The Deele
| The Deele | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | R&B, post-disco |
| Years active | 1981-1988, 1993, 2007-present |
| Labels | Solar |
| Members | |
| Carlos "Satin" Greene Darnell "Dee" Bristol Kevin "Kayo" Roberson Stanley "Stick" Burke |
|
| Past members | |
| Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds Antonio "L.A." Reid |
|
The Deele (pronounced /deal/) is an American 80s R&B band from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally consisting of Indianapolis native Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds along with Antonio "L.A." Reid, Carlos "Satin" Greene, Darnell "Dee" Bristol, Stanley "Stick" Burke and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson. They have currently reunited in an incarnation featuring Bristol, Greene, Roberson & Burke.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Dantil Woodruff formed the group in 1981. The Deele recorded three albums during the 1980s, and scored several hit singles. The sextet released their debut album, Street Beat in 1983, and the following year, a single from this album, "Body Talk" became their first hit, reaching #3 on the R&B chart and #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Guitarist/keyboardist Stanley "Stick" Burke left the band prior to the recording of a follow-up album. Recorded as a quintet, Material Thangz was released in 1985. It was not as successful as their debut album.
The band reached the apex of their career in 1987 with the release of their third album, Eyes of a Stranger, which produced two top-10 R&B singles, "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" and perhaps their best-known song, "Two Occasions". The latter track reached #4 on the R&B charts and cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Music videos were made for both songs. The video for the "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" track was directed by Martin Pitts and produced by Mickey Shapiro. It was during this time that L.A. Reid and Babyface Edmonds began crafting their talents as songwriters for other artists. They wrote and produced "Girlfriend" (which featured backing vocals from Deele members[1] and became a top ten hit) for Reid's girlfriend, and eventual wife Pebbles. During this period, they also wrote and produced The Whispers' "Rock Steady".
In 1988, both Babyface and Reid left the group and founded LaFace Records in 1989. At the beginning of the 1990s, Reid and Edmonds would become successful record producers. Although not as recognized as Reid and Edmonds, another Deele member, Kevin "Kayo" Roberson maintained his association with the two, and was an instrumental part of the production team's success behind the scenes as a songwriter, co-producer, and studio bassist.[2] Babyface would also embark on a very successful run as a solo artist.
In 1993, Greene and Bristol reunited again as The Deele (without Reid, Edmonds, or Roberson)[3] to record the album, An Invitation to Love. This album found the group adopting a more new jack swing-based sound and incorporating rap into many of their songs. Failing to make a dent in the charts, the group called it quits later that same year.
Their hit song "Two Occasions" was referenced (along with Babyface) by Mariah Carey in her 2005 megahit song "We Belong Together", by rapper The Game in the song "One Night" in 2006, and by Plies in his 2009 hit song, "Want It, Need It" featuring Ashanti. MF Doom samples the track "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" in his 1999 opus "Red & Gold".
[edit] Reunion
As of 2007, Dee, Satin, and Kayo have officially reformed the band with new members. Their new MySpace page currently includes a new Christmas song released by the band, as well as a recent interview with the three original members (although Kayo was very reserved) at a Dallas radio station, during which Dee discusses, among other things, how The Deele were the first band signed to Solar Records solely based on their music (the representatives hadn't actually seen them perform). Now a part of Dallas Based Eieg/D-Town Records.
A fourth original member, Stanley "Stick" Burke has apparently also joined the current line-up, leaving Babyface and L.A. Reid the only two original members not participating in the current project.
[edit] Original members
- Darnell "Dee" Bristol: vocals
- Stanley "Stick" Burke: guitar, keyboards (left after the first album)
- Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds: keyboards, guitar, vocals
- Carlos "Satin" Greene: vocals
- Antonio "L.A." Reid: drums
- Kevin "Kayo" Roberson: bass
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Street Beat (Solar Records, 1983[4])
- Material Thangz (Solar Records, 1985)
- Eyes of a Stranger (Solar Records, 1987)
- An Invitation to Love (Solar Records, 1993)
- The Only 1 (single) (Eieg/D-Town Records, 2007)
- All I Want for Christmas (single) (Eieg/D-Town Records, 2007)
[edit] Compilation appearance
- Deep Cover (movie soundtrack) (1992)
[edit] Appearances in media
The song "Body Talk" was featured in the pilot episode for the television series Miami Vice.
[edit] References
- ^ Pebbles- "Girlfriend" lyrics @lyricsdemon.com (see "Hey Deele, sing!" part) Retrieved 6-6-2010
- ^ Kayo (Kevin Roberson)'s entry @Discogs.com Retrieved 6-6-2010.
- ^ Liner notes of The Deele- An Invitation to Love Cassette Tape (1993). Accessed 5-28-2010.
- ^ The Deele- Street Beat (1983) @Discogs.com Retrieved 6-6-2010.
