Toni Braxton represents for the suburbs just outside of the city. Her bio says that she was born in Severn, MD. After the fame and fortune, the family moved even closer to the city in Mitchelville. I am sure that Ms. Toni needs no real intro. She is a talented singer, songwriter, actress, mother, and wife. Her husband is Mint Condition bandmember Keri Lewis. They have two beautiful boys, Denim and Diesel. Toni started her music career as a featured vocalist on the Boomerang soundtrack with her well-known song, Love Shoulda Brought You Home. Overcoming bankruptcy, record company problems, and a few other issues, she has managed to stay in the music business for over 10 years. Her latest album, Libra, was released this past fall.
Last, but not least we have one of my old favorites, Tony Terry. Tony was actually born in North Carolina, but he moved to DC when he was 6 years old. Like fellow Washingtonians Dave Chappelle and D-, Tony attended the Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts, where he studied vocal music. He is a talented singer and had many hits in the late '90s, such as She's Fly (my jam!) and With You (possibly my wedding song). Although, he hasn't released new material for many, many years. I believe that he has been in a few gospel plays over the last years. He co-starred in His Woman, His Wife with Malik Yoba.
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M.I.A. - Missing In Action
While listening to the radio on my way home from class last night, I heard "I Miss You" by Klymaxx and it got me to thinking. There are many singers and groups from the 80s and 90s who were good that have disappeared into oblivion. Here are a few that come to my mind. I am interested in knowing if the folks on my list were popular back in the day in other cities and states, too.
1. Loose Ends - Loose Ends was the shit! What happened to them??? I still love me some "Slow Down" and "Hangin' on a String". I even loved the two guys and a girl thang they had going on. Someone please put out an APB for Loose Ends. The music industry needs them.
2. B Angie B - What happened to Angie? She had a voice that was a little different, but I guess one could say that she could sing. I liked "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" and "So Much Love". Wasn't she down with Hammer?
3. Meli'sa Morgan - I don't know why B Angie B and Meli'sa remind me of one another. Meli'sa definitely is a better singer and she had her hits in the '80s. Her rendition of "Do Me" is almost as good as Prince's. And who could forget about "Do You Still Love Me"?? Both classics! We need an APB for Meli'sa (the way she spells her name irritates me). The music industry could use her.
4. CeCe Peniston - I LOVED me some CeCe! That child could sing! Just thinking about her makes me think of life when I was a teenager. I am a true CeCe fan so I have many favorite songs by her, but "Keep On Walkin", "Finally", and "Inside that I Cried" stand out. CeCe was slightly house (as in music) so maybe that's why she's not around as much, but I sure do miss her. We need an APB for CeCe. I need her!
5. Nice & Smooth - Again, taking me back! They were the shit when they were out. They only had like one album and a song, but they were talented. I wonder why they never went farther? Rap wasn't really that commercial back then, though. I loved Greg Nice's delivery and Smooth B.'s voice. "Dwyck" with Gangstarr will 4 EVER be the Shiznick! It's crazy that I still know every word and that came out over 10 years ago. I will take that over Laffy Taffy any fuckin' day of the week.
6. Michel'le - These women and their apostrophied names.. lol! Cali folk, holla at me! What happened to my girl? Back in the day it was said that she had a baby with Dr. Dre. Now her speaking voice had to be the most irritating thing since nails on a chalkboard, but there is no doubt about it. Girlfriend could sing! "Something's in My Heart" was like an anthem in DC.
7. Terrence Trent d'Arby - Another apostrophe! This brotha could saaaang and he was very soulful. Thinking about his music reminds me of my mother and my little sister. When we were younger, my mother would put on his first album for our Saturday morning clean-ups. My little sister was only 4 or 5 back then and she would love when "Dance Little Sister" came on. Of course, my favorites are "Wishing Well' and 'Sign Your Name". We need an APB for Terrence! The music industry needs him badly.
8. ABC (Another Badd Creation) - Okay this takes me way, way back to the 7th grade. Lord, I was my students' age back then. Every girl I knew loved "Playground" and "Iesha". They should be as grown as me now. It would be interesting to see how they turned out.I think they were from the ATL.
I can't find pics for my last two. #9 is The Good Girls. They had like two hits back in the day, but I liked them. The first is "Your Sweetness" and I think the other was "Itchin' in My Heart". I think they were on Motown.
#10 is a one hit wonder. I don't even remember his name, but I still luv the song. I think it is called "Get with the Program". I need help with this one. Here are a few lyrics: Every day now/I can feel you watchin' me/From afar/ and you've been leaving those love letters on my car/Everyday.... Chorus: So you like/ what you see/You like!/You better put a hold on me
