Starpoint
| Starpoint | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City and Maryland, United States |
| Genres | Funk, post-disco, new jack swing |
| Years active | 1969-1990 |
| Labels |
Chocolate City Elektra |
| Past members | Renee Diggs (Jul. 23, 1954 - Mar. 18, 2005) George Phillips Kayode Adeyemo Marvin Ennis Ernesto Phillips Gregory Phillips Orlando Phillips |
Starpoint was an American R&B sextet from Maryland that began recording in the 1980s, releasing a string of solid albums first on the Casablanca sub label "Chocolate City", and later on Elektra. Their earlier albums, especially 1980's "Keep on It" were more funk than r & b, but vocalist Renee Diggs brought the r & b elements to the forefront with her powerful vocals which had both presence and sophistication, coupled with near perfect pitch and very pleasing tone.
When the band later signed with Elektra, their sound veered more on the pop side of r & b, but the funk elements were still there. At Elektra, their 1985 LP "Restless" yielded their sole top 40 single, "Object of my Desire", and the r & b/urban singles "Restless", & "What you've been Missin'". The non-single tracks (as always) were just as strong, with "Emotions" & "One more Night" being the standouts, in addition to a song that had a lot of pop potential, "See the Light". In 1987, their LP "Sensational" yielded another top 40 pop hit, "He wants my Body". The remainder of this album was also quite solid.
Starpoint's producers over the years included Lionel Job, Keith Diamond, Bernard Edwards, Teddy Riley, & others.
Initially performing under the name "Licyndiana," Starpoint was originally formed in 1969 near Annapolis, Maryland by the children of two local doctors. Kayode Adeyemo, whose parents had been immigrants from Nigeria and Barbados, was born and grew up in Crownsville, Maryland. His father, a doctor, worked with Dr. George Phillips at Crownsville Hospital. As a result, a young Kayode Adeyemo was introduced to Dr. Phillips' five sons: Ernesto, Orlando, Lloyd, Greg, and George, Jr. Soon thereafter, Adeyemo began jamming with four of the Phillips brothers, each of whom were multi-instrumentalists. Initially, Adeyemo played bass guitar in the group. After this foundation had stabilized, Renée Diggs came on board as the lead singer, Terre Holland as the new bassist, and Marvin Ennis as the keyboardist completing the Licyndiana line-up.
With so much musical/instrumental talent between them, the Phillips brothers each came to specialize in particular instruments within the band, with Ernesto Phillips handling lead guitar and trumpet; Orlando Phillips on bass guitar, keyboards, and saxophone; Greg Phillips on drums; and George Phillips, Jr. on keyboards. Additional musical contributors included Terre Holland on bass, Lonnie Allen and sometimes Clifton Hoyt on congas and percussion, and MARZ- "Make it Right" band leader Marvin Ennis on keyboards as well. Renee Diggs handled most of the lead parts. By the end of the 1970s, the band had scored a recording contract with Cecil Holmes' Chocolate City Records, at which point, at the suggestion of Marvin Ennis, they changed their name to "Starpoint."
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