Midnight Star
| Midnight Star | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Frankfort, Kentucky, United States |
| Genres | Electro-funk, soul, disco |
| Years active | 1976–1990, 2000–present |
| Labels | SOLAR (1979-1990), RCA (1979-1981), Elektra/Asylum (1981-1986), Capitol (1987-1988), Epic (1989-1990) |
| Members | Belinda Lipscomb Melvin Gentry Kenneth Gant Bobby Lovelace Bo Watson Bill Simmons |
| Past members |
Reginald Calloway Vincent Calloway Jeff Cooper |
Midnight Star is an American group that had a string of hits in the 1980s.
The group was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by trumpeter Reggie Calloway, vocalist Belinda Lipscomb, guitarist/drummer/vocalist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, multi-instrumentalist Bill Simmons, keyboard player/vocalist Bo Watson and guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Cooper, as a self-contained group. They would later add non-KSU student trombonist Vincent Calloway (Reginald's younger brother). A 1978 New York City showcase inspired SOLAR Records chief Dick Griffey to sign the group. They released their debut album The Beginning (1980) with some guest studio musicians. In 1981 their second album, released on Solar Records, Standing Together, reached position #54 on the U.S. R&B chart. In 1982 they released a third album, Victory.
Using elected band leader Reggie Calloway's production skills, Midnight Star hit the U.S. R&B chart with early singles "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You". Drummer Bobby Lovelace joined the group in late 1982, freeing Gentry to sing and play guitar exclusively. Their fourth album, No Parking on the Dance Floor, was released in 1983, and its first single, "Freak-A-Zoid", went to number two on the U.S. Black Singles chart. Other singles from the album included "Wet My Whistle", and the title track. These singles, along with the hit album tracks "Slow Jam" (co-written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds) and "Electricity" led the album to double platinum status. Their next album, Planetary Invasion also went platinum and made the pop Top 20 and the number one spot on the R&B chart with its first single, "Operator". This song remains the band's only Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit to date.
...
Wikipedia