1982 promotional 8x10 glossy of the classic SHALAMAR lineup (1978-1983, Jeffrey Daniel, Jody Watley and Howard Hewett.
Showing posts with label 80's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 80's. Show all posts
SHALAMAR Friends The Soul Sound of 1982
"Moonwalking it's way into UK hearts, Friends was the soul sound of 1982…To promote it, backing vocalist and dancer Jeffrey Daniel appeared alone on Top of The Pops. His performance was to prove jaw-dropping for that generation..Thanks to Daniel, completed by Jody Watley and Howard Hewett - Shalamar was hot…" Read the full review: BBC
"Friends" was reissued in 2013 by Big Break Records, order from Amazon.com
SHALAMAR Get Your Nightlife with Originals Jody Watley and Gerald Brown on Soulbounce
From respected blog music blog Soulbounce: Jody Watley brought the noise, funk and attitude that dominated the late 70's and all of the 80's. First with Shalamar and then as as a solo act, she paved the war for many of the female acts who came after her..the exciting twist features the original Shalamar co-lead singer Gerald Brown.. read the rest after the jump on: Soulbounce
Jody Watley and the concept of "Nightlife" helps keep the Shalamar name alive and relevant into the 21st century and the first Shalamar duet since 1983. "Nightlife" debuts on Music Week at Number 20 in Great Britain, always a strong market for Shalamar.
Jody Watley and the concept of "Nightlife" helps keep the Shalamar name alive and relevant into the 21st century and the first Shalamar duet since 1983. "Nightlife" debuts on Music Week at Number 20 in Great Britain, always a strong market for Shalamar.
SHALAMAR True Friends In Blues and Soul
 |
| Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel Blues and Soul 1982 |
EXCERPT:
Shalamar's leap to super-stardom is one of the great success
stories of 1982. Howard Hewett raps with B&S and explains how the Shalamar
explosion happened, and reveals their immediate and long term plans...
The thing about Shalamar is that you get the distinct
feeling that they would hang out together even if the Shalamar bubble burst
tomorrow - not that there's a whole lot of chance of that happening, you
understand! And not wishing to abuse any clichés but Jeffrey, Howard and Jody
do genuinely appear to like each other.
I recall the first interview personally I had with Shalamar
earlier this year, they seemed to possess a "oneness", a sort of
three into one will go type of aura which was difficult to pinpoint but very
easy to see and feel.
A flicker of the Daniel eye, a twitch of the Watley lip, a
raising of the Hewett eyebrow - everything, which would normally be perfectly
in order seemed to convey a secret message which only they understood.
I recall feeling slightly disoriented at the time but
manfully struggled on and completed the interview--which appeared in B&S
Issue 353.
Glancing through that interview, I note with interest that
their "Friends" album had just been unleashed on an unsuspecting
public, and my comment, although hardly a lone voice in the wilderness was
pretty accurate and prophetic.
The album "Friends" is without a doubt, outrageously
commercial and looks set to endorse the
group's faith in it's own belief. The fact that it was also their debut Solar
album under the WEA banner was also noted.
Shortly thereafter the whole Shalamar "thing" went
into orbit: their recordings, which hitherto had attained pleasing results,
suddenly became essential buys for what
appeared to be the majority of the British record market whilst their live
appearances became sell-out situations everywhere. Shalamar had become a very
hot property indeed.
What happened?
The answer to this, and other questions was answered by
Shalamar's Howard Hewett when I met up with him recently at the WEA offices in
Soho.
"I don't think there is just one simple explanation for
the success we have had this year.: smiles a relaxed, if tired looking Howard.
"I believe one of the major factors was the switch from RCA to WEA Records
which to be a viable and comfortable
move for everyone, certainly as far as we're concerned!" "Naturally,
the 'Friends' album didn't do us any harm either! We put a lot of effort into
making that albumm just right - or what we hoped was just right -- and I guess without appearing too
smug, we managed a reasonable job!"
"These two factors plus that indefinable something ... maybe it's the timing or the ability to catch the
spirit or mood of the people...really made the difference this
year."
Shalamar, of course, have always been an entertaining trio;
their appeal is basic and uncluttered and effective. Howard's lead vocals,
Jeffrey's dancing and Jody's...eh, well, Jody's all around talents have collectively proved to be the smash of
the year..82's formula for success which shows little sign of easing up for 1983.
SHALAMAR In London
 |
| Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel
The classic trio with this line-up have not toured together since 1983.
|
SHALAMAR Jeffrey Daniel Dance Master Samurai
 |
| British Magazine clipping 1983 |
JEFFREY DANIEL's new group Eclipse obviously know the importance of a good haircut, amongst the styles they sport being a perfect pompadoured Charlie Foxx (as in Inez&..)! Jeffrey tells me that following the break up of Shalamar, Solar succeeded in getting Howard Hewitt to stay singing under the established group name with the two new recruits, instead of going solo -- which surely would have been a more sensible move for Howard?
SHALAMAR Jeffrey Daniel Funky Samarai In 1982
SHALAMAR Cover Black Enterprise July 1982
SHALAMAR: Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel July 1982 EXCERPT: Top Seller for Solar "Among the stable of Acts is Shalamar. gold single "The Second Time Around" and then followed it up with their recent smash "A Night To Remember." With sales of 40.7 million dollars, ten biggest Solar Sellers Include Shalamar at #1 with 1.8 million, the company catapulted to eleventh place in the 1982 Black Enterprise List of Top 100 Black Owned businesses. The only company ahead of Solar is Motown which has held the No, 1 spot since the Black Enterprise List began a decade ago." - By Stephan Gale
SHALAMAR Jody Watley Beauty In Black and White Promotional Photo
 |
| JODY WATLEY, Three for love album promotional photo, 1980 |
Jody Watley went on to become Grammy winning solo artist with multiple top ten hits in Pop, R&B, and Dance Music.
SHALAMAR Friends Reissue Review Classic Pop
 |
| 2013 Review of ReIssue of Shalamar's monstrous "Friends" album |
SHALAMAR Threatens To Split. Black Beat Magazine 1983
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.
 |
| 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.
SHALAMAR Jeffrey Daniel | Jody Watley The FACE Style Feature 1983
Former Soul Train stars Jeffrey Daniel and Jody Watley from The Face Magazine, UK 1983 BY Lesley White were recognized as being on the cutting edge of style since Soul Train and contributed to the distinct appeal of Shalamar with their fashions and dancing along with the singing sounds.
EXCERPT: If Los Angeles soul group Shalamar gave us our first taste of body poppin' and a clutch of truly memorable singles, London has fully reciprocated with the delights of Camden Palace, Kensington Market and Vivienne Westwood, all of which they've adopted as their own. Since their dancing days on American TV's Soul Train, Jeffrey Daniel and Jody Watley-paper thin perfect as models on the best books in town-have been a natural compliment, in or out of the camera's eye.."
The Face Magazine, August 1983
Elvis Costello Cover
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)