Commodores
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Commodores | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Tuskegee, Alabama, United States |
| Genres | Funk Soul Disco |
| Years active | 1967[1]–present |
| Labels | Motown, Polydor |
| Website | Official Commodores website |
| Members | |
| Walter Orange (1967-present) William King (1967-present) J.D. Nicholas (1982-present) |
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| Former members | |
| Lionel Richie (1967-1982) Thomas McClary (1967-1982) Ronald La Pread (1967-1986) Milan Williams (1967-1989) Sheldon Reynolds (1982-1987) Skyler Jett (1983-1985) |
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The Commodores are a Grammy Award[2] winning American funk/soul band, most popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The group is best known for their ballads, such as "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady", but, for the most part, the group mainly recorded funky, driven dance-floor hits which include "Slippery When Wet" and "Brick House". Even though the band's 1969 debut album on Atlantic slipped out unnoticed, The Commodores became one of the 1970s most popular recording acts.[1] The Commodores were one of the top bands during their long tenure at Motown.[3] The group is credited with seven number one R&B songs and a host of other Top Ten hits on the Billboard charts, and their catalog includes more than 50 albums.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
The members of the group met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1967,[1] and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour.[3] The Commodores originally called themselves the Jays, but had to change their name because of the similarly named The O'Jays. To choose a new name band member William King opened a dictionary, and randomly picked a word.[3] "We lucked out," he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to People Weekly. "We almost became The Commodes!"
"Machine Gun", the instrumental title track from the band's album, became a staple at American sporting events, and is similarly featured in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.[4] Another instrumental, "Cebu" (named after an island in the Philippines), later became a staple in the Quiet storm radio format. Three albums released in years 1975 and 1976 (Caught in the Act, Movin' On, Hot on the Tracks) are considered the peak of their harder funk period. Only one such hit from that era scored big, the funk-driven "Brick House" which reached #5 in the US.[4] After those recordings the group started to move towards softer sound. That move was hinted from their 1976 Top Ten hits "Sweet Love" and "Just to Be Close to You".[3] In 1977 the Commodores scored a ballad hit with "Easy", which became the group's biggest hit yet, reaching #4 in the US.[3][4]
After years of presence in the US Top Ten, the group finally reached #1 in 1978 with the Richie penned, "Three Times a Lady".[3] It was a transatlantic chart-topper, spending five weeks at the chart pinnacle in the UK Singles Chart.[5] Richie was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "Three Times a Lady" in 1979.
1979 saw the Commodores score another Top Five ballad hit "Sail On" before reaching the top of the charts once again with another ballad, "Still".[3] The group had no major hits in 1980, but by 1981 they were back with a vengeance, scoring Top Ten hits with the ballad "Oh No" (#4 US) and their first upbeat single in almost five years, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (#8 US)
Many of their hit tunes were written or co-written by Walter "Clyde" Orange, the original lead singer before Richie came on board. Richie and Orange alternated as lead singers. Orange was also the lead singer on "Nightshift" and "Brick House" among others.[3]
After Richie left to pursue a solo career, former Heatwave singer J.D. Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with drummer Walter Orange.[3] However, with the exception of the Grammy winning "Nightshift" (#3 in the US, a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson) the band never achieved the same level of success it had enjoyed with Richie.[1] Ironically, "Nightshift" earned the Commodores their Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1985, their only such honour.[2]
The Commodores made a brief appearance in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday. They performed the song "Too Hot to Trot" during the dance contest; their songs "Brickhouse" and "Easy" were also played during the movie.
Over time, the group's founding members began leaving. McClary left in 1982 (shortly after Richie left) to pursue a solo career and to develop a gospel music company. McClary was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Sheldon Reynolds. LaPread left in 1986 and moved to New Zealand, and Reynolds departed to Earth, Wind & Fire in 1987. Williams exited the band in 1989. The group also gradually abandoned its funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena. In 1983, Skyler Jett, replaced Lionel Richie as the lead singer for The Commodores, and toured the world and performed in over 32 countries in a two year span.
In 1985, the group performed two commercials for NBC affiliate WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. The group left Motown the same year for Polydor, and released several additional albums, which were primarily compilations of previous material.[3]
In August 1990 the group made an appearance at Seagulls Rugby League Football Club, on Gollan Drive, West Tweed Heads, in New South Wales, Australia.
Freed from their commitments with Polydor, in August 1992, Commodores Records Entertainment was created to issue future recordings.[6] They have re-recorded Commodores hits and have recorded a live album and a Christmas album.
Today, the Commodores consist of Walter Orange, J.D. Nicholas and William King, along with a backing band. The group continues to perform, selling out concerts around the world.[3] They have been the opening act for Trump casinos and Hard Rock casinos.
[edit] Original band personnel
- Lionel Richie (vocals, saxophone and piano) - born June 20, 1949, Tuskegee, Alabama.
- Thomas McClary (lead guitar) - born October 6, 1949, Eustis, Florida.
- Milan Williams (keyboards, trombone, rhythm guitar) - born March 28, 1948 Okolona, Mississippi, died of cancer, July 9, 2006 Houston, Texas.
