Bulletin by Stephanie Ray, Black Beat Magazine January 1984 "Deep Dish" :
By the time you read this (here we go again), it'll be common knowledge, but at press time, the word is in Hollywood is that the group SHALAMAR is no more. Apparently the differences of the three members, HOWARD HEWETT, JODY WATLEY and JEFFREY DANIELS - were simply too much to hold together. As this is printed, details are still sketchy, but we can only guess that the musical ideas of Hewett and Daniels probably had their final clash. Daniels is more interested in expanding into rock n roll, and while Howard can hang, he's far more comfortable with conventional pop/R&B. Daniels who has been living in London for sometime now, also heads up a dance troupe, (some of whom appeared in the 'Beat It' video).
Last we heard, Watley, whose future generally seems the most questionable, was also considering moving to London. Hewett, we're told, has been retained by the Solar label as a solo artist, while Daniels recording future remains to be seen.
It's ironic that at the time of the group's split, it was enjoying what may be their most successful album to date. This also makes the Shalamar feature in this issue of Black Beat one of the last Shalamar interviews. Curiously, Hewett's dissatisfaction could be detected even then.
As a footnote to the Black Beat Article original stating Jody Watley's future seemed the most questionable; Watley went on to become the break out star of Shalamar winning a Grammy Award as Best New Artist and racking up multiple hits (beginning with her #1 single "Looking For a New Love") in Pop, R&B/Soul and Dance making trending video's and appearing in fashion layouts. She is also noted for her groundbreaking single "Friends" with Eric B and Rakim.
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| Jody Watley, Solo Debut 1987 On Cover of Echoes |
Howard Hewett went on to moderate success in R&B with "I'm For Real, "Stay" and the gospel "Say Amen."
Jeffrey Daniel returned to Solar Records to release his solo debut "Skinny Boy" and worked with music legend Michael Jackson, as one of the teachers of the moonwalk (a street dance originated in bodypopping and backslide moves by the Electric Boog-a Loo' in Los Angeles), and co-choreographing the video's Bad and Smooth Criminal.
