Disco Saturday: In Memoriam

Get ready for a lot of music for one blog entry!

This is the "Disco Saturday" Memorial Day weekend edition where we remember the dearly departed performers who's sounds graced the dance floors and whos music will live on forever. Some of the performers we lost recently. So lets remember them and enjoy the music and the memories. No notes, just enjoy the music and remember.

There is a lot here but throughout the weekend I may add more, so stay tuned.

LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011)

"Dreamin" (1976)


"Love Sensation"


"Runaway" by The Salsoul Orchestra featuring Loleatta Holloway


"Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch featured Loleatta's vocals. The hit song in the early 1990's helped revive her career for a while.


DAN HARTMAN (December 8, 1950—March 22, 1994)
"Vertigo/Relight My Fire" featuring the vocals of the late Loleatta Holloway


"Instant Replay"


"Just For Fun"


ALTON McCLAIN AND DESTINY "It Must Be Love" (1979)
The group was short lived, only together from 1978 to 1981. Delores Warren of the group died in 1985 at the age of 32. Alton McClain-Scarborough continues as a gospel singer today


CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR
"Dreaming A Dream" (1975)
Bert Reid of the group died in 2004 at the age of 48


EDWIN STARR
(January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003)
"Contact" (1978)


"H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" (1979)


ESTHER PHILLIPS
(December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984)
"What A Difference A Day Makes" (1975)


TEENA MARIE(March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010)
"I Need Your Lovin" (1980)


"Square Biz" (1981)


"Lovergirl" (1984)


"Behind The Groove" (1980)


"It Must Be Magic" (1981)


GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS

"Baby Don't Change Your Mind" (1976)
IN memory of Edward "Eddie" Roy Patten, one of THE PIPS and Gladys' cousin.
(August 27, 1939 – February 25, 2005)


THE FOUR TOPS
Levi Stubbles (June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008)
Renaldo "Obie" Benson (June 14, 1936 – July 1, 2005)
Lawrence Payton (March 2, 1938 – June 20, 1997)
"Catfish" (1976)


SYLVESTER
Sylvester James (September 6, 1947 – December 16, 1988)

"You Make Me Feel Mighty Real"


"Dance (Disco Heat)"


"Someone Like You"


"Don't Stop"


"I Need You"


Sylvester is missed greatly, but with him in Disco heaven is Izora Rhodes Armstead (July 6, 1942 – September 16, 2004) One of Sylvester's backup singers as "Two Tons O Fun" and later "The Weather Girls"

"I Got The Feeling" by Two Tons O Fun


"Make Someone Feel Happy Today" by Two Tons O' Fun


"It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls


"Don't Let Love Slip Away" by Izora Rhodes Armstead



VICKI SUE ROBINSON (May 31, 1954 – April 27, 2000)

"Turn The Beat Around"


"Daylight"




MCFADDEN & WHITEHEAD
Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, songwriters and producers from Gamble & Huff's famed Philadelphia International. They had one major hit song of their own and produced many for the disco turntables.

"Ain't No Stopping Us Now"


Songs written by McFadden & Whitehead that were popular in the disco era. Some were not huge hits but they fit nicely in between the heaviest of the dance tunes from the era.

"Bad Luck" by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes featuring vocals from the late Teddy Pendergrass. (1975)


"Lets Groove" by Archie Bell and the Drells


"Let's Go Disco" by Archie Bell and the Drells


"The More I Get The MOre I Want" by Teddy Pendergrass


"Let Life Flow" by The O'Jays


We lost http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Redd at the age of 46 in 1992. She had better success as a backup singer than with her own solo work but she did leave us with a couple dance club classics.

"Can You Handle It" (1980)


"Love Is Gonna Get Ya"


"I'll Never Give You Up" (1982)


By the time disco was declared "dead" in the early 1980's, the beat continued. Disco never really died. It evolved and thrived.

There is so much more I could post but its time to close this out So last but never least, the forever and always Diva in this blogger's heart, PHYLLIS HYMAN. Who could get you do to the dance floor and back to an intimate candlelight setting with the greatest of class.

"You Know How To Love Me"


"How Long (Has this been going on)"


"Loving You, Losing You" (1977)


And that is enough Disco for "Disco Saturday" to carry you through the weekend. I told you this blog post would include a lot of music. With loving memory to the performers posted today and many that were not posted. They may be gone but will never be forgotten. Their music and original pure talent will always live on with Pride and Soul.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend here in the United States. And especially sending love and respect to the members of our United States Armed Forces, those who are dearly departed and who are currently serving. For this Memorial Day holiday was created in your honor.

Lest we forget.

"Heroes" by The Commodores, a tribute to our US Military.