Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic Shalamar album 'Friends', original band-members and long-time friends, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett took a break from another successful UK tour to speak to Andy Rawll, for Record Collector Magazine, about the band's career, influences and their individual achievements. In particular, the release of a new retrospective and comprehensive CD release.
Shalamar Gold is a new three-CD compilation including all 24 of their US and UK top 40 chart singles, in their full-length versions plus 12” disco mixes and other favourites from through their full career on this 42-track set. A limited edition Gold Vinyl 180g single LP (selected tracks) will also be available. These are scheduled for release on 19th July 2019 on Crimson Productions (via Demon Music Group).
demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/shalamar-gold
You can also check-out 'The Real Thing', the first new music from the Griffey-Hewett-Daniel line-up, produced in 2017 by the same engineer that worked on their most successful albums from the 70s and 80s: Leon Sylvers III
youtube.com/watch?v=UTgeIO2tx0s
HISTORY
Shalamar is an American R&B and soul music vocal group, active since the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s. It was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator and producer Don Cornelius.They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Cornelius.
Their first hit was "Uptown Festival" (1977), released on Soul Train Records. Its success inspired Griffey and Don Cornelius to replace session singers with popular Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, to join original Shalamar lead singer Gary Mumford.
Gerald Brown took over the spot vacated by Mumford for the group's second album, Disco Gardens (1978), which featured the hit "Take That to the Bank". Howard Hewett replaced Brown in 1979 and supported by producer Leon Sylvers III and a contract with SOLAR they scored a US million seller with "The Second Time Around" (1979), featuring the classic line up of Hewett, Watley and Daniel
Hewett departed in 1985 to begin his solo career, and was replaced by Sydney Justin for the subsequent album 'Circumstantial Evidence' (1987). Following declining commercial fortunes, the band broke-up shortly after the release of the final album, 'Wake Up' in 1990.
Daniel and Watley equally pursued solo projects in the decade that followed, until the group opted to reconvene after the turn of the Millennium. However, by this time, Jody prefered to continue her solo career, so Howard and Jeffrey recruited long-time friend and SOLAR scion Carolyn Griffey in 2003. Ironically, Carolyn's mother, Carrie Lucas was also a Soul Train solo artist, on whose 1979 album 'Night Train', Wately had provided backing vocals)
shalamar.info
@shalamarfriends
@jeffrey_daniel
@justavocalist
@griffgyrl
demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/labels/crimson-productions
@demonmusicgroup
recordcollectormag.com/news
@reccollmag
#shalamar #howardhewtt #jeffreydaniel #carolyngriffey #shalamarfriends
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic Shalamar album 'Friends', original band-members and long-time friends, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett took a break from another successful UK tour to speak to Andy Rawll, for Record Collector Magazine, about the band's career, influences and their individual achievements. In particular, the release of a new retrospective and comprehensive CD release.
Shalamar Gold is a new three-CD compilation including all 24 of their US and UK top 40 chart singles, in their full-length versions plus 12” disco mixes and other favourites from through their full career on this 42-track set. A limited edition Gold Vinyl 180g single LP (selected tracks) will also be available. These are scheduled for release on 19th July 2019 on Crimson Productions (via Demon Music Group).
demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/shalamar-gold
You can also check-out 'The Real Thing', the first new music from the Griffey-Hewett-Daniel line-up, produced in 2017 by the same engineer that worked on their most successful albums from the 70s and 80s: Leon Sylvers III
youtube.com/watch?v=UTgeIO2tx0s
HISTORY
Shalamar is an American R&B and soul music vocal group, active since the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s. It was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator and producer Don Cornelius.They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Cornelius.
Their first hit was "Uptown Festival" (1977), released on Soul Train Records. Its success inspired Griffey and Don Cornelius to replace session singers with popular Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, to join original Shalamar lead singer Gary Mumford.
Gerald Brown took over the spot vacated by Mumford for the group's second album, Disco Gardens (1978), which featured the hit "Take That to the Bank". Howard Hewett replaced Brown in 1979 and supported by producer Leon Sylvers III and a contract with SOLAR they scored a US million seller with "The Second Time Around" (1979), featuring the classic line up of Hewett, Watley and Daniel
Hewett departed in 1985 to begin his solo career, and was replaced by Sydney Justin for the subsequent album 'Circumstantial Evidence' (1987). Following declining commercial fortunes, the band broke-up shortly after the release of the final album, 'Wake Up' in 1990.
Daniel and Watley equally pursued solo projects in the decade that followed, until the group opted to reconvene after the turn of the Millennium. However, by this time, Jody prefered to continue her solo career, so Howard and Jeffrey recruited long-time friend and SOLAR scion Carolyn Griffey in 2003. Ironically, Carolyn's mother, Carrie Lucas was also a Soul Train solo artist, on whose 1979 album 'Night Train', Wately had provided backing vocals)
shalamar.info
@shalamarfriends
@jeffrey_daniel
@justavocalist
@griffgyrl
demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/labels/crimson-productions
@demonmusicgroup
recordcollectormag.com/news
@reccollmag
#shalamar #howardhewtt #jeffreydaniel #carolyngriffey #shalamarfriends
