Fonda Rae
Related: New York music - dance music
From New York, Fonda Rae was the voice on several dance records of the early '80s. In 1981, Fonda became a member of the group Rainbow Brown. Fonda performed all of the lead vocals on a Patrick Adams produced album on Vanguard Records. Yvonne Lewis, Lucy Martin, and Ullanda McCullogh comprised the rest of the band. The album cantained the highly popular 'It Ain't No Big Thing'. Under her own name she recorded for labels including Vanguard (including the Leroy Burgess co-written 'Over Like A Fat Rat', 1982) and Telescope ('Tuch Me', 1984, a Patrick Adams and Gregory Carmichael production). The latter was released in the UK by Streetwave Records where it reached the Top 50. In 1996, she recorded 'Living in Ecstasy' for the Wave Record label.--soulwalking.co.uk, Mar 2003.
Vanguard SPV 55 "Over Like A Fat Rat" (1982) , written by Leroy Burgess / James Calloway / Sonny Davenport, a Bob Blank production.
Another classic track is "Deputy of Love" ( B side to Buddah 003/Don Armando's Second Avenue Rumba Band/I'm An IndianToo/1979), written by none other than August Darnell, also famous for having penned Machine's There But For The Grace Of God Go I. Most of all August is famous for leading Kid Creole and the Coconuts in the eighties.
Rainbow Brown
Rainbow Brown comprised of Fonda Rae (all lead vocals), Yvonne Lewis, Lucy Martin and Ullanda McCullough. Rainbow Brown were the brainchild of legendary producer / songwriter Patrick Adams. The group were a studio concept act with their name referring to the different shades of Black Music Stylings in existence at the time. Signing to the New York based label Vanguard Records, the group released their only album to date entitled 'Rainbow Brown'. With Patrick Adams at the helm on production, arrangment and songwriting chores, the set was released in 1981. The first single 'Till You Durrender' did well on the club circuit with the album, also, featuring a version of, Donna McGee's original tune, 'It Ain't No Big Thing'. Taka Boom (Chaka Khan's sister and a good friend of original lead singer Fonda Rae) was to later remake the track 'Till You Surrender', in 1997, with UK Deejay, Joey Negro, retitling the track 'Surrender' and using the revised group name of Rainbow Connection.--soulwalking.co.uk, Mar 2003.CDs
- Give Your Body Up: Club Classics & House Foundations, Vol. 1[1CD, Amazon US]
If you want to find out about the roots of modern American club culture, this is the series to start.
Tracklisting: Funky Sensation -- Gwen McCrae Over Like A Fat Rat -- Fonda Rae Can't Play Around -- Lace --> Larry Levan mix What Can I Do For You? -- LaBelle Always There -- Side Effect Why Leave Us Alone -- Five Special Is It All Over My Face (Female Vocal) -- Loose Joints Free Man (Disco Version) -- South Shore Commission Bad For Me -- Dee Dee Bridgewater I Love Music -- The O'Jays - Classic 80's Groove Vol. 3 [CD, Amazon US]
Hutch, Willie - In and out (Disco Mix) (7.17) OŽJays, The - Put your hands together (Original 12" Version) (7.01) Aleem - Get loose (Original 12" Version) (6.58) Royce, Rose - Magic touch (Extenden Version) (5.59) Loose Ends - Gonna make you mine (West Side Mix) (5.43) Fonda Rae - Touch me (Original 12" Version) (9.32) New Jersey Connection, The - Love donŽt com easy (Original Version) (6.29) Funk Deluxe - This time (Original Version) (5.12) Booker Newbury III - Love town (Original Version) (5.15) Sims, Joyce - All and all (Take Twelve Version) (6.10) One Way - Mr. Groove (Original 12" Version) (4.43) Cashflow - Mine all mine (Extended Version) (5.05)