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Aurra

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Aurra
Also known asDéjà (post–1987)
OriginDayton, Ohio, United States
GenresFunk, dance, soul, post-disco, rhythm & blues
Years active1979–1986 (as Aurra)
1987–1989 (as Déja)
LabelsSalsoul
Next Plateau
10 Records (UK)
Virgin (US)
Family Groove Records
Past membersAurra:
Starleana Young
Curt Jones
Steve Washington
Thomas Lockett, Jr.
Charles "Cedell" Carter
Wayne "Buddy" Hankerson
Raymond "Rajac" Jackson
Philip Field
Kevin "Ignatz" Moore
A.C. Drummer
Jimi Randolph
Gail Freeman
Kevin Grady
Sheila Washington
Kevin Caldwell
Mark Stevens
Déjà:
Starleana Young
Curt Jones
Mysti Day

Aurra was an American 1980s soul group, which, at the time of its biggest success on Salsoul Records, featured Curt Jones (guitar/vocals) and Starleana Young (vocals) and included Steve Washington (bass/guitar/drums), Philip Field (keyboards/synthesizers/vocals) and Tom Lockett (saxophone/percussion).[1]

Career

Aurra started off in 1979 as an offshoot of the funk band Slave.[2] Steve Washington first conceptualized the project, which also initially featured fellow former Slave members Curt Jones, Starleana Young, and Thomas Lockett.[2][3] By the time they recorded their first LP, the lineup also included Charles Carter and Buddy Hankerson. Aurra initially signed with Dream Records, and then Salsoul Records. Composer/keyboardist Philip Field, known for his work as a member of Mtume, subsequently joined the lineup. Current members are William E. Payton Sr (Manager), Brenda Payton (Coordinator) Nate Williams (Lead Vocals), Cleveland "TP" Hall (Rhythm Guitar), Robert Burkes (Lead Guitar), Day Rock (Bass Guitar) Tracy Kirk (Trombone), Andrew Ezell (1st Keyboard), Lothario Lee (2nd Keyboard), Kenari Allison (Drummer), Fred Koger (Sax), Ken Cooper (Trumpet).

During the early 1980s, the group found success with hits such as "Are You Single" (number 16 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart), "Checkin' You Out", and "Make Up Your Mind", the last of which became the group's biggest US hit under the Aurra moniker - reaching number six on the R&B chart and number 71 on the pop chart.[4] The group continued to release albums up through the 1985 release Like I Like It; this album was released as Bedtime Story in the U.S. that same year. A revamped version of Like I Like It, featuring an updated cover, was released in Europe in 1986 to include the new single, "You and Me Tonight", along with remixed versions of other tracks from the original album. "You and Me Tonight" reached number 12 on the British charts that year.[5]

By the time Like I Like It was re-released, several group members were at odds with Steve Washington. Legal issues with Washington over the name Aurra led to the duo of principal members Jones and Young breaking away and beginning to record under the name Déjà.[1] In 1987, they released their Virgin Records debut as Déjà, Serious, which was produced in large part by the Time member Monte Moir. Featured on this album was "You and Me Tonight," from the group's Aurra days, introducing American audiences to the song for the first time. "You and Me Tonight" charted in the upper reaches of the US Billboard R&B chart (peaking at number 2) and crossed over onto the pop charts, where it peaked at number 54,[6] making it the highest-charting single from any Aurra-associated group. Meanwhile, Starleana Young decided to leave to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Mysti Day in time to record Déjà's follow-up album.[7] The resulting album, Made to Be Together was released in 1989, with the Teddy Riley-produced title track becoming a minor R&B hit.[8]

In 2013, Family Groove Records recovered the lost tapes for the unreleased '5th' Aurra album Satisfaction, originally recorded in 1984. The direction of the album was supervised by Steve Washington, Amuka Kelly (also known as Sheila Horne Washington), and Daniel Borine.

In 2019, Aurra's second album as Déjà, the long out of print Made to Be Together was released to digital and streaming platforms.[9][10][11]

Discography

as Aurra

Albums

Year Album Label Peak chart positions
US
[4] 		US R&B
[4]
1980 Aurra Dream Records 128 16
1981 Send Your Love Salsoul Records 103 22
1982 A Little Love 38 12
1983 Live and Let Live — 36
1985 Like I Like It (Released in the US as Bedtime Story) 10 Records (UK), Next Plateau Records (US) — —
2013 Satisfaction Family Groove Records — —
2015 Body Rock — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Dance
[12] 		US R&B
[12] 		US Pop
[12] 		UK
[5]
1980 "When I Come Home" 50 — ― —
"In the Mood (to Groove)" / "You're the Only One" 50 86 ― ―
1981 "Are You Single" 36 16 ― —
"Make Up Your Mind" 35 6 71 ―
"Keep Doin' It" / "Nasty Disposition" 27 36 — —
1982 "Checking You Out" / "A Little Love" 47 64 ― —
"In My Arms" — — ― —
"Such a Feeling" 29 40 — ―
"It's You" — — — ―
1983 "Baby Love" ― 78 ― ―
1985 "Happy Feeling" ― ― ― 85
"Like I Like It" ― ― ― 43
1986 "You and Me Tonight" — — — 12
"Are You Available" ― ― ― —
2013 "Perfect Date" ― ― ― —
"Something Tells Me" ― ― ― —
"Satisfaction" — — ― —
"Back 2 U" (featuring Curt Jones) ― — — ―
2015 "Are You Foolin’ Around" ― — — ―
"I'll Let You Go" ― — — ―
"Conversation" / "What Can You Do for Me" ― — — ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilations

  • 1991: The Best of Aurra (Rams Horn Records)
  • 1996: Anthology (CNR Music)
  • 1999: Greatest Hits (Unidisc Music)

as Déjà

Albums

Year Album Label Peak chart positions
US
[6] 		US R&B
[6]
1987 Serious Virgin / 10 Records 186 27
1989 Made to Be Together — 96
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Year Single Label Peak chart positions
US Dance
[6] 		US R&B
[6] 		US Pop
[6] 		UK
[13]
1987 "Serious" 10 Records — — — 75
"You and Me Tonight" (re-release) Virgin 20 2 54 —
"That's Where You'll Find Me" 10 Records — 17 — —
1988 "Going Crazy" Virgin — 57 — —
"Made to Be Together" — 23 — —
"Heart Beat" — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilations

  • 2003: Aurra / Déjà - Deja: Definitive Collection of Aurra - Salsoul & Virgin Years

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Aurra - Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Betts, Graham (2006). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2006 (illustrated ed.). Collins. p. 44. ISBN 9780007200771.
  3. ^ "Lifelines". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 5. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 80. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. ^ a b c "Aurra - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Aurra - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Déjà - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits (illustrated ed.). University of Michigan: Billboard. pp. 140, 159. ISBN 9780823082834.
  8. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Déjà: Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  9. ^ "Made To Be Together". spotify.com. Spotify AB. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "Made To Be Together by Deja". pandora.com. Pandora Media LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Made To Be Together by Deja". amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c "Aurra Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Deja - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
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