musicradio77
10-03-2004, 01:11 AM
Boy, we got another Motown 45th Anniversary Artists Avatar of the Week. This week, will feature, the Commodores, Motown first funk band compared to Earth, Wind & Fire. The Commodores started in the late 60's when they attended Tuskegee Institude in Alabama. They came together with two groups disbanding the Mystics and the Jays, and then they became the Commodores insist of William King on trumpet, Thomas McClary on guitar, Ronald LaPread on bass, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, Milan Williams on keyboards nad last but not least, Lionel Richie on both saxophone and lead vocal. Their first concert tour was along with their opening act, the Jackson 5. The Commodores went for an audition and signed with Motown's division Mowest records. The group released "The Human Zoo". That didn't hit the top 40, but their next released was their debut single was an instrumental tune called "Machine Gun". That song made it to the Top 10 and went to #7 for 15 weeks. Their first #1 single "Slippery When Wet" was a smash. In 1976, the group released an influencial ballad "Just to Be Close to You" then came "Easy", another great ballad with Lionel Richie singing on lead. Around that time, the song "Brick House" was the group's signature song. The song "Too Hot ta Trot", was a instant success and it was featured in their first and only film "Thank God It's Friday" with Donna Summer and it was also included on the soundtrack of the same name. 1978 was a great year for the group when they released their outstanding #1 ballad "Three Times a Lady". In 1979, they released their Top 10 smash "Sail On" and their #1 song "Still" both from the album "Midnight Magic". In 1981, they released last three songs "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", "Zoom" and "Oh No" until Lionel Richie left for a successful solo career. I'll have more next week as we focus on the solo career of Lionel Richie. After Lionel left, the group brought in Heatwave's JD Nicholas for their hit. In 1985, their last song "Nightshift" in which the song pays tribute to those great legends like Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. The song was a big hit and won a Grammy. The group disbanded also in 1985 after they left Motown.