CHOONS

More than half a century ago, a cultural and societal movement took root in the streets of New York City. Driven by the post-Stonewall sexual revolution and the masterful work of DJs spinning the latest R&B cuts, people flocked to the clubs in search of their tribe and live out an almost religious experience.  D.C LaRue, by then a seasoned singer and songwriter, was a witness to this phenomenon an...

The “Minneapolis Sound” is eclectic at its core. From the funktified innovations of Prince and André Cymone to the polished productions of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and the alt-rock fire of The Replacements, the scene always made space for everything—and everyone—even an offbeat band like Information Society.   In 1982, the same year The Purple One invited us to party like it was 1999, InSoc burst o...

Back in December 1977, a young actor named John Travolta (by then only known for his role as Vinnie Barbarino on the TV comedy "Welcome Back Kotter) strutted across the streets of New York to the funky beat of an English trio that reinvented themselves from Soft Rock gentlemen to the purveyors of the global Disco explosion.  While The Bee Gees' music was the centerpiece of "Saturday Night Fever,"...

Before he graced the covers of Right On! and Black Beat, O’Bryan was a church kid with a stunning tenor tone informed by years of listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hattaway, Phyllis Hyman, and the Delphonics, among others. His vocal abilities impressed a string of influential people that guided him through his musical journey, from Philly Soul legend Ron Kersey to the mighty "Soul Train" creator D...

Multiple tributes flooded social media channels and websites when Joyce Sims made her peaceful transition on October 13th, 2022, all noting the tangible influence she had on music and people's lives.  This Rochester, NY native found her way from perfecting her craft to soaring the international charts with a heavenly mix of Hip-Hop, electronic beats, and R&B vocal stylings, thanks to her collabora...

As the glamour of New Wave made its way through the UK music scene with acts like Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet, a band made out of three black men was making the most, sashaying into TV studios with an extravagant image and hypnotic tunes to match.  Vocalist Leee John, bassist Ashley Ingram, and drummer Errol Kennedy ruled both the charts and the dancefloors with their own silky and sou...

On January 3rd, 1990, days after a unified East and West Berlin welcomed the new decade with a memorable New Years celebration a few feet away from Brandenburg Gate, German producers Luca Anzilotti and Michael Münzing unleashed "The Power," a song that blended soul, dance, and rap sounds.  Though they weren't the first to come up with this fusion, the result was one of the most recognizable songs...

Back in 1980, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) had finally gained independence from the British, marking the end of racial segregation after a protracted war of liberation that claimed many lives. A year later, a young Alton Edwards became a prodigal son when his debut single climbed the UK top 20, one of the very first instances of a 12" single achieving success in the pop charts. It was the...

Different Fur has been a landmark of the music scene in the Bay Area and at the cutting edge of studio technology since it was founded in 1968 by synth wiz Patrick Gleeson, who went on to play on albums by Herbie Hancock, and in soundtrack albums for the films "Apocalypse Now" and "The Plague Dogs."  Nestled between taquerias and cocktail bars, it has hosted an array of legendary musicians, up-and...

Born Norman Washington Giscombe on June 6, 1957, Junior had been making the rounds of the London music scene, just as the Britfunk movement was bridging the gap of a racially-divided England with its friendly and inviting sound, one inspired by American R&B, soul and funk. After dabbling in rock and even Disco, Junior found his groove with producer Bob Carter and tapped into the words of wisdom of...

In the mid-1980s, a new batch of artists emerged on the UK music scene, blending pop sensibilities, refined arrangements, and an understated sense of fashion. Among the likes of Sade, Prefab Sprout, and Simply Red, there was the unique style of Swing Out Sister, originally comprised of jazz-tinged vocalist and songwriter Corinne Drewery, keyboardist Andy Connell, and drummer Martin Jackson. Influe...

In June of 1987, 24 year-old Carrie McDowell—the second white female artist signed to Motown Records—walked the stage of the legendary music show "Soul Train," and rocked the house with a performance of her first and only single, the controversial "Uh Uh No No Casual Sex." For McDowell, it was no daunting task, as she was already a seasoned entertainer by then. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa,...

