Secret Weapon (group)

Last updated
Secret Weapon
Origin New York, New York U.S.
Genres Post-disco  funk
Labels Prelude Records

Secret Weapon was a New York-based short-lived post-disco music group, [1] formed by Jerome Prister. The group had a number of hits throughout the 1980s with their most successful single being "Must Be the Music" which hit #24 on the R&B chart [2] and #66 on the dance chart in 1982. [3]

Contents

Post-breakup

Band founder Jerome Prister went on to form the short-lived off-shoot group Output and later released several solo singles, along with a 1989 studio album, under the name Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister. He died of a stroke in 2007. [4] [ citation needed ]

Singer Michele Blackmon, who also co-wrote "Must Be the Music," later began working as a unit team member managing inmates at a correctional facility, although she would continue performing/entertaining on the side until shortly before her death in late 2014. [5]

Secret Weapon's Djuana "DJ" Thomas is a radio personality on Atlanta's WRDA. [6]

One-time lead vocalist Stanley Snider (credited as "'The' Roy Skip Snider" in liner notes for the band's self-titled album) went on to release several solo singles after the dissolution of the group [7] but would never officially join another group, opting to work more behind the scenes, creating and producing several groups. The founder of a health insurance non-profit, Snider currently works as the CEO of this company and recently announced his return to singing. [8]

Original members

Other members (at various times)

Discography

Albums

YearSingleChart positions
US
R&B
US
Dance
1983Secret Weapon
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

Singles

YearSingleChart positions
US
R&B
US
Dance
1982"Must Be the Music"2466
1983"DJ Man"73
1984"Move for Me" (as Output)88
1988"Say You'll Be" (as Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister)89
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

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References

  1. Kellman, Andy (Allmusic). Secret Weapon overview. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 516.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 229.
  4. Jerome Prister @Discogs.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  5. Michele Blackmon - Obituaries - The Hutchinson News - Hutchinson, KS (December 23, 2014) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  6. "DJ Thomas - WiLD 105.7 & 96.7 FM! Atlanta, GA Radio - WWVA -". www.1057thegroove.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. Stanley Snider @Discogs.com (needs to be verified, as Discogs no longer considered a reliable source) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  8. Secret Weapon's Chart topping Vocalist Shouts Out "DOW Principle & JAMBOX Studios" @YouTube.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.