Today (group)
| Today | |
|---|---|
| Genres | R&B, new jack swing, gospel |
| Years active |
1988–1991 2010 - Present |
| Labels | Motown |
Today is an American R&B vocal group formed in 1988. The group comprised Frederick Lee "Bubba" Drakeford, Larry Singletary, Wesley Adams, and Larry McCain, childhood friends from Englewood, New Jersey.
History
The group started in 1984 as The Gents and comprised Drakeford, McCain, William McNeir, Ronald Scruggs, and Bernard Belle. During an anti-drug benefit, the group received a meeting with the producer Teddy Riley who renamed the group Today and melded them into the current lineup. Riley helped them receive a deal with MCA Records.
As the head of MCA records urban department, Jheryl Busby, moved into Motown, he brought several acts with him, including Today, The Boys and The Good Girls. While touring the country, the groups were successful. Motown promoted Today as the new Four Tops, and The Boys and The Good Girls were promoted as the new Jackson 5 and new Supremes respectively.
Today released their self-titled debut album in 1988. The single "Him Or Me" reached #3 on the R&B charts and was followed by "Girl I Got My Eyes On You" which reached #1. Yet the album's later singles did not do as well as their early showings, and they began to resent the way they were being produced and promoted.
Riley did not help the group with their second album, The New Formula. Released in 1990, the album manage to chart three singles: "Why You Get Funky on Me", which was also featured in the movie House Party reached #2 on the R&B charts. "I Got The Feeling" peaked at #12 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and "I Wanna Come Back Home" peaked at #46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
After the group broke up, Drakeford started a solo career while Singletary, Adams, and McCain wrote songs and tried unsuccessfully to get a deal as a trio.
In October 2004 "I Got The Feeling" appeared in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on radio station CSR 103.9.
In 2010 it was announced that all four members reunited and were changing to the Gospel music genre and would begin working on a new album.
In 2010 a new single "Orchestrate" was released.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions[1] | Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||
| 1988 | Today | 86 | 11 | Motown | |
| 1990 | The New Formula | 132 | 19 | ||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions[1][2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
US Dance |
UK | |||
| 1988 | "Him or Me" | 3 | 21 | — | |
| 1989 | "Girl I Got My Eyes On You" | 1 | 29 | 94 | |
| "Take It Off" | 34 | — | — | ||
| "You Stood Me Up" | — | — | — | ||
| "Take Your Time" | — | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Why You Get Funky On Me" | 2 | — | — | |
| "I Got the Feeling" | 12 | — | — | ||
| "I Wanna Come Back Home" | 46 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Today US chart history". billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
- ↑ "Today UK chart history". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
External links
- Today (group) at AllMusic
- Today (band) on R&B Haven