Dynasty (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dynasty was a R&B band based in Los Angeles, California, created by producer and SOLAR Records label head Dick Griffey and Leon Sylvers III. The band was known for their clever dance/pop numbers during the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Bassist Kevin Spencer and vocalists Nidra Beard and Linda Carriere comprised the group.
The band’s first album Your Piece of The Rock, released in 1979, yielded the band’s first R&B hit, "I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)".
By 1980, Dick Griffey's Solar Records had as distinctive and recognizable a sound as Motown and Stax in the 1960's or Philadelphia International in the 1970's. During the late-'70s or early- to mid-'80s, almost any recording by R&B groups such as the The Whispers, Shalamar, Midnight Star, or Dynasty, would distinguish itself as a Solar recording. Dynasty was not as big as the Whispers or Shalamar, but the group did enjoy a few hits and made some valuable contributions to the Solar catalog.
Adventures In The Land Of Music, which came out on vinyl in 1980 was Dynasty's second album — and it is arguably the group's most essential. "Adventures" contains their biggest hit, "I've Just Begun To Love You," (Number #6 R&B, on the Billboard magazine R&B Top 100),as well as the equally danceable 12" single "Do Me Right," but the 12" singles aren't the only things that make this album produced by Leon Sylvers III worth owning.
The album also contains a lot of memorable album tracks, which range from the frequently-sampled titled track to dance-oriented numbers like "Ice Breaker," "Day And Night," and "Groove Patrol" to the soul ballad "Take Another Look At Love." Dynasty is best remembered for up-tempo dance and disco-funk material, but "Take Another Look At Love" demonstrates that the group was quite capable of handling romantic soul ballads. Because Dynasty favored a lot of male/female vocal interaction and was so Solar-sounding, the group was often compared to another part-male, part-female group, Shalamar. But Dynasty had an appealing identity of its own, and that identity serves the quartet well on this excellent sophomore effort.
Producer Leon Sylvers joined them in 1981, but his presence didn't elevate their success. That year they released their third album oddly entitled The Second Adventure. Although it did produce one hit single, "Here I Am," the album was largely overlooked.
Two more albums followed, 1982's "Back At 'Cha" and their final vinyl release Out Of Control. Although the group disbanded they appeared as background vocalists on the gospel artist Juanita G. Hines release "Jesus, My Wonderful Friend."
Nidra Beard, who had written much of Dynasty's material continued as a songwriter. Her songs appearing on albums by Shalamar, Whispers, 7th Wonder, 911 and LaRue. Linda Carriere continued as a background vocalist working with Kristine W., Loose Ends and Randy Crawford among others. Keyboardist/singer Kevin Spencer returned to studio work and can be heard on recordings by Carrie Lucas, Shalamar, Whispers, Tin Harris, Gladys Knight & The Pips and countless others. And Leon Sylvers went on to have a very successful career as the producer of such artists as: Howard Hewett, Ahmad Jamal, Brothers Johnson, Glenn Jones, Blackstreet and Dr. Dre.
The band recently has reissued most of there albums on CD through Unidisc Music Inc.
