Steve Arrington

Last updated
Steve Arrington
Birth nameSteven Ralph Arrington
Born (1956-03-05) March 5, 1956 (age 68)
Origin Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Genres Funk, soul, R&B, gospel, pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, drummer, producer, engineer, minister
Years active1979–1990, 2009–present
Labels Stones Throw, Tummy Touch, Atlantic, Manhattan, God Factor Records
Website stevearringtonmusic.com

Steven Ralph Arrington (born March 5, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, drummer, record producer, engineer and minister, who grew up in Dayton, Ohio. [1]

Contents

Biography

Arrington played in various local bands before joining and touring with The Murphys, a lounge band out of Toledo, Ohio, in 1975. About a year later Arrington relocated from Ohio to San Francisco, California where he learned Latin percussion and drumming as well as playing with Coke Escovedo, Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.

He joined the funk group Slave (founded 1975) on their third LP, called The Concept , in 1978 – originally to play percussion, then later becoming the drummer and a backing vocalist. Eventually Arrington took over lead vocals, singing on the hit singles "Just a Touch of Love", "Watching You" (which has been sampled by Snoop Dogg) and "Wait for Me".

Arrington left Slave in 1982, forming Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame, [2] [3] and had hit singles such as "Weak at the Knees" (which was sampled by Three Times Dope, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Ice Cube, and others), and "Nobody Can Be You But You".

His most successful album was his 1985 solo work Dancin' in the Key of Life , whose title track became a top ten R&B hit. The single also spent three weeks at number two on the dance charts, [4] and went to number three on the Radio & Records R&B airplay chart. Another single from the album, "Feel So Real" reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in May that year. [5] He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Male Artist of 1986.

In 1984 Arrington experienced a religious conversion, later becoming a licensed minister and, in 1990, he left pop music until his re-emergence in October 2009, when he released the R&B, Funk, spiritual album Pure Thang.

In September 2010 Stones Throw Records announced that Arrington was working with producer Dâm-Funk on a new album. [6] In February, Arrington did an interview with The Revivalist [7] and told them his new album, "Love, Peace and Funky Beatz", was due out in late summer or early fall 2011.

On August 6, 2013, Stones Throw Records released Arrington + Dam-Funk's "Higher". [8]

In September 2014 Tummy Touch released the album "Way Out (80–84)", a collection of songs from Hall of Fame Vol 1 and Positive Power, plus unreleased and previously unfinished material. [9]

On September 18, 2020, Stones Throw Records released a new solo album by Steve Arrington titled Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions with the single "Keep Dreamin'". The album recording took place in 2019–2020 in collaboration with a cast of a new generation of talented producers orchestrated with the help of Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf. Producers include DJ Harrison, Knxwledge, J Rocc, Shibo, Jerry Paper, Brian Ellis, Gifted & Blessed, and Benedek. [10]

Discography

Albums with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame

YearAlbumChart positionsRecord label
US
[11] 		US R&B
[11]
1983 Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame, Vol.1 10112 Atlantic
1984Positive Power14136

Solo albums

YearAlbumChart positionsRecord label
US
[11] 		US R&B
[11] 		UK
[12]
1985 Dancin' in the Key of Life 1853241 Atlantic
1986The Jammin' National Anthem———
1987Jam Packed—50— Manhattan
2009Pure Thang———God Factor Records
2013Steve Arrington & Dãm-Funk (Higher)———Stones Throw
2020Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions——— Stones Throw
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame

TitleYearPeak chart positions
US R&B
[13] 		US Dance
[13]
"Way Out"1982——
"Pocket Full of Air"——
"Weak at the Knees"198333—
"Way Out" (re-release)6849
"Nobody Can Be You"1823
"Mellow as a Cello"1984——
"15 Rounds"85—
"Hump to the Bump"25—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Solo singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positions
UK
[12] 		US
[13] 		US Dance
[13] 		US R&B
[13] 		BEL
GER
NLD
NZ
"Summertime Lovin'"1980————————
"Feel So Real"198551045177161342
"Dancin' in the Key of Life"216828————
"Turn Up the Love"———80————
"She Just Don't Know"————————
"The Jammin' National Anthem"1986———42————
"Homeboy"———28————
"Stone Love"1987———33————
"Lost and Found (You Can Find Me Present)"1988———90————
"No Reason"1990———89————
"Goin' Hard"2011————————
"The Joys of Love"2020————————
"Keep Dreamin'"2020————————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

YearAlbumChart positionsRecord label
US
R&B
1994Stellar Fungk: The Best of Slave featuring Steve Arrington44 Atlantic
2003Party Lights'—
2006Slave: The Definitive Collection—
"—" denotes the album failed to chart

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References

  1. ↑ "Steve Arrington Biography". Pluto.matrix49.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Vincent, Rickey (1996). FUNK The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of The One . St Martin's Griffin. pp.  228 and 283. ISBN   9780312134990.
  3. ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Biography: Steve Arrington". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 23.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 30. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. ↑ "Steve Arrington & Dam-Funk "I Be Trippin"". Stonesthrow.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Gao, Boyaun (March 2, 2011). "Steve Arrington's Revival: Exclusive Audio, Video, & Funk". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  8. ↑ "STEVE ARRINGTON & DAM-FUNK – HIGHER". Pluto.matrix49.com. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Steve Arrington : Way Out (80–84)". Pluto.matrix49.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Steve Arrington - Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Steve Arrington - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  12. 1 2 "STEVE ARRINGTON - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . 27 April 1985. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Steve Arrington Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
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