Cameo (band)
Cameo is an American funk band that formed in 1974.[1] Cameo was initially a 14-member group known as the New York City Players;[1] this name was later changed to Cameo.
Cameo | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Funk |
| Years active | 1974–2001, 2016–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Outkast |
| Website | cameonation |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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As of the first half of 2009, some of the original members continue to perform together. Two other original members were hired by the hip hop group Outkast.[2] In 2015, Cameo announced a new residency show at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, opening in March 2016.[3] On February 20, 2019, Larry Blackmon of Cameo announced "El Passo", the first new single from the band in 19 years.[4][5][6] Cameo topped the R&B charts for more than a decade, has sold more than 18 million albums and is considered one of the most popular funk bands of its era.
Background
1974–1979: Formation and early years
In 1974, Cameo started out with 14 members created by Larry Blackmon and called the New York City Players.[1] Signed by Casablanca Records to its Chocolate City imprint in 1976,[1] the group soon changed its name to Cameo after their manager informed them that there was already a band called The New York City Players. Prior to this, Blackmon, keyboardist Gregory Johnson, and the late Gwen Guthrie formed the band East Coast, together with James Wheeler (alto saxophone), Melvin Whay (bass), Michael Harris (percussion), and Haras Fyre (also known as Pat Grant) on trombone. They released one self-titled album in 1973 on the independent label Encounter.
Cameo started with a deep, funk sound, but it was obvious from the start their sights were set on the dance floor. Their first album was Cardiac Arrest which featured its first hit single, "Rigor Mortis". Ugly Ego, We All Know Who We Are, and Secret Omen contained dance floor songs such as "I Just Want To Be" and "Find My Way", the latter of which was a major disco smash and was included on the Thank God It's Friday soundtrack. ("Find My Way" was their cover of a 1972 Three Degrees and a 1969 Tymes tune.)
1980–1992: Mainstream breakthrough
Cameosis came out in 1980 and reached 25 on the Billboard 200 chart, their highest position yet. Albums such as 1981's Knights of the Sound Table and 1982's Alligator Woman saw the band playing up their eclectic style. The latter reached 23 compared to the former release's 44 which did not spawn a major single, whilst outperforming Cameosis for highest charting album in the Billboard Hot 100 at that point. However, the Alligator Woman single failed to reach the top 100 and only charted in the Top R&B charts, reaching 54. The band released She's Strange in 1984, which performed well and hit 26 on the Billboard 200. The album also contained the eponymous single that become the band's first charting Billboard Hot 100 track, hitting 47 on the chart.
1985's album Single Life, featuring the title track and "Attack Me with Your Love", hit 3 on the Top R&B chart and continued the band's momentum, paving the way for what was to come the following year. The single "Word Up!" was released in mid-1986 and reached 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's highest-charting single. The album also hit numbers 8 and 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B charts respectively, becoming their highest-charting album.[1]
Two years later, Cameo released Machismo to mixed critical reviews and dropped to chart at numbers 10 and 56 on the Top R&B and Billboard 200 respectively. Cameo then followed up with 1990's Real Men... Wear Black and 1992's Emotional Violence both of which failed to reach the charts. The previous release was followed by two compilation albums in between the time of their next recording.[1]
1994–2000: Later years
In 1994, In the Face of Funk was released on the band's independent label and hit 10 on the Top R&B chart. This album was then followed by a 6-year unofficial hiatus with several compilation releases, until the next album Sexy Sweet Thing in 2000. The album hit 64 on the Top R&B chart, and is their most recent charting release.
2000–2016: Inactivity/unofficial hiatus
In 2001, a sample from the band's single "Candy" was used in the Mariah Carey single "Loverboy." The song hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Blackmon was given a co-songwriting credit.
These years saw a great period of inactivity and unofficial hiatus, in which time 6 compilation albums were released. The compilation albums released in this period were, in chronological order: The Hits Collection (2000), 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Cameo (2001), Anthology (2002), Classic Cameo (2003), The Best of Cameo (2004), Gold (2005), and The Definitive Collection (2006).
2016–present: Recent years
In March 2016, Cameo began a year-long Las Vegas residency show at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.[3]
Associated members
Aaron Mills continues to tour with Cameo as well as other artists. He has worked with Outkast, playing on their singles "Ms. Jackson" and "Prototype", among other tracks. Ex-Cameo vocalist John Kellogg became an entertainment lawyer, representing such artists as The O'Jays, the late Gerald Levert, and LSG. He also pursued a career in music industry higher education, becoming Assistant Chair of the Music Business/Management department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Gregory B. Johnson has released two CDs on his own label, Allspice Record Co. — in 2007 "A New Hip", which is a smooth Jazz CD, and in 2012 Funk Funk (Just For A Little Time), an urban funk CD.
Style
Cameo began as a horn-oriented funk band in the 1970s, influenced by Parliament-Funkadelic. By the 1980s, the band's earlier sound had lost popularity with African American listeners, leading Cameo to expand the band's sound with influences from pop, hip hop, rock and reggae, and placing more emphasis on keyboards and drum machines.[7][8][9]
Discography
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See also
References
- Larkin, Colin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 95. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
- Griffith, Spencer (May 27, 2009). "Bassist Aaron Mills' best years may be ahead of him | Music Feature | Independent Weekly". Indyweek.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
- "Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino - Amazing Las Vegas Shows - Westgate Resorts". WestgateResorts. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ""El Passo" Announcement from Larry Blackmon". YouTube. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- "El Passo | Larry Blackmon / CAMEO's New Single". Cameonation.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- Blickenstaff, Jacob. "Derby week is about more than horses: Great music is at the gate". Kentucky.com. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- Hanson, Amy. "Alligator Woman Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- Henderson, Alex. "Style Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- Henderson, Alex. "She's Strange Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2022.