- William "Wak" King (trumpet, rhythm guitar, synthesizer) - born January 30, 1949, Alabama.
- Ronald La Pread (bass guitar, trumpet) - born September 4, 1946, Alabama.
- Walter "Clyde" Orange (vocals, Drums) - born December 10, 1946, Florida.
[edit] Personal lives
Orange now lives with his family in Florida, and has three children named Paula, Colin and Cody. Since the late 1990s, Orange has also been working in conjunction with the singer-songwriter Craig Deanto, and they have released an album, Who Hears The Cries.
King married the songwriter Shirley Hanna in 1976. Together they have four children, Adam, Ryan Hanna, Leah Hanna and Noah.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album Title | US Billboard 200[8] | UK Albums Chart[7] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Machine Gun | 138 | - |
| 1975 | Caught in the Act | 26 | - |
| Movin' On | 29 | - | |
| 1976 | Hot on the Tracks | 12 | - |
| 1977 | Commodores | 3 | - |
| Commodores Live! | 3 | 60 | |
| 1978 | Natural High | 3 | 8 |
| 1979 | Greatest Hits | 23 | 19 |
| Midnight Magic | 3 | 15 | |
| 1980 | Heroes | 7 | 50 |
| 1981 | In the Pocket | 13 | 69 |
| 1982 | Love Songs | - | 5 |
| 1983 | All The Great Hits | 37 | - |
| Commodores 13 | 103 | - | |
| Commodores Anthology | 141 | - | |
| 1984 | All the Great Love Songs | - | - |
| 1985 | Nightshift | 12 | 13 |
| The Very Best of the Commodores | - | 25 | |
| 1986 | United | 101 | - |
| 1988 | Rock Solid | - | - |
| 1992 | Commodores Christmas | - | - |
| 1993 | No Tricks | - | - |
| 1995 | The Very Best | - | 26 |
| 2003 | The Definitive Collection | - | 10 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100[4] | US R&B chart[4] | UK Singles Chart[7] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "Machine Gun" | 22 | 7 | 20 | Machine Gun |
| "The Zoo (The Human Zoo)" | - | - | 44 | ||
| "I Feel Sanctified" | 75 | 12 | - | ||
| 1975 | "Slippery When Wet" | 19 | 1 | - | Caught In The Act |
| "This Is Your Life" | - | 13 | - | ||
| 1976 | "Sweet Love" | 5 | 2 | 32 | Movin' On |
| "Just to Be Close to You" | 7 | 1 | 62 | Hot On The Tracks | |
| 1977 | "Fancy Dancer" | 39 | 9 | - | |
| "Easy" | 4 | 1 | 9 | The Commodores | |
| "Brick House" | 5 | 4 | 32 | ||
| 1978 | "Too Hot ta Trot" | 24 | 1 | 38 | The Commodores Live! |
| "Three Times a Lady" | 1 | 1 | 1 | Natural High | |
| "Flying High" | 38 | 21 | 37 | ||
| 1979 | "Sail On" | 4 | 8 | 8 | Midnight Magic |
| "Still" | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1980 | "Wonderland" | 25 | 21 | 40 | |
| "Old-Fashion Love" | 20 | 8 | - | Heroes | |
| "Heroes" | 54 | 27 | - | ||
| "Jesus Is Love" | - | 34 | - | ||
| 1981 | "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" | 8 | 5 | 56 | In The Pocket |
| "Oh No" | 4 | 5 | 44 | ||
| 1982 | "Why You Wanna Try Me" | 66 | 42 | - | |
| "Painted Picture" | 70 | 19 | - | All The Greatest Hits | |
| 1983 | "Only You" | 54 | 20 | - | Commodores 13 |
| 1985 | "Nightshift" | 3 | 1 | 3 | Nightshift |
| "Animal Instinct" | 43 | 22 | 74 | ||
| "Janet" | 87 | 65 | - | ||
| 1986 | "Goin' To The Bank" | 65 | 2 | 43 | United |
| 1987 | "Take It from Me" | - | 38 | - | |
| "United in Love" (#22 on the US Adult Contemporary chart[4]) |
- | - | - | ||
| 1988 | "Solitaire" | - | 51 | - | Rock Solid |
[edit] Awards and recognition
The Commodores were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.[6]
[edit] See also
- List of funk musicians
- List of soul musicians
- List of disco artists
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd.. p. 93. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- ^ a b "Allmusic ((( Commodores > Charts & Awards > Grammy Awards )))". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=COMMODORES&sql=11:aifrxqw5ldte~T52.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Biography by Craig Lytle". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=COMMODORES&sql=11:aifrxqw5ldte~T1. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Allmusic ((( Commodores > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=COMMODORES&sql=11:aifrxqw5ldte~T51.
- ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 190-191. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ a b Vocalgroup.org - accessed October 2009
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 116-117. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Allmusic ((( Commodores > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=COMMODORES&sql=11:aifrxqw5ldte~T50.
[edit] External links
- Official Commodores website
- Lionel Richie interview by Pete Lewis, Blues and Soul, March 2009
- 'The Commodores' Vocal Group Hall of Fame page