It was 1976, and Disco was hot. While Donna Summer, Barry White, Gloria Gaynor, and the Salsoul Orchestra churned out the genre's early standards, there were also your usual oddities in the shelves, from the overtly sexy to the downright novelty. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was neither, and in fact, they weren't even Disco. However, their carefree lyrics and tight danceable musicianship f...

Portland, Oregon is a place known for its access to the great outdoors, fine wineries and breweries, and a delightfully weird culture. It also cultivated a thriving music scene, supported by multiple clubs where you could see people playing any conceivable style, from classical and chamber music to R&B, Riot Grrrl and Punk. Latin, Jazz, and Soul music enthusiasts Valerie Day and John Smith were a...

Princess' appearance at a London fashion show caught the eye of a member of the team working for songwriting and production trio Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, who were eager to continue their streak of success in the charts following the release of songs like Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do, Wherever I Go," Divine's "You Think You're A Man," and Dead or Alive's iconic "You Spin Me 'Round...

As Princess (born Desiree Heslop) gets ready for her return to the stage, treating longtime fans with a first-ever performance of her debut album for Supreme Records, she looks back on the making of that LP and a journey through her extraordinary career, one propelled by the support of her brother and manager, Don Heslop. Both Princess and Don talk about how music came into her life, and her role...

It's been six months since CHOONS was unleashed to the world, and nothing has prepared us for the overwhelming response we've gotten from listeners around the world who share our love for these songs, and most importantly, their place and meaning in our lives. This episode is dedicated to those of you who have shown your support for this show —think of this as our ‘greatest hits’ compilation, a co...

Regina Richards is a force to be reckoned with in the music biz. Inspired by the sounds of Motown, the Ronettes, and The Beatles, she began a prolific career as a composer at a tender age. Richards had enough songs in her portfolio that a band project (Regina Richards and Red Hot) was formed around her, becoming a fixture of the New Wave scene in New York. By the early ‘80s, she dedicated to writi...

Back in the early ‘80s, Brooklynite Alisha Ann Itkin was pretty much your average American teenager. Outgoing yet a bit timid onstage, she shined as a cheerleader, and scored roles in school plays and functions. Oh, and she was also an outstanding vocalist who began training at the age of 8 with the support of her parents, Lillian and Al. As fate would have it, a demo of hers recorded with a rock...

One of the most vocally cohesive groups of its time, The Friends of Distinction—Harry Elston, Barbara Love, Jessica Cleaves, and Floyd Butler—enjoyed considerable success and influence due to their blend of California harmonies and crossover arrangements, qualities that set them apart from their contemporaries. Aided by their manager, NFL legend Jim Brown, the San Diego foursome hit the big time w...

Born into a musical family, Brown found her calling as a little kid watching Sammy Davis Jr. and all the Motown greats at the world-famous Apollo Theater, in New York. With strong will and determination, she went on to become a prolific songwriter for CBS Records, penning lyrics for Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Ronnie Dyson. Brown also had a way of crafting funky tunes for her own with the highly i...

Pajama Studios opened its doors on April 1st 1993. A typical April Fools day, although these folks are no fools. It started with the vision of two-time Grammy nominated composer, arranger, producer and engineer James Gardiner, and his business partner, producer and director Paula Telander. Both greeted us on their world-class recording facility to talk in depth about the legendary performers that...

Pretty Poison was no flash in the pan. Although “Catch Me” is their biggest commercial success to date, they have a whole history as part of Philly’s underground rock scene back in the early 80s. When singer Jade Starling joined the band at age 17, she shared songwriting duties with Whey Cooler and began exploring musical terrains that were more akin to Darkwave and New Wave than the Dance Pop of...

Ever heard the saying "be careful what you wish for"? Better ask House music vocalist Kym Sims. Destined to sing from a young age, Kym developed her talent as the voice behind jingles for major US brands before she ran into Hurley, a neighborhood friend who was impressed by her vocal talent at a local party. He promptly convinced her to collaborate with him and cut what became her signature record...

Exposed to a sea of different influences, from Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra, to The Jackson 5 and Earth Wind and Fire, Howard Johnson started his career with a series of bands that included Niteflyte, whose single “If You Want It” cracked the US top 40 in 1979. After Niteflyte split, his life took an unexpected turn when he got the exciting opportunity to cut records with the legendary producer...