Midnight Star
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Midnight Star | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Frankfort, Kentucky, United States | |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Dance, Soul, Disco, Quiet storm | |
| Years active | 1976-1990 | |
| Label(s) | Solar, RCA | |
| Former members | ||
| Reginald Calloway Vincent Calloway Belinda Lipscomb Melvin Gentry Kenneth Gant Bobby Lovelace Bo Watson Bill Simons |
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Midnight Star was a synth-funk group that had a string of R&B hits in the '80s.
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[edit] Band History
The group was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by the Calloway brothers (trumpeter Reginald, and trombone player Vincent), with vocalist Belinda Lipscomb. Signing to RCA Records, they released their first album, The Beginning in 1980, with a host of studio musicians. In 1981, their second album, released on Solar Records Standing Together, reached position #54 on the Top R&B charts. In 1982, they released a third album, Victory. By this time, they had a real band behind them (guitarist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, drummer Bobby Lovelace, multi-instrumentalist Bill Simmons and keyboard player Bo Watson).
Due to the Calloways' production skills, it didn't take long for Midnight Star to connect with black listeners, hitting the R&B charts with early singles like "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You." Their fourth album, No Parking on the Dance Floor released in 1983, took them to the top of the charts with the first single, "Freak-A-Zoid," which went to number two, and propelled the album to platinum status. Their next album, Planetary Invasion was almost as big, going platinum again and making the pop Top 20 and the number one spot on the R&B charts with its first single, "Operator."
In 1986, they came out with their fifth album, Headlines, which was their third album to sell at least gold. It was to be their last, as the Calloways departed in 1988. Without their vision to guide them, Midnight Star floundered, and after two unsuccessful albums, Midnight Star and Work It Out, the group was no more.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | Billboard 200 position | Top R&B Albums chart position | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Beginning | Midnight Star's first album | ||
| 1981 | Standing Together | #54 | Midnight Star's first album on Solar. Can't Give You Up is released as a single and video | |
| 1982 | Victory | #58 | the group starts to come in form | |
| 1983 | No Parking on the Dance Floor | #27 | #2 | Midnight Star's biggest album; contains one of their biggest hits, "Freak-A-Zoid" |
| 1984 | Planetary Invasion | #32 | #7 | Contains their biggest hit, "Operator" |
| 1986 | Headlines | #56 | #7 | Midnight Star's last album with the Calloways |
| 1988 | Midnight Star | #96 | #14 | Midnight Star's first without the Calloways; not as successful as previous albums |
| 1990 | Work It Out | #41 | Midnight Star's last album |
[edit] Charting Singles
| Year | Song | US | Top R&B Singles | Club Play singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Make It Last" | - | 85 | - | The Beginning |
| 1981 | "I've Been Watching You" | - | 36 | - | Standing Together |
| 1981 | "Tuff" | - | 60 | - | Standing Together |
| 1982 | "Hot Spot" | - | 35 | - | Victory |
| 1982 | "Victory" | - | 83 | - | Victory |
| 1983 | "Freak-A-Zoid" | 66 | 2 | 44 | No Parking on the Dance Floor |
| 1983 | "Wet My Whistle" | 61 | 8 | 15 | No Parking on the Dance Floor |
| 1983 | "No Parking (On The Dance Floor)" | 81 | 43 | - | No Parking on the Dance Floor |
| 1984 | "Operator" | 18 | 1 | 15 | Planetary Invasion |
| 1985 | "Body Snatchers" | - | 31 | - | Planetary Invasion |
| 1985 | "Scientific Love" | 80 | 16 | 19 | Planetary Invasion |
| 1986 | "Engine No. 9" | - | 11 | - | Headlines |
| 1986 | "Headlines" | 69 | 3 | 11 | Headlines |
| 1986 | "Midas Touch" | 42 | 7 | 20 | Headlines |
| 1988 | "Don't Rock the Boat" | - | 3 | 1 | Midnight Star |
| 1988 | "Snake In the Grass" | - | 10 | 50 | Midnight Star |
| 1989 | "Love Song" | - | 55 | - | Midnight Star |
[edit] Trivia
- Bill Simmons is currently employed with the Cincinnati branch of Brown Mackie College as an instructor of audio technology for the school's Audio/Video Production program.
