Blondie is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid 70s.
Emily Drinkard, known professionally as Cissy Houston, was an American soul and gospel singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston began singing with three of her siblings in the family gospel group, The Drinkard Singers. By the early 1960s, Houston began a career as a session vocalist for several secular musicians in the rhythm and blues, soul, rock and roll, pop and rock genres. After initially joining her nieces' group the Gospelaires for a session with Ronnie Hawkins in 1961, Houston gradually took control of the group, which revamped into "The Group" with Houston, niece Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and teenager Estelle Brown. She eventually founded the girl group The Sweet Inspirations with Shemwell, Smith and Brown in 1967 and that year signed a contract with Atlantic Records where, with Houston as lead singer, they would record four albums before Houston departed for a solo career in 1970. Her best known solo singles include the top 20 R&B chart single, "I'll Be There" and the top 5 dance single, "Think It Over". Her solo career culminated with two Grammy Award wins, both in the Traditional Gospel Album category.
Delia Juanita Warrick, known professionally as Dee Dee Warwick, was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she was the sister of singer Dionne Warwick, the niece of Cissy Houston, and a first cousin of singers Whitney Houston and Leontyne Price.
Judy Clay was an American soul and gospel singer, who achieved greatest success as a member of two recording duos in the 1960s.
Vincent Montana Jr., known as Vince Montana, was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist, and percussionist. He is best known as a member of MFSB and as the founder of the Salsoul Orchestra. He has been called "the Godfather of disco". Montana was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.
The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group from Newark, New Jersey, founded by Cissy Houston, mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists but also a Grammy-nominated recording act in their own right.
David Eldon Lasley was an American recording artist, singer, musician and songwriter. He was best known as a touring background singer for James Taylor, as a session singer on recordings by artists including Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, Chic, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Cher, Dusty Springfield and Boz Scaggs; as a songwriter for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Maxine Nightingale, Rita Coolidge, Crystal Gayle, and Luther Vandross; and for his solo albums, albums with his 1970s vocal group Rosie, and for his early years in Detroit with his vocal group The Utopias.
"Time Is on My Side" is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy. First recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his orchestra in 1963, it was covered by both soul singer Irma Thomas and then later the Rolling Stones in 1964.
Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 in New York City by Arthur Shimkin, the owner of the children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. A British branch was also active in the 1960s and 1970s. Bell Records was shut down in late 1974, and its assets were transferred to Columbia Pictures' new label, Arista Records.
Jai Uttal is an American musician. He is a Grammy-nominated singer and “a pioneer in the world music community with his eclectic East-meets-West sound.”
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" is a soul ballad, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was first released in 1967 by Sam & Dave on their album Double Dynamite released on Stax Records.
Blonde and Beyond is a compilation album of recordings by Blondie released on Chrysalis Records in 1993.
"I've Got the Music in Me" is a pop song by the Kiki Dee Band, released in 1974. It was written in 1973 by Bias Boshell, Kiki Dee Band's keyboardist. It is also the title of a Kiki Dee Band album released in 1974 and re-mastered and re-issued with bonus tracks in 2008.
The Pearls were an English 1970s girl vocal duo from Liverpool, England, featuring Lyn Cornell and Ann Simmons. They released a total of 12 singles, the most successful being "Guilty", which reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1974. Various Pearls singles were released around the world with different catalogue numbers and sometimes different labels. They had releases throughout Europe and in the Far East, USA, Canada, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Presenting Cissy Houston is the debut album by American soul singer/backing vocalist and former Sweet Inspirations lead singer Cissy Houston, originally released on Major Minor Records in 1970 in the United Kingdom. Her contract was sold to Janus Records the same year. They released the album in the United States as Cissy Houston in 1970. The 2012 CD re-release on Cherry Red Records incorporates bonus tracks from later recordings.
Lawrence Uttal was an American music business executive who led the Madison Records, Bell and Private Stock record labels in the 1960s and 1970s.
Cissy Houston is the second studio album by American soul/gospel singer Cissy Houston, released in 1977 on Private Stock Records as the follow-up to her debut album, Presenting Cissy Houston. The original recording was re-mastered and includes extensive liner notes and re-released on CD under Cherry Red Records in 2013.
Think It Over is the third studio album by American gospel/soul singer Cissy Houston, released in 1978 on Private Stock Records. The album was produced by Michael Zager and features Houston's R&B hit "Think It Over", which peaked at #5 on the Billboards Dance chart and #32 on Billboards Hot Soul chart. The album was #7 on the Canadian Dance charts October 14, 1978.
The Definitive Collection: Cissy Houston is a compilation album by American soul/gospel singer Cissy Houston, released in the U.S. and UK in 2000. It consist primarily of songs from two Houston albums, 1977's Cissy Houston and 1978's Think It Over", as well as her hit singles "Warning-Danger" and "Think It Over". Also featured are her cover versions which appeared on the two albums, such as "Make It Easy on Yourself", "Tomorrow", Elton John's "Your Song" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".
Midnight Train to Georgia is a compilation album by American soul singer Cissy Houston, released in 1995 on Ichiban Records. The album consist of songs recorded when she was on the Janus Records label, which released her debut album, Presenting Cissy Houston, as well as bonus tracks.
