Barbara Weathers

Last updated
Barbara Weathers
Born (1963-12-07) December 7, 1963 (age 61)
parents: Dorothy Jean Morton - John Kenneth Lee
Origin Greensboro, North Carolina
Genres
OccupationSinger
Instrumentvocals
Years active1978–present
Labels Reprise
Weberworks

Barbara Weathers (born December 7, 1963) is an American R&B/soul singer, and former lead singer of R&B vocal group, Atlantic Starr. [1]

Contents

Overview

At the age of 13 Weathers joined Covacus an R&B band from Greensboro N.C. Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1981, she left Covacus and joined "Teaser" a band out of Charlotte N.C. After a year with the group she returned to Greensboro and began working as a singing waitress at "Yenrofs" a jazz club. There she was approached by two gentlemen from Philadelphia International Records about a solo deal. Barbara, being friends with Wayne Lewis from Atlantic Starr called and asked for his help. Wayne put her in touch with Earl Cole (Atlantic Starr's manager) to help her with the negotiations. Earl acted as her manager on the conference call and afterwards suggested Barbara decline that offer and allow the Lewis Brothers to produce a demo for her. Gerald Busby and MCA Records funded that demo. In December of 1984 Barbara recorded her demo. The Lewis brothers produced three songs, "Secret Lovers" "Silver Shadow" and "Big Boy Games". Early January Barbara received a call from Earl Cole stating MCA had declined her demo, but there was work for her in L.A.

Two days later she went to L.A. Jonathan Lewis picked her up from the airport and took her to a recording studio where Wayne was singing in a booth. After he came out, they told Barbara to go in and sing what she was told. That song was" If Your Heart Isn't In It". The next day Barbara was informed that Atlantic Starr wanted her to join the group. Stunned, because she had no idea they were even looking for a lead female vocalist, and in no way wanted to join another group considered declining, but realized it would be a mistake to say no to an established group with a current record deal, so she joined.

That year she recorded "As The Band Turns" with Atlantic Starr under A&M Records. Secret Lovers and Silver Shadow were added to that record. web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-02-ca-1222-story.html%7Ctitle=ATLANTIC STARR LIGHTS A FIRE ON CHARTS|author=Hunt, Dennis|date=March 2, 1986|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> [2] A song from the album, "Secret Lovers", reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (becoming the band's first major Hot 100 hit), No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary Songs chart, and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. [3] [4] [5] The album spun off four additional top-40 singles on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, including two other top tens- the debut single "Freak-A-Ristic", which shot to No. 6, [6] and "If Your Heart Isn't In It", which matched "Secret Lovers"' placement at No. 4. Another of these R&B top-40 songs, the R&B No. 12 hit "Silver Shadow" featured Weathers as the sole lead vocalist, her first such song with the group. As the Band Turns was eventually certified Gold in the US by the RIAA. [7]

Meanwhile, Weathers continued contributing to Atlantic Starr's success, singing on the band's 1987 follow-up album All In The Name Of Love . [2] Spearheaded by the single "Always", a chart-topper on the Pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts, [8] [9] [10] this album surpassed its predecessor, earning RIAA Platinum certification in the US. [11] Follow-up singles from the album included another R&B top ten hit, "One Lover at a Time", also featuring Weathers as the sole lead vocalist.

Following the massive popularity of this album, Weathers left the group because of serious internal issues with the band. name=Goldmine /> going on to release her debut solo album in 1990 on Reprise Records. [12] The LP got to No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Hiplist chart. [13] Music & Media said "Transatlantic formula funk. A big, squeaky clean production, some decent songs and a good voice add up to the arrival of yet another crooner. The music has none of the bite of Chaka Khan but what it does have is a singer of charm and variety in Weathers". [14] Leonard Pitts Jr. of LA Weekly wrote "it's a solid piece of pop craftsmanship bright and spunky and then, when you least expect it moving and poignant (just don't look for deep reflection). Barbara Weathers is pop with few illusions and fewer pretensions; it serves up sunny, unobtrusive production alongside lyrics that manage the neattrick of sounding familiar without wallowing in cliche." [15] While the album was not as successful in America, the album cut "The Master Key" rose to no. 13 upon the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. [16]

She later appeared on Big Daddy Kane's October 1990 LP Taste of Chocolate and Paul Jackson Jr.'s 1993 album A River in the Desert where she performed "If I Go Away". [1] Weathers's 1995 sophomore LP entitled Seeing for the Very First Time, was issued solely in Japan and eventually became a smash hit. [17] [18]

1996 Weathers toured with gospel artist Gary Valenciano. 2003 Weathers toured with jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum and bassist Wayman Tisdale.


During October 2011, she released Satisfaction Guaranteed, her fifth studio album. In 2015 she participated in (I've Had) The Time Of My Life tour, a 15 city European tour for promoter David Gest.

Weathers continues to perform and record.

[19]

Discography

Albums

With Atlantic Starr

Solo

  • Barbara Weathers (1990)
  • Seeing For The Very First Time (Weberworks, 1995) released only in Japan
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed (Weberworks, 2011)

Singles

With Atlantic Starr

1985

1986

  • "If Your Heart Isn't In It"
  • "Armed and Dangerous" 1986

1987

  • "Always"
  • "One Lover at A Time"
  • "All in the Name of Love"

1988

  • "Thankful"

Solo

1990

  • The Master Key
  • Our Love Will Last Forever
  • "My Only Love"

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References

  1. 1 2 "Barbara Weathers Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  2. 1 2 Phil (July 17, 2014). "Goldmine's Hall of Fame Inductees - Volume 47". goldminemag.com. Goldmine Magazine.
  3. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Secret Lovers (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Secret Lovers (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  5. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Secret Lovers (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com.
  6. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Freak-A-Ristic (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com.
  7. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: As The Band Turns". RIAA.com.
  8. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Always (Hot 100)". Billboard.com.
  9. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Always (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com.
  10. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: Always (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.com.
  11. ↑ "Atlantic Starr: All In The Name of Love". riaa.com.
  12. ↑ Barbara Weathers: Barbara Weathers. Reprise Records. 1990.
  13. ↑ "The Hiplist". No. 563. Blues and Soul. June 19, 1990.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  14. ↑ "Barbara Weathers: Barbara Weathers". Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 32. August 11, 1990. p. 7.
  15. ↑ Jr. Pitts, Leonard (August 23, 1990). "Music Reviews". newspapers.com. LA Weekly. p. 86.
  16. ↑ "Barbara Weathers: The Master Key". billboard.com. Billboard.[ dead link ]
  17. ↑ Barbara Weathers: Seeing For The Very First Time. Weber Works Records. 1995.
  18. ↑ "Barbara Weathers" (PDF). spectacularmag.com. June 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ "ICYMI". twitter.com. Kirk Whalum. January 1, 2015.
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