The song was written by Pam Sawyer and Marilyn McLeod. It was produced...
".
History
Based in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, the four ladies that would become known as High Inergy were discovered during a Bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
show in their hometown by Gwen Gordy Fuqua
Gwen Gordy Fuqua
Gwen Gordy Fuqua was the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy, sister of Motown songwriters Anna Gordy Gaye, Robert Gordy and George Gordy, sister of Motown Museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards, sister of Fuller Gordy and also Loucye Gordy, and the former wife of Harvey Fuqua...
. The members of the group included lead singer Vernessa Mitchell
Vernessa Mitchell
Vernessa Mitchell is an R&B/soul/gospel/house music artist from Pasadena, California. She was the lead singer of the Motown recording act High Inergy before gaining success as gospel artist.-Career:...
, her sister Barbara Mitchell, Linda Howard and Michelle Martin (or Rumph). The Mitchell sisters were singers, while the remaining members were known primarily for their dancing.
Fashioned after Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
and The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
(they were actually named after the 1976 Supremes High Energy album with just the 'e' changed to an 'i' in "energy"), the group was signed to Motown's Gordy subsidiary in 1977. They quickly found success with the R&B/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...
hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)," which reached R&B #2 and U.S.
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...
#12.
The group became a trio when Vernessa left after the second album to pursue a career in gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. Barbara Mitchell replaced her sister as lead singer.
The group would score a total of nine R&B hits before disbanding for solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
careers in 1984.
Collaborative Efforts
On their 1980 album, Hold OnHold On (High Inergy album)
Hold On was the fifth album by High Inergy. Like their previous three albums, this one was a commercial and critical disappointment. It peaked at #70 on Billboard's R&B Album charts and failed to make the Top 200 Pop Album charts...
, the group collaborated with labelmates Switch
Switch (band)
Switch was an R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordy label in the late 1970s releasing hit songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" and influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured members Bobby and Tommy's siblings.-Early years:Formed in...
on the track, "Hold On to My Love." The song features Switch member Bobby DeBarge
Bobby DeBarge
Robert Louis "Bobby" DeBarge Jr. was an American musician and the lead singer of the 1970s Motown R&B group Switch. He was also the mentor behind his younger siblings who formed the musical group DeBarge and was the biggest influence among its members, most prominently El DeBarge...
as the male lead vocalist. He also produced and co-wrote the song.
Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
performed two duets with Barbara Mitchell on Groove Patrol
Groove Patrol
Groove Patrol was the eighth and final album by High Inergy. It was unique among their albums because instead of using a plethora of producers, the entire album was produced by the same production team. It featured the song, "He's a Pretender," that was a Top 30 Dance single on Billboard and one...
, High Inergy's last album, which was released in 1983.
Albums
| Year | Album | Cat. # | R&B | Pop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Turnin' On Turnin' On Turnin' On was the first and most successful album by the group High Inergy. It was released on Motown's Gordy label in 1977.The album was mostly produced by Kent Washburn, who produced all but three songs from album... |
Gordy G6-978 S1 | 6 | 28 |
| 1978 | Steppin' Out | Gordy G7-982 R1 | 46 | 42 |
| 1979 | Shoulda Gone Dancin' Shoulda Gone Dancin' Shoulda Gone Dancin' was the third album by High Inergy and the first after the departure of lead vocalist Vernessa Mitchell. Now reduced to a trio, this album features Barbara Mitchell on lead vocals. The album was a commercial and critical disappointment. It peaked at only #72 on Billboard's... |
Gordy G7-987 R1 | 72 | 147 |
| 1979 | Frenzy | Gordy G7-989 R1 | N/A | 205 |
| 1980 | Hold On Hold On (High Inergy album) Hold On was the fifth album by High Inergy. Like their previous three albums, this one was a commercial and critical disappointment. It peaked at #70 on Billboard's R&B Album charts and failed to make the Top 200 Pop Album charts... |
Gordy G8-996 M1 | 70 | 208 |
| 1981 | High Inergy | Gordy G8-1005 M1 | N/A | 203 |
| 1982 | So Right | Gordy 6006GL | N/A | N/A |
| 1983 | Groove Patrol Groove Patrol Groove Patrol was the eighth and final album by High Inergy. It was unique among their albums because instead of using a plethora of producers, the entire album was produced by the same production team. It featured the song, "He's a Pretender," that was a Top 30 Dance single on Billboard and one... |
Gordy 6041GL | 62 | 206 |