Meli'sa Morgan
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| Meli'sa Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | R&B, house |
| Label(s) | Capitol, Pendulum, Orpheus |
| Associated acts | Shades of Love, High Fashion |
| Website | http://www.melisamorgan.com |
Meli'sa Morgan is a female African American R&B singer born in Queens, New York who had a string of Urban contemporary and House music hits in the 1980s and 1990s.
The New York native got her start in the business while singing with a church gospel choir called the Starlets of Corona where she learned the mechanics of show stopping vocals and how to phrase a song. She cites Chaka Khan as a major influence; this is evident in the power, range, and dynamism of her own vocal style.
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[edit] Early successes
Her initial chart entry was as the lead singer of the dance group Shades of Love. They had a single entry on Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1982, the #26 "Body to Body (Keep in Touch)." (Repopularized in 1994 by new remixes, "Body to Body (Keep in Touch)" reached number 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.)
That same year, music entrepreneur Jacques Fred Petrus asked her to join his newly created studio group. High Fashion featured Morgan and two other New York vocalists, Eric McClinton and Alyson Williams. High Fashion's sole hit, "Feelin' Lucky Lately", reached the number 32 spot on Billboard's Black Singles chart. In 1983 Meli'sa Morgan left, and was replaced in the group by jazz vocalist Marcella Allen.
As a solo artist she topped the R&B chart with a remake of Prince's "Do Me, Baby," (the title track from her debut album) which also became her only Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at #46 in 1986. She had several solo hits on the US dance chart as well, including "Still in Love With You," which hit #3 in 1992. On the U.K Soul scene Meli'sa is a much revered artist to this very day. Fool's Paradise the debut single from her debut album the aforementioned Do Me Baby is considered a Soul Classic. One of the most underrated artists of her generation, her recent comeback was greeted very warmly by all who remember her stunning early recordings.
[edit] 2005 to Present
After a lengthy hiatus, Meli'sa released her fifth solo album, "I Remember." The first single, "Back Together Again", a song originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, received moderated airplay on Urban contemporary radio stations during early 2006 and peaked at number 46 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The follow up singles include "I Remember", "Will You?", and "High Maintenance" which was released in September 2006.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1986: Do Me Baby (Capitol) - US #41, R&B #4
- 1988: Good Love (Capitol) - US #108, R&B #11
- 1990: The Lady in Me (Capitol)
- 1992: Still in Love With You (Pendulum/Elektra) - R&B #38
- 1996: Do You Still Love Me?: The Best of Meli'sa Morgan (Capitol)
- 2005: I Remember (Orpheus) - R&B #96
[edit] Singles
- 1986: "Do Me, Baby" - US #46, R&B #1
- 1986: "Do You Still Love Me" - R&B #5
- 1986: "Fool's Paradise" - R&B #24
- 1987: "Deeper Love" - R&B #74
- 1987: "Love Changes" (with Kashif) - R&B #2
- 1988: "Here Comes The Night" - R&B #17
- 1988: "If You Can Do It: I Can Too!!" - R&B #2
- 1990: "Can You Give Me What I Want" - R&B #33
- 1992: "I'm Gonna Be Your Lover (Tonight)" - R&B #68
- 1992: "Through The Tears" - R&B #18
- 1992: "Still In Love With You" - R&B #9
- 2005: "Back Together Again" - R&B #46
- 2006: "I Remember..." - R&B #86
- 2007: "High Maintenance" R&B #80
[edit] See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
