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Klymaxx was created and formed in 1979 by Bernadette Cooper (producer/drummer/vocals); the other original members included Lorena "Lungs" Porter Shelby (lead vocals), Cheryl Cooley (guitar), Robbin Grider (keyboards/guitar), and Lynn Malsby (keyboards). [[Joyce Irby|Joyce "Fenderella" Irby]] (bass/vocals/producer) joined the band later, before the recording of their debut album.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last1=Huey|first1=Steve|title=Artist Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> The women developed their core sound in rehearsal, and continued with Bernadette Cooper becoming the band's figurehead. Their debut album ''[[Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman]]'' was released in 1981, and their second album was ''[[Girls Will Be Girls (Klymaxx album)|Girls Will Be Girls]]''. Other band members during these early albums included second guitarist Ann Williams and percussionist Judy Takeuchi.
Klymaxx was created and formed in 1979 by Bernadette Cooper (producer/drummer/vocals); the other original members included Lorena "Lungs" Porter Shelby (lead vocals), Cheryl Cooley (guitar), Robbin Grider (keyboards/guitar), and Lynn Malsby (keyboards). [[Joyce Irby|Joyce "Fenderella" Irby]] (bass/vocals/producer) joined the band later, before the recording of their debut album.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last1=Huey|first1=Steve|title=Artist Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> The women developed their core sound in rehearsal, and continued with Bernadette Cooper becoming the band's figurehead. Their debut album ''[[Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman]]'' was released in 1981, and their second album was ''[[Girls Will Be Girls (Klymaxx album)|Girls Will Be Girls]]''. Other band members during these early albums included second guitarist Ann Williams and percussionist Judy Takeuchi.


However, their first album to achieve national recognition was 1984 released ''[[Meeting in the Ladies Room]]'', featuring the top 5 US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]] successes "[[The Men All Pause]]", written by Bernadette Cooper and Irby, and the [[Meeting in the Ladies Room (song)|title track]]. The band's self-produced "I Miss You", penned by Lynn Malsby, became the band's pop breakthrough,<ref name="AllMusic"/> peaking at #5 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]].<ref name="allmusic">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/awards|title=US Charts > Klymaxx|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2012-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106193028/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/awards|archive-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Lorena Lungs' vocals gave Klymaxx a clear distinctive sound, while Bernadette Cooper added the spoken word vibe and a musical direction that became their distinctive sound. Critics mentioned that Irby's voice was similar to [[Michael Jackson]]'s, according to music historian Scot Brown.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175|page=174-75|title=Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation|author=Portia K. Maultsby and Mellonee V. Burnim|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2016|isbn=9781315472089}}</ref>
However, their first album to achieve national recognition was 1984 released ''[[Meeting in the Ladies Room]]'', featuring the top 5 US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]] successes "[[The Men All Pause]]", written by Bernadette Cooper and Irby, and the [[Meeting in the Ladies Room (song)|title track]]. The band's self-produced "[[I Miss You (Klymaxx song)|I Miss You]]", penned by Lynn Malsby, became the band's pop breakthrough,<ref name="AllMusic"/> peaking at #5 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]].<ref name="allmusic">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/awards|title=US Charts > Klymaxx|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2012-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106193028/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/klymaxx-mn0000101953/awards|archive-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Lorena Lungs' vocals gave Klymaxx a clear distinctive sound, while Bernadette Cooper added the spoken word vibe and a musical direction that became their distinctive sound. Critics mentioned that Irby's voice was similar to [[Michael Jackson]]'s, according to music historian Scot Brown.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175|page=174-75|title=Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation|author=Portia K. Maultsby and Mellonee V. Burnim|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2016|isbn=9781315472089}}</ref>


Bernadette Cooper wrote and produced much of the band's material, and subsequently began writing and producing for other artists from the mid-80s onward, including [[Cheryl Lynn]], [[Shalamar]], [[Madame_X_(band)|Madame X]], [[Bette Midler]] and [[Paula Abdul]]. She subsequently signed to [[MCA Records]] as a solo artist, and released the 1990 album ''Drama According to Bernadette Cooper'', featuring cameo appearances from [[Teena Marie]] and [[Chuckii Booker]].
Bernadette Cooper wrote and produced much of the band's material, and subsequently began writing and producing for other artists from the mid-80s onward, including [[Cheryl Lynn]], [[Shalamar]], [[Madame_X_(band)|Madame X]], [[Bette Midler]] and [[Paula Abdul]]. She subsequently signed to [[MCA Records]] as a solo artist, and released the 1990 album ''Drama According to Bernadette Cooper'', featuring cameo appearances from [[Teena Marie]] and [[Chuckii Booker]].

Revision as of 12:26, 13 September 2022

Not to be confused with Climax (band).

