Claudja Barry

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Claudja Barry, born in Jamaica, raised in Toronto, Canada and later based in Germany, is a disco, Hi-NRG and House music singer and actress who has performed in the European versions of the stage musicals Hair and Catch My Soul.

Contents

[edit] Early Music Career

Before she embarked on a solo career, Claudja Barry was part of the studio group Boney M from 1975 to 1976. She has had two Billboard Hot 100 entries. The first being "Dancin' Fever" which peaked at #72. The other song being "Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes" (R&B #37, Pop #56 in 1979) from the album I Wanna Be Loved By You, released in 1978.

[edit] The 1980's

During 1980 with the release her Claudja's "Feel The Fire" album, it was clear her strengh was becoming highly sythersized songs because this was her final album to feature an earthier, more horn & string approach to the production of her music. By 1981, she made a successful foray into New Wave/Hi-NRG music with the "Made In Hong Kong" album which is touted as her best album. It featured the lead single "Radio Action" which became a moderate club hit peaking at #57. In 1985, she appeared in the movie Rappin', starring Mario Van Peebles. The year 1985 also saw the release of the single, "Born To Love" which sounds similar to a Pet Shop Boys or Erasure song. At this time, all Club/Dance music at completely become high tech and continuously advancing. "Born To Love" features chilly, airy ethereal syths and aggressive, syncopated sythersizers and a firece lead guitar which made it a Top 20 smash, peaking at #14 on Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Dance format radio stations did not really catch on to this gem which would have been huge on radio at the time.

On the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, she has much more success: six Top 10 hits, including "Down and Counting," which spent a week at #1 in 1986. The song also became only the third single to chart outside of the Dance charts in the U.S., peaking at a #98 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks. It is a shame Barry did not have more success on that chart because she has record several mid tempo and ballad songs such as "Love for the Sake of Love", "I Will Follow Him" and "If I Do It To You" which could have been hits there on that chart if pushed on the Urban radio format. "Down and Counting" was the lead single from her album, "I, Claudja", her only record for Epic Records.

[edit] The 1990's

After her run at Epic did not result in another album, she and her career became more quiet to the more mainstream club/dance music fan. She still remained active recording a pair of underground club classics during the early 1990's. The singles "Love Is an Island" (1991) and "Summer of Love" (1992) are highly regarded club hits to those who know them. "Summer of Love" was successful enough that it maintains radio airplay on some radio stations such as WMPH. After a Christmas/Holiday Dance album titled, "Disco'round The Christmas Tree" was released on Radikal Records in 1995, then an extended mix compilation titled, "Disco Mixes", she went quiet for the remainder of the decade because she wanted to focus on raising a family.

[edit] 1999 to Present

In 1999, R&B artist Montell Jordan sampled the rhythm track from Barry's single "Love For the Sake of Love," for the hit titled, "Get It On Tonite" (#4 on the Hot 100). In May 2006, Barry returned to the Billboard charts with "I Will Stand" released on Donna Jean Records. By July had reached the Top 10 of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, peaking at #4 before the end of the summer. It received moderate dance radio format airplay. The long awaited album by the same name is due to be released sometime in 2007. Claudja Barry is a member of the Caribbean Hall of Fame.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • Sweet Dynamite Lollipop 1977
  • The Girl Most Likely Lollipop 1977
  • Claudja Salsoul 1978
  • I Wanna Be Loved By You Lollipop 1979
  • Feel The Fire Hot Productions 1980
  • Made In Hong Kong Hot Productions 1981
  • I, Claudja Epic 1987
  • The Best of Claudja Barry Hot Productions 1991
  • Disco'round the Christmas Tree Radikal Records 1995
  • Disco Mixes Hot Productions 1995
  • I Will Stand Donna Jean Records 2007

[edit] Singles

  • "Sweet Dynamite"
  • "Why Must A Girl Like Me"
  • "Dancin' Fever"
  • "Love Machine"
  • "Johnny, Johnny Please Come Home"
  • "Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes"
  • "(You Make Me) Feel The Fire"
  • "If I Do It To You"
  • "Love for the Sake of Love"
  • "Radio Action"
  • "The Two of Us"
  • "No La De Da"
  • "Work Me Over"
  • "I Will Follow Him"
  • "Born To Love"
  • "Down and Counting"
  • "Love Is an Island"
  • "Summer of Love"
  • "Take It Easy (Remix)
  • "I Will Stand"

[edit] External Links


[edit] See also

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