|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOMMODORES, TheSoul group formed '68: became the most successful act of Motown's later years after Stevie Wonder, with 20 hits in Billboard Hot 100 '74--82. Original lineup of school friends from Tuskegee Institute: Lionel Richie, vocals, tenor sax; Milan Williams (b 28 March '49 MS), keyboards, guitar; William King (b 30 Jan. '49, AL), horns; Thomas McClary (b 6 Oct. '50, FL), guitar; added drummer Andre Callaghan, bass player 'Railroad', later Michael Gilbert on bass, Jimmy Johnson on sax in merger of groups called the Mystics and the Jays. Chose name from a dictionary; later joked that they were almost called the Commodes. To NYC '69, allegedly had early gig at Smalls' Paradise in Harlem (one of the last remaining legendary Harlem clubs from the '20s; see Cotton Club). Single on Atlantic prod. by Jerry Williams (see Swamp Dog) flopped; signed by Motown '71, supported the Jacksons two years; by the time of first album Machine Gun '74 the sextet incl. first four named above plus Ronald LaPread (b 4 Sep. '50, AL), bass, and Walter 'Clyde' Orange (b 10 Dec. '47, FL), drums: title track was first single hit, followed by Caught In The Act and Movin' On '75, the instrumental hard funk successful, but soon overtaken by ballads as Richie's songwriting emerged: 'Just To Be Close To You', 'Sweet Love', 'Easy', 'Sail On' were top five '75--9, while 'Three Times A Lady' '78 and 'Still' '79 were no. ones. He pursued solo projects, left group c'81 replaced by J. D. Nicholas (ex- Heatwave); they continued to chart (top 20 '84 with 'Nightshift'), left Motown. McClary also launched solo career. Other albums incl. Hot On The Tracks '76, Commodores and two- disc Commodores Live! '77, Natural High '78, Midnight Magic '79, Heroes '80, In The Pocket '81, plus compilations; Commodores 13 '83 was the first without Richie, reached only 103 on Billboard album chart; Nightshift '85 made no. 12 but United '86 only 101. |