Starpoint

Last updated

Starpoint
Origin Crownsville, Maryland, United States
Genres R&B, funk, post-disco, new jack swing
Years active1978–present
Labels Chocolate City
Boardwalk Records
Elektra, Warner Bros.
Past membersRenée Diggs ✝
Kayode Adeyemo
George Phillips Jr. ✝
Ernesto McKenzie Phillips ✝
Gregory Phillips
Orlando Phillips [1]
Website

Starpoint was an American R&B and funk band from Maryland that was active from 1978 [2] to 1990 recording 10 albums during that time. It comprised four brothers and two other musicians. The ten albums released did well, some reaching the US R&B Charts.

Contents

Biography

Beginnings

The five Phillips Brothers (George, Ernesto, Lloyd, Orlando, and Gregory) started a band that played in the basement and living room doing small parties held by their father, Dr. George McKenzie Phillips. The first band was JR and the Royals, featuring George Phillips, Jr. The brothers later added Kayode "Ky" Adeyemo. Ernesto took over as leader of the band when George and Lloyd were sent to college. When George returned, he rejoined his brothers and introduced Renee Diggs to the band. The brothers welcomed Renee to join and a new group began as Licyndiana. Initially playing at parties and small venues, the group began writing music during this time, with Ernesto becoming the primary songwriter. The group decided to change their name to Starpoint and began making demo recordings to get signed to a major record company.

The demo recordings found their way to Lionel Job, who became the group's manager-producer. He took the same recordings to Ruben Rodriguez at Casablanca records, getting the group its first recording contract.

Success

At this point, Ernesto Phillips played lead guitar, as well as singing lead and backing vocals; Orlando Phillips played bass guitar, keyboards, and saxophone and sang background vocals; Gregory Phillips played drums, percussion background vocals; George Phillips, Jr. played keyboards and sang lead and background vocals. Renee Diggs shared principal lead and background vocal duties. In addition to being another vocalist, Kayode Adeyemo acted as a second bassist and keyboardist, primarily during live performances, though he did contribute instrumentally to the group's early studio albums, [3] and more occasionally on future recordings. This lineup stayed intact for the next 12 years, honing a sound that was also shaped by various producers, including Lionel Job, Keith Diamond, Bernard Edwards and Teddy Riley (in addition to the bandmembers' own contributions to production).

In 1979, the band secured a national recording deal and released their self-titled debut album, Starpoint! in 1980. A single from the album, "I Just Wanna Dance with You," became their first top 20 hit on the R&B chart. [4] They released at least one album every year throughout the first half of the 80s. Elektra Records reissued their sole Boardwalk album, 1983's It's So Delicious. The album Restless brought them crossover success onto the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Object of My Desire." [4] Co-written by band members Kayode Adeyemo and Ernesto Phillips along with R&B musician/producer Keith Diamond, the tune also became Starpoint's first of several R&B top ten hits. The follow-up single "What You've Been Missin'" peaked at No. 9 in the R&B top ten. [5] The title track "Restless" was also released as a single, peaking at No. 11 in the R&B charts. [5]

The band embarked on a lengthy tour in support of the album, partially with Morris Day and later with Luther Vandross, Isley Jasper Isley, and Atlantic Starr. It was during this tour that Diggs was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis; however, she continued to tour and record with the group, without sacrificing her signature stage presence. [3]

In 1987, the band released their follow-up album, Sensational, which featured a third top ten R&B hit, "He Wants My Body". [5] Still, the overall commercial success of this album paled in comparison to its predecessor, with no singles approaching the Pop 40. The group went on to release two additional albums - Hot to the Touch (1988) and Have You Got What It Takes? (1990) - sustaining modest R&B chart success with various singles. [5]

Individual Post-Starpoint Careers

In 1990, Renée Diggs recorded a solo album titled Oasis that was released in Europe. Several of the tracks on this album were co-written by Diggs and Starpoint guitarist Ernesto Phillips. She created the Renée Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, to help bring attention to the disease. She died on March 18, 2005, due to a heart condition, at the age of 50. [1] [6] Oasis was released in the U.S. after her death.

