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SHOWBIZ TIME MAGAZINE. June Issue  P.17  Continues NEXT                                        Cover of the Magazine     Table of Contents     

THE WORLD GREAT FAMILY SINGERS

While Oceola Staples worked evenings, Pops kept the brood occupied by teaching them songs, and this diversion became their lifelong occupation. The family sang at churches around the upper Midwest, became regulars on a Sunday radio show and cut their first recording-a 78 rpm single on Pops’ own Royal label-in 1953. Another record for a local label ("Won’t You Sit Down,” on United) led to a contract with the Chicago-based Vee Jay Records.  The Staple Singers stayed at Vee Jay from 1956-1962, a tenure that included their breakthrough single, “Uncloudy Day.” The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948, and signed their first professional contract in 1952.  During their early career they recorded in an acoustic gospel-folk style with various labels: United Records, Vee-Jay, Riverside, and then Epic Records in 1965. In 1972, the group had a No. 1 hit in the United States with "I'll Take You There." Their 1972 recording on Stax of "Respect Yourself," written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, was number 2 on the R&B charts and a Top 40 pop hit as well. Pops Staples died of complications from a concussion suffered in December 2000.In 2005, the group was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four singers, all of whom are sisters: Kim, Debbie, Joni, and Kathy Sledge. First entering the UK Singles Chart in 1975 with "Mama Never Told Me", their career went into decline before it revived under the magisterial production skills of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of CHIC. This association gave them their biggest successes which came in 1979: the popular disco anthems "We Are Family" (#1 R&B, #2 Pop in the U.S.) and "He's the Greatest Dancer" (#1 R&B, #9 Pop in the U.S.) Both songs were included on their eight song 1979 album We Are Family. Their follow up album was 1980's Love Somebody Today, which included the songs "Got to Love Somebody" (#6 R&B, #64 Pop in the U.S., #34 in the UK) and "Pretty Baby".Switching to producer Narada Michael Walden in 1981, they released the album All-American Girls, yielding two hits (the title track, which reached #3 R&B and #79 Pop in the U.S. and #41 Pop in the UK), and "Next Time You'll Know", which reached #28 R&B in the U.S.) The sisters continued singing new material throughout the 1980s and 1990s. They achieved an international #1 hit with "Frankie" in 1985 (#1 in the UK for 4 weeks). Their biggest hits have been re-released several times in the UK, often in newly-remixed versions which keep them sounding new and up–to–date. "We Are Family" is regarded by the feminist movement as a totemic statement – it reached number 7 in 1979, number 33 in 1984 and number 5 in 1993. "Lost in Music" reached number 17 in 1979, number 4 in 1984 and number 14 in 1993. "Thinking of You" reached number 11 in 1984 and number 17 in 1993. Additionnal data: Official website, Wikipedia.

 

 

The Wilkinsons: With their first album, Nothing But Love (went to #3 on the Billboard charts in 1998) they established themselves as an act with a firm grip on both the sound and direction of what their music was all about. Listening to their first single, 26 Cents, it's easy to see why the group and the self-penned tune garnered so much attention from record labels and resulted in so many nominations and awards. The Wilkinsons understood that blood-ties and blood harmonies are thicker and richer than any amount of record business calculation. Their music not only captivates but also shows there can be a sense of peace with the way life evolves. The Wilkinsons are a country music family trio  from Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The group consists of  Amanda Wilkinson, Tyler Wilkinson and their dad Steve Wilkinson. Awards: The trio have been nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and Vocal Group of the Year and for Single of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards. Their sophomore album, Here and Now, won the Canadian Country Music Association award for Best Album. The band has earned 7 Canadian Country Music Awards, one Juno Award, and two Grammy nominations (both for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group).  In 2006, The Wilkinsons were nominated for Independent Group of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Continues NEXT