The Four Tops
The Four Tops are a legendary Motown group known for their sweet harmonies and powerful vocals. With their infectious blend of gritty gospel and R&B sounds with a smooth pop feel, the four-man combination wowed audiences worldwide. Their hits like "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out, I'll Be There," and "Bernadette" combined different genres to attract listeners across the board.
The Four Tops are recognized both for their achievements and their longevity. They cut some of Motown's most memorable singles during the label's creative zenith. Their accomplishments include hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie, Honeybunch)," "It's the Same Old Song," "Walk Away, Rene," "Standing in the Shadows of Love," "Shake Me, Wake Me," and "Still Waters Run Deep."
Their live performances showcase the sweet harmonies and powerful vocals that have made them a household name.
The Four Tops' longevity and talent have earned them a place in music history. Their music is timeless, and their contributions to Motown have cemented their place as one of the greatest groups of all time. The Four Tops are more than just a band; they are a legacy..
Tavares
With a string of hit singles throughout the 1970’s, Tavares is a funk and soul group made up of brothers who performed and wrote music together for many years.
The band signed to Capitol Records in 1967, changing their name to Tavares in 1973 and experiencing their best years of success throughout the 1970’s. They reached number one on the RnB charts in 1974 with She’s Gone, going on to release their most successful single It Only Takes a Minute the following year which went straight to number one in the pop charts. They began to tour widely, opening for The Jackson 5 and KC and the Sunshine Band and releasing several other big hits such as Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel, Don’t Take Away the Music and Whodunit. Tavares’ music was featured in the soundtrack to 1977 film Saturday Night Fever and in 1982 their single Penny for Your Thoughts was nominated for a Grammy award. Their last big release with the original line up was Words and Music in 1983, before the band members moved on to forge their solo careers.
Tavares remain legends in the RnB and disco scene, with their tracks still being played at clubs and venues around the world. They have been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National R&B Music Society Black Tie Gala where they performed live in 2013, and in 2014 were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.
Earth Wind & Fire Experience
By Al McKay
The brainchild of legendary funk guitarist, Al McKay, the ‘Earth Wind and Fire Experience’ brings together some of America’s greatest jazz and funk musicians to create one of the most exciting live bands for hire on the circuit. Available for all public celebrations, concerts and corporate events, this band is one of a kind and not be missed. Nicknamed Al McKay’s Allstars, the band is led by the Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum artist Al McKay. McKay needs little introduction. As the guitarist for Ike and Tina Turner as well as The Temptations he has a musical pedigree unlike any other.
He is also famed for his time with the American band Earth, Wind and Fire. The Grammy Award-winning group will be remembered for writing the classic hit singles “Let’s Groove”, ‘After the Love Has Gone’, ‘Shining Star’, ‘Got to Get You in My Life’ and many others. Their success has been immortalised in several awards, worldwide recognition, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
McKay has brought all this experience to the fore in creating a band made up of former Earth, Wind and Fire members and talented session musicians. The live band boasts 13 musicians providing an unmatched richness in tone and timbre.
Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest – Max Alfred Elliott, born 610610 in London, UK – is a dancehall, reggae , pop and R&B-singer from England. His parents were Jamaican, and Maxi is cousin to lateJacob Miller , who was frontman for Inner Circle and one of the greatest reggae and roots reggae icons. Maxi's first major album Maxi (1988) along with his cover of Cat Stevens' 'Wild World', established him as one of the British top singers. He is one of two British reggae acts (along with UB40) to have topped American Billboard: 'Close To You' (1990). Other big hits are 'That Girl' (with Shaggy) (1996) and 'Housecall' (1991,1993). Maxi has done 10 studio albums so far (1985-2014).
Kenny Thomas
Kenny Thomas is a multi-platinum selling artist who had a major impact on the commercial, soul and album charts in the 90's. By the time he was 23 he had been nominated for 2 Brit Awards, shared the stage with such luminaries as Edwin Starr, Freddie Jackson, Kool & The Gang, Incognito and Lonnie Liston Smith and was a regular on TOTP!
Kenny remains one of the most important and successful UK soul singers of his generation with his debut album ‘Voices’ selling 600,000 copies in the UK alone on Chrysalis Records in 1991 achieving a total of 8 Top 40 singles and 2 Top 10 records whilst picking up 2 x BRIT-Award Nominations for ‘Best Male Vocalist’ and ‘Best Newcomer’.
Atlantic Starr
Atlantic Starr is an American R&B/funk and soul music band formed in 1976. The group originally featured lead vocalist and drummer Porter Carroll Jr., guitarists David Lewis and Wayne Lewis, trumpeter Jonathan Lewis, bassist Clifford Archer, keyboardist/saxophonist Joseph Phillips and percussionist Kenneth ""Wally"" Nicholson.
Atlantic Starr released their self-titled debut album in 1978. It included the singles ""Stand Up"", ""Keep It Comin'"" and ""Love Me Down"". Their second album, ""Straight to the Point"", was issued in 1979. The record featured their first Top 10 hit on the R&B chart: ""When Love Calls"".