In 2000, Ernesto Phillips began working with singer-songwriter Terry Cole (Sly Boots) and signed him to his label, Longevity Records. The pair would collaborate on many tracks from 2000–2001. He died on March 25, 2004, as the result of a stroke. [1] The Ernesto Phillips Scholarship for Talented Youth was established in his memory and as a tribute to his efforts in helping younger children to realize their ambitions of becoming musicians.

Other band members became involved with songwriting and session work for R&B artists. In 1988, Adeyemo was credited with co-writing Milli Vanilli's hit "Girl You Know It's True". Milli Vanilli's accompanying American album, titled after the hit single, also featured a song composed by Ernesto Phillips, entitled "More Than You'll Ever Know".

From 2001 to 2006, Greg Phillips toured with Najee and Angela Bofill simultaneously.

In 2011, the band regrouped with the four remaining members George Phillips, Orlando Phillips, Ky Adeyemo, and Greg Phillips, performing a one-off live show in Lyon, France. [7]

George Phillips died on February 3, 2021, from sepsis. [8] His family established the George McKenzie Phillips, Jr. Fund for Mental Health and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation in his memory, [9] reflecting his dedication and contributions to these fields as a counselor in his post-Starpoint career.

Band members

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumLabelPeak chart positions
US
[12] 		US R&B
[12]
1980StarpointChocolate City62—
1981Keep on It13831
Wanting You——
1982All Night Long—52
1983It's so DeliciousBoardwalk / Elektra—32
1984It's All YoursElektra——
1985 Restless 6014
1987Sensational9529
1988Hot to the Touch—75
1990Have You Got What It Takes?——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[5] 		US Dance
[5] 		US R&B
[5] 		US Dance Sales
UK
[13]
1980"Get Ready, Get Down"—————Starpoint
"I Just Wanna Dance with You"—2619——
"Gonna Lift You Up"—————
"You're My Sunny Day"—————
1981"Keep on It"——28——Keep on It
"I Just Want to Be Your Lover"—————
"I Want You Closer"——67——
"Wanting You"——66——Wanting You
"Do What You Wanna Do"——56——
"Angel"——50——
1982"Get Your Body Up"——76——All Night Long
"Bring Your Sweet Lovin' Back"—————
"All Night Long"——69——
1983"It's so Delicious"——79——It's so Delicious
"Don't Be so Serious"—4614——
1984"It's All Yours"—2317—84It's All Yours
"Breakout"—————
"Am I Still the One"——59——
1985"Object of My Desire"25128796Restless
"Emotions" (U.K. only)—————
"What You Been Missin'"——9——
1986"Restless"461311——
"Til the End of Time"——64——
1987"He Wants My Body"89408——Sensational
"D.Y.B.O."——25——
"The More We Love"——30——
"Touch of Your Love"—————
1988"Say You Will"——18——Hot to the Touch
"Tough Act to Follow"——81——
1990"I Want You - You Want Me"—932——Have You Got What It Takes?
"Midnight Love"——45——
"Have You Got What It Takes?"——93——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

[14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dazz Band</span> American R&B and funk band

The Dazz Band is an American R&B/funk band most popular in the early 1980s. Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include "Let It Whip" (1982), "Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (1984). The name of the band is a portmanteau of the description "danceable jazz".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Trammps</span> American disco and soul band

The Trammps are an American disco and soul band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands.

<i>Girl You Know Its True</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Milli Vanilli

Girl You Know It's True is a 1989 album that served as the North American debut of German R&B duo Milli Vanilli. It is a reconfigured and repackaged version of the group's first album All or Nothing for the North American market. The album was a major success in the US, producing five singles that entered the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, three of which reached the top position.

Rufus is an American funk band from Chicago best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits during their career including "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel", and "Ain't Nobody". Rufus and Chaka Khan were one of the most popular and influential funk bands of the 1970s; they had four consecutive number-one R&B albums, ten top 40 pop hits, and five number-one R&B singles among other accolades.

<i>Wild Orchid</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Wild Orchid

Wild Orchid is the self-titled debut album by American band Wild Orchid, released in March 1997. It is their most successful album. The album was nominated for two Lady of Soul Awards.

Atlantic Starr is an American rhythm and blues band based in White Plains, New York. They are best known for the hits "Always", "Secret Lovers", "Circles", and "Masterpiece".

