Song:A Night To Remember
Album:I Can Make You Feel Good: The Best Of Shalamar
In 1977, Soul Train owner Don Cornelius and talent coordinator Dick Griffey started a record company Solar Records. The first act on the label was Shalamar. The 1977 album Uptown Festival used studio singers. It was successful enough that Griffey thought they could form a group using Soul Train dancers. The original lead singer was Gary Mumford. He was soon replaced by Gerald Brown. After the 1978 album Disco Gardens, Brown left over a money dispute and he was replaced by Howard Hewett. And that's when Shalamar really took off. The other two members were Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel. The 1979 album Big Fun was Hewett's first album. That album was certified Gold and the single The Second Time Around topped the R&B charts and it was a top ten pop hit. Shalamar's success continued mostly on the R&B charts. A Night To Remember reached #8 on the R&B singles chart. It's probably their second biggest hit. It's from the 1982 album Friends. The record was produced by Leon Sylvers III and written by his sister Charmaine Sylvers, Nidra Beard of Dynasty who were also on Solar Records and Dana Meyers who was a staff songwriter at Solar. After that, Watley and Daniel left Shalamar probably over money. Of course Jody Watley went on to a successful solo career. Daniel became a choreographer for Michael Jackson among others. Shalamar continued to have success until Hewett left to go solo in 1985. He has also had a solid solo career especially in the gospel market. You can get all of Shalamar's hits on this budget comp. Shalamar officially ended in 1990. Though the classic Shalamar lineup has never recorded, they have toured mostly in England. They will tour England again starting in a couple of weeks. Here's the video for A Night To Remember by Shalamar.
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