The Trammps
Disco's most soulful vocal group began in the '60s as the Volcanos, and were also called the Moods. Gene Faith was the original lead vocalist, with Earl Young, Jimmy Ellis, guitarist Dennis Harris, keyboardist Ron Kersey, organist John Hart, bassist Stanley Wade, and drummer Michael Thomas. But by the time they'd gone through various identities and emerged as the Trammps in the mid-'70s, the lineup featured lead vocalist Ellis, Norman Harris, and Stanley Wade, Robert Upchurch and Young. A snappy revival of Judy Garland's '40s tune "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" was their first chart single, reaching number 17 on the R&B list in 1972. Despite their well-deserved reputation and boisterous, jubilant harmonies and sound, the Trammps were never a huge commercial success even during disco's heyday. Indeed, they had only three R&B Top Ten hits from 1972 through 1978, and such wonderful records as "Soul Bones," "Ninety-Nine and a Half," and "I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On the Dark Side of the Moon)" stiffed on the charts though they were beloved by club audiences and R&B fans alike. Their only huge hit was "Disco Inferno" in 1977, which was a number nine R&B single in 1977 and was also featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Yet it missed the pop Top Ten, peaking at number 11. But the Trammps' prowess can't be measured by chart popularity; Ellis' booming, joyous vocals brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that made disco both loved and hated among music fans.
Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Brown is a versatile singer with powerful and passionate voice. Jocelyn came from a family where her Grandmother, Mother, two aunts and a cousin all sang, but it was her aunt Barbara Roy, who sang with female vocal group EPP that inspired her to sing seriously.
Jocelyn’s biggest hits include:
Somebody Else's Guy
Always There
Something Going On
Keep On Jumpin
Enough Is Enough
I Believe Worthy
Nights Over Egypt
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
My Troubled Soul
Odyssey
Originally formed in New York, Odyssey were quick to build themselves a reputation as a premier act. Headed up by Steven Collazo, the eldest son of the group’s original founder Lillian Lopez, the group is formed of several talented performers. Sharing the stage with Romina Johnson and Jerdene Wilson, Steven has led the soul singers towards international stardom. One of the group’s best-loved songs, the iconic Native New Yorker, saw the group achieve widespread success upon its release in 1977.
Performing well in the international charts, the track soon made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song was later covered by fellow American singer Frankie Valli, garnering the song further attention with the listening public. Not long after, the group achieved further success with the release of their R&B-inspired hit Inside Out, which was featured in music magazine NME’s Tracks of the Year.
Gwen Dickey
Gwen Dickey was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, Gwen is now a resident of the United Kingdom due to her enormous success in both the UK and Europe, where she regularly tours and featured on television. Gwen Dickey, the voice of Rose Royce on all hit records made famous by this international group. No-one can forget the classic hits of the 70’s such as ‘Carwash’, ‘Wishing on a Star’, ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’, ‘Do Your Dance’, ‘Is It Love You’re After’, ‘I’m in love (and I Love the Feeling)’, and ‘I Wanna Get Next to You’.
Gwen Dickey embarked on a solo career and she enjoyed her first chart success when she joined forces with KWS on Chaka Khan’s classic hit ‘Ain’t Nobody’ in 1994.
In 1998 Gwen teamed up with international rap artist Jay-Z for a brand new version of the Rose Royce hit ‘Wishing on a Star’. Gwen’s new vocals sounded just as good as ever and after picking up extensive airplay on Radio 1 and all the independent stations, the record entered the UK Charts first week at No.13 giving Gwen her first solo Top Ten hit. In 1999 Gwen sang the title song for the Warner Brothers hit Dutch film ‘Abeltje’ with top Dutch band ‘Romeo’.
Damage
Damage are a UK-based boyband who hit their peak in the late 90s.
The band featured Andrez Harriott, Jade Jones, Coreé Richards, Rahsaan J Bromfield and Noel Simpson, and they achieved their first Top 20 UK hit with "Love 2 Love" in 1996, which was swiftly followed by "Forever" that same year.
A self-titled debut album followed in 1997, which spawned two top 10 hits, "Love Guaranteed" and a cover of the classic Eric Claption hit "Wonderful Tonight".
The band then took an extended hiatus following the collapse of their record company, but returned in 2000 with their second album "Since You've Been Gone" which spawned 5 more Top 40 hits.
David Grant
After their first hit in 1980, the band slimmed down to a duo of Grant and Martin. Peter Martin (the bassist) joined the band 23 Skidoo. Junior Giscombe became a pop singer in his own right.
Linx had six entries on the UK Singles Chart from mid-1980 until mid-1982. The band's biggest success was "Intuition", which reached number 7 in early 1981. Other hits included "You're Lying" and "So This Is Romance." Linx also contributed the track "Don't Get in My Way" to the influential C81 compilation cassette released by New Musical Express magazine in 1981.
Linx split in early 1983. Grant later had a number of solo hits. Between 2002 and 2003 he was featured as a vocal coach on the BBC TV show Fame Academy.
David has a thriving career and now hits the road again with live shows
Julie McKnight
Julie McKnight is an award-winning singer who rose to prominence in the 2000s for her songs such as ‘Finally’ and ‘Home’. With a mother who has been amongst the prodigious names of the business, Julie was surrounded by musical greatness from an early age and too has gone on to perform at shows and concerts all over the world. An unbelievably versatile vocalist, Julie is able to produce amazing vocals whilst singing songs from genres ranging from soul to Dance/Electric.
Finding her own voice and coming into the limelight in the late 90s, Julie would then go on to win numerous awards throughout the 2000s in recognition of her incredible voice including winning Song of the Year for ‘Finally’ by MTV2 Dancestar, Best Vocalist, and Best Live PA nominations. Julie has brought the house down at some of the largest venues across the whole of the USA and even expanded into South America whilst touring with her brother for their ‘Samba Soul’ tour.
Julie McKnight is the definition of talent. Her incredibly powerful and soulful voice shocks all of her audiences everywhere she goes. Her ability to sing across a range of genres is incredibly unique; she is able to put on a wide variety of shows to suit all audiences. If you are looking for a performer who is ale to wow the audience with the range of her vocals and musical styles, look no further than Julie McKnight to hire at your next event.
Julie will be Performing in The Garden Party Tent
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