Change is an Italian-American post-disco group formed in Bologna, Italy, in 1979 by businessman and executive producer Jacques Fred Petrus (1948–1987) and Mauro Malavasi. They were heavily influenced by the disco band Chic. The current incarnation of the group formed in 2018.

<i>Open Sesame</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1976 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Open Sesame is the eighth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1976 on Mercury Records. The album reached No. 9 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the US Billboard Top Jazz LPs chart.

<i>Celebrate!</i> 1980 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Celebrate! is the twelfth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang. Released on September 29, 1980, the album reached No. 1 on the US R&B chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. The album produced perhaps Kool & the Gang's most recognizable hit song, the #1 chart-topper, "Celebration", which still receives heavy play today over four decades later.

<i>Forever</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1986 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Forever is the seventeenth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1986. The album included two major hits on the US Hot 100 Chart: "Victory" and "Stone Love". Three additional singles charted, "Holiday" reached the top ten on the R&B Chart, "Special Way" reached #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. and "Peacemaker" was released in international markets and charted at #20 in New Zealand.

<i>The Moment of Truth</i> (The Real Milli Vanilli album) 1991 studio album

The Moment of Truth is the only studio album by the pop group the Real Milli Vanilli, released in 1991.

Switch is an American R&B/funk band that recorded for the Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured the siblings of Switch band members Bobby and Tommy DeBarge.

<i>The Promise</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 2003 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

The Promise is the eighteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in May 2003 on Kalimba Music. The album peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl You Know It's True (song)</span> 1988 single by Milli Vanilli

"Girl You Know It's True" is a song by Maryland-based group Numarx, later made internationally famed by German dance-pop group Milli Vanilli. Released as the lead single from MV's European debut album, All or Nothing (1988), and the duo's American debut album, Girl You Know It's True (1989), the song peaked at number one on the German Singles Chart, number two in the United States and number three in the United Kingdom, becoming one of Milli Vanilli's most successful singles.

<i>All This Love</i> (album) 1982 studio album by DeBarge

All This Love is the second studio album by DeBarge, released by Gordy Records on July 22, 1982.

<i>Street Player</i> 1978 studio album by Rufus & Chaka Khan

Street Player is the sixth studio album by funk band Rufus, released on the ABC Records label in 1978. Street Player was the band's third album to top Billboard's R&B Albums chart and also reached number 14 on Pop. The album includes the singles "Stay" and "Blue Love".

<i>Masterjam</i> 1979 studio album by Rufus & Chaka

Masterjam is the platinum-selling eighth studio album by funk band Rufus. Released in 1979, it was their debut on the MCA Records label following their purchase and dissolution of ABC Records.

<i>Millennium</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1993 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Millennium is the sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, No. 39 on the US Billboard 200, No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Millennium has also been certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.

<i>Everlasting</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1987 studio album by Natalie Cole

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peaked at number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Restless</i> (Starpoint album) 1985 studio album by Starpoint

Restless is the seventh full-length studio release from Maryland-based soul band Starpoint. It was released in 1985 and was produced by the team of Keith Diamond and Lionel Job. It featured their biggest pop chart hit in the song "Object of My Desire", which peaked at number 25 in 1985. Follow-up singles included "What You Been Missin'", which cracked the R&B top ten, and the title track, which nearly became another R&B top-ten hit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Starpoint Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Starpoint "The Official Facebook Page" - Post". Facebook.com. October 23, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Band Members @ Starpoint Official Site" . Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Starpoint Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ "R&B Singer S. Renee Diggs Dies at 50". NPR: Obituaries. March 24, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Events ("Starpoint Goes to France") @ Starpoint Official Site" . Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ Jacques, Kelly (February 27, 2021). "George M. Phillips Jr., substance abuse counselor and vocalist in '80s pop group Starpoint, dies". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Foundation @ Starpoint Official Site" . Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "George M. Phillips Jr., substance abuse counselor and vocalist in '80s pop group Starpoint, dies". Opera News. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Band Members - Starpoint Music" . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Starpoint - Awards: Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  13. ↑ "STARPOINT - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Discography - Starpoint Music" . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.