Rhyze
| Rhyze | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | funk, R&B, soul |
| Years active | 1980–1981 |
| Labels | 20th Century Fox, SAM Records |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet) Ellsworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals) Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals) Charles Holmes (drums) Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion) Kevin Barbee (keyboards) Richard Menter (trumpet) Kenneth Hicks (sax) | |
Rhyze was an American R&B and funk band. They are probably best known for their song "Just How Sweet Is Your Love" which was an R&B and dance hit. Much of their output was material written by Paul Kyser and Leon Stuckey.
Background
Nu-Sound Express
The group's history can be traced back to an act called Soul Unlimited. They were still at college when they met and became associated with a young Paul Kyser who was a record producer, song writer and arranger. He changed their name to The Nu-Sound Express, LTD. / Nu-Sound Express. They released 2 singles and had a degree of success playing the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania music venues. Later they changed their name to Rhyze.[1][2]
Rhyze
The group consisted of Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion), Kevin Barbee (keyboards), Richard Menter (trumpet) and Kenneth Hicks (sax). Rhyze was nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1981. The band split up around the same year.[3]
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" which entered two Billboard charts in 1980. It reached number 16 on Hot Dance/Disco chart and number 92 on Black Singles chart.[4]
In 2011, their devotional album God Is On Call was released.[5]
The band was mostly influenced by jazz, funk, disco and soul.
Band members
- Roscoe Taylor – lead vocals, trumpet
- Ellsworth 'EI-T' Anderson – bass, lead vocals)
- Vince Jackson – guitar, lead vocals
- Charles Holmes – drums
- Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight – congas, percussion
- Kevin Barbee – keyboards
- Richard Menter – trumpet
- Kenneth Hicks – sax
Awards
- Rhyze's album Rhyze to the Top was nominated for "Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" but lost to Quincy Jones's The Dude.[6]
- Rhyze was nominated for "Grammy Award for Best New Artist" but lost to Sheena Easton.[6]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Release | Format | US | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Just How Sweet Is Your Love | SAM Records LP 703 | LP | — | — |
| 1981 | Rhyze To The Top | 20th Century Fox Records T-639 | LP | — | — |
| 2006 | Rhyze To The Top | Essential Media Group LLC 894231506826 | CD | — | — |
| 2011 | God is on Call | GAME 52685 | CD | — | — |
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that region. | |||||
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S.[4] | U.S. R&B[4] | U.S. Dance[4] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Free / Singing And Dancing" | — | — | — | Just How Sweet Is Your Love |
| "Just How Sweet Is Your Love / I Found Love In You"1 | — | #92 | #16 | ||
| 1981 | "Rhyze To The Top" | — | — | — | Rhyze To The Top |
| "Tonight's Gonna Be My Night" | — | — | — | ||
| "Tonight's Gonna Be My Night / What Can I Do About This Feeling" | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that region. | |||||
- 1 A-side got charted only.
References
- ↑ Gospel USA Magazine, April / May 2011, Issue No. 68 - Page 21 Now available on their debut gospel album, "God Is On Call" featuring the hot tracks
- ↑ Discogs - Nu-Sound Express, Ltd. Discography
- ↑ "Page about Rhyze on oulwalking.co.uk". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "Rhyze on Allmusic". Allmusic, Billboard. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- ↑ Gospel USA Magazine, April / May 2011, Issue No. 68 - Page 21 Now available on their debut gospel album, "God Is On Call" featuring the hot tracks
- 1 2 "Billboard Ads - For your consideration: 24 annual Grammy Awards categories". Billboard. 93: 5. Dec 19, 1981.