52nd Street (band)
| 52nd Street | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Manchester, England |
| Genres |
Jazz Funk Soul R&B |
| Years active | 1980–1991 |
| Labels |
Factory Records (UK) A&M Records Profile Records (US) Ten/Virgin Records MCA Records (US) |
| Associated acts |
New Order Cool Down Zone FR' Mystery |
| Past members |
Diane Charlemagne (deceased) Tony Bowry Tony Henry Rose Williams Eric Godden Desmond Isaacs Jennifer McCloud Beverley McDonald (deceased) Tony Thompson Derrick Johnson John Dennison |
52nd Street were a British jazz-funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the United States. Their biggest and best-known hit single was "Tell Me (How It Feels)", released in 1985 by the 10 Records subsidiary of Virgin Records in the UK, and then months later on in 1986 on MCA Records in the US.
The original line-up consisted of Tony Henry (guitar), Derrick Johnson (bass), Desmond Isaacs (keyboards), Tony Thompson (drums) and Jennifer McCloud (vocals). Within six months vocalist Rose Williams and saxophonist Eric Godden both came and departed before the line-up settled with John Dennison (keyboards) replacing Desmond Isaacs and Beverley McDonald (lead vocals) replacing Jennifer McCloud.
The band played gigs around the Manchester scene, whilst at the same time recording demo tapes in local studios. Local funk DJ Mike Shaft became their mentor and played 52nd Street demos on his Piccadilly Radio shows. In mid-1981 soul DJ Richard Searling and ex-Sad Café manager Derek Brandwood (both of RCA Records) put the band in Revolution Studios, Manchester, to record what was supposed to be their debut single.
Whilst recording demos for RCA, the band was also put into Strawberry Studios to record tracks for Warner Bros. Records A&R scout and club promotions manager Erskine Thompson. With both major labels increasing the pressure to talk to the manager-less 52nd Street, bass player Derick Johnson instead contacted ex-DJ Rob Gretton, co-owner of Factory Records. (The connection was through Johnson's brother Donald, the drummer for Factory act A Certain Ratio). Gretton went to see the band play at jazz venue The Band on the Wall in Manchester. Soon after, Gretton and his partner Tony Wilson added the band to their roster.
...
Wikipedia