Klymaxx
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPop, R&B, dance-pop
Years active1979–1994, 2003–present
LabelsSOLAR, MCA
MembersBernadette Cooper
Robbin Grider
Joyce Irby
Lynn Malsby
Lorena Shelby
Cheryl Cooley
Past membersPenny Ford
M. Ann Williams
Judy Takeuchi

Klymaxx is an American all-female pop/R&B band from Los Angeles, California. The band's classic lineup consisted of Bernadette Cooper, Lorena Porter Shelby, Cheryl Cooley, Robbin Grider, Lynn Malsby, and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby.

History

Klymaxx was created and formed in 1979 by Bernadette Cooper (producer/drummer/vocals); the other original members included Lorena "Lungs" Porter Shelby (lead vocals), Cheryl Cooley (guitar), Robbin Grider (keyboards/guitar), and Lynn Malsby (keyboards). Joyce "Fenderella" Irby (bass/vocals/producer) joined the band later, before the recording of their debut album.[1] The women developed their core sound in rehearsal, and continued with Bernadette Cooper becoming the band's figurehead. Their debut album Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman was released in 1981, and their second album was Girls Will Be Girls. Other band members during these early albums included second guitarist Ann Williams and percussionist Judy Takeuchi.

However, their first album to achieve national recognition was 1984 released Meeting in the Ladies Room, featuring the top 5 US Billboard R&B chart successes "The Men All Pause", written by Bernadette Cooper and Irby, and the title track. The band's self-produced "I Miss You", penned by Lynn Malsby, became the band's pop breakthrough,[1] peaking at #5 on the Hot 100.[2] Lorena Lungs' vocals gave Klymaxx a clear distinctive sound, while Bernadette Cooper added the spoken word vibe and a musical direction that became their distinctive sound. Critics mentioned that Irby's voice was similar to Michael Jackson's, according to music historian Scot Brown.[3]

Bernadette Cooper wrote and produced much of the band's material, and subsequently began writing and producing for other artists from the mid-80s onward, including Cheryl Lynn, Shalamar, Madame X, Bette Midler and Paula Abdul. She subsequently signed to MCA Records as a solo artist, and released the 1990 album Drama According to Bernadette Cooper, featuring cameo appearances from Teena Marie and Chuckii Booker.

The classic lineup disbanded in 1989,[4] though several members regrouped sporadically as Klymaxx over the next five years to release further albums.[5] Following the breakup there was a legal confrontation involving Cooley’s unauthorized use of the band's name and trademark,[4][6] leading to the trademark decision Cheryl Cooley v. Bernadette Cooper and Joyce Irby.[7] The ladies agreed to and also, per the Truth In Music Advertising Act, members are allowed to tour, as Klymaxx but must differentiate which version by adding their names.

Five of the six members from the classic Klymaxx lineup (with Robbin Grider being the one exception) met up together in a 2004 episode of VH1's Bands Reunited, for which they had been invited to perform.[8] Cooley appeared, but due to the unresolved friction/tension with other band members, she was not allowed to perform during the group's concert. Around this time, there was also an SNL episode featuring Halle Berry portraying Cooper. Klymaxx officially reformed shortly afterward, now billed as Klymaxx featuring Bernadette Cooper. Currently, individual members tour under Klymaxx featuring their namesake.

In 2009, all six members of the classic lineup participated in the group's episode of the TV One series Unsung.

On June 25, 2021, Klymaxx was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bernadette Cooper and Lynn Malsby accused the organization of honoring the touring lineup featuring Cheryl Cooley, whose contributions were minimal. Cooper, Malsby and Joyce Irby noted that Cooley had edited the songwriting shares on ASCAP and Sony Music Publishing, by adding her name to the writing credits or taking sole credit in ASCAP's database.[9] On the same day, Billboard magazine released a follow-up article bringing light to the fraudulent attempt uncovered by ASCAP and Sony ATV publishing.

Discography

Main article: Klymaxx discography
Studio albums

References

  1. ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "US Charts > Klymaxx". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Portia K. Maultsby and Mellonee V. Burnim (2016). Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation. Taylor & Francis. p. 174-75. ISBN 9781315472089.
  4. ^ a b "When Artists Fight Over a Group Name". BET. May 2013. p. 7.
  5. ^ Serene Dominic (2003). Burt Bacharach: Song By Song. Schirmer Trade Books. ISBN 9780857122599.
  6. ^ "TV-One's "Unsung" Features All Female Band Klymaxx". 106.7 WTLC FM. November 15, 2009.
  7. ^ "Cheryl Cooley v Bernadette Cooper and Joyce Irby". Law360.
  8. ^ Randy Lewis (December 29, 2003). "Discord, with a little harmony". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ DiGiacomo, Frank (June 25, 2021). "Klymaxx Members Say Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Is Inducting the Wrong Band". Billboard.
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