Fizzy Qwick

Fizzy Qwick (born Debravon Lewis on February 9, 1953 in Solano County, California) is a female musician\songwriter who has recorded music in different styles from R&B to New Wave music.

Debravon grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and started recording music under her own name either solo or as a member of R&B group, Bridge. She also contributed to the group as a songwriter. In 1981, she released the single, "The Little Things (That Keep Me Lovin' You)."

In the early 80's, Debravon started a new wave trio called Tiggi Clay (which'll be another blog entry after this one) and adopted the name "Fizzy Qwick." Tiggi Clay managed to chart on the Billboard charts in 1984, but they soon disbanded.
Two years later in 1986, Fizzy released her self-titled debut album on Motown Records. The first single, "Hangin' Out" was a Billboard "Pick of the Week," but it failed to generate any success on the charts.
The follow-up single, "You Want It Your Way, Always" also failed to chart, only receiving regional airplay. After that, nothing much was heard from Fizzy Qwick and seemed to have faded into obscurity.

In 2000, UK record label, First Experience Records released the CD, "Crying for Love" which included demo recordings of the R&B group, Bridge (where Fizzy was a member back in the day). Most recently, Fizzy has written music for female singer, U.Niq.

To see a fan-made music video for "The Little Things (That Keep Me Lovin' You)" under Fizzy's real name, Debravon Lewis, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QV3YqNxtCU&feature=related

Malaika

Malaika (born Malaika LeRae in Seattle, Washington) is a female dance\R&B singer from the early 90's who managed to have success on the Billboard dance chart.

Before her music career, Malaika was studying to be a nurse when her friend, singer Cece Peniston asked her to sing background vocals on her hit song "Finally." Soon after, she was signed a record deal.
In 1993, Malaika released her debut album "Sugar Time" on A&M Records. It's unknown how or if the album ever charted.
Malaika's biggest hit song to date "Gotta Know Your Name" peaked at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 & topped Billboard's dance chart in July of 1993.

It also peaked at #17 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart & #68 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks.
Another single "So Much Love" peaked at #5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart.

Malaika has performed live for Steve Harvey and "Showtime at the Apollo." She sang the National Anthem at the Staples Center and opened for Chris Rock in Boston.

She was the lead role in "God's Trombone," appeared on the "Meteor Man" soundtrack and has volunteered talents to numerous charities.

These days, Malaika is still active in the music business and is currently looking for a record deal.

To see Malaika's MySpace page, go to:
www.myspace.com/malaikaleraes

To see the music video for "Gotta Know Your Name," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oufBu9dDatc

Maureen Steele

Maureen Steele was a female singer from the 80's. In 1979, she moved to Southern California to start a singing career.
In 1984, Maureen released the single, "Boys Will Be Boys." The song was featured on The Flamingo Kid movie soundtrack. The song managed to peak at #18 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart by 1985.
During that same year, Maureen released her only album, "Nature of the Beast." It's unknown how or if it ever charted.
Maureen's biggest hit to date "Save the Night For Me" which peaked at #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1986, she released the single "One More Saturday Night," but it's unknown how or if it charted at all. Maureen appeared on Apollonia's 1988 album and after that, she started a family.

In 1989, Maureen went into real estate where she still works today. According to "The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars" blog, she now goes by the name Maureen Steele-Volante and continues to work in real estate in California with her husband.

To see Maureen and her husband, Mike's real estate website, go to:
http://www.mikevolante.com

To see the music video for "Boys Will Be Boys," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=338Z3c58FPY

[updated on 05\24\14]

Carrie McDowell

Carrie McDowell (born on May 11, 1963 in Des Moines, Iowa) is a female pop\dance singer from the mid 80's.

In the early 70's, Carrie was a child singing sensation, gaining attention at Bill Riley's "Talent Sprouts" contest when she was 8 years old. On October 11, 1974, she appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and appeared with the late George Burns on the show.

Carrie recorded a version of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," sang on Jerry Lewis' MDA Telethon & opened a show with Danny Thomas in Reno, Nevada. She even performed with Liberace at the Hilton International Hotel in Las Vegas for three weeks.

Carrie's singing career took a break when her mother brought her back to Iowa to attend school. When Carrie was 18 years old, she left for New York, then Los Angeles and signed a record deal with Berry Gordy's record label, Motown Records.

In 1987, Carrie released her self-titled debut album. It's unknown how or if the album ever charted.
Her one and only single, "Uh Uh, No No Casual Sex" was moderately successful, peaking at #38 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #65 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.
After her one and only album, Carrie left Motown Records and married guitarist Michael Hodge in 1989. In 1991, the couple settled in Nashville, Tennessee and they have a son named Gabriel.

Together, Carrie and Michael are Christian country\gospel musicians, performing under the name "Two Hearts." In 2002, they performed in Kenya and South Korea & released two albums "Give 'em the World" & "Stand Your Ground."
Carrie and Michael also released a Christmas album called, "The Heart of Christmas." Carrie released a solo album called "Never Forget." She returned to her hometown of Des Moines for club dates and to perform on the Variety Club Telethon, making 25 appearances with the charity. In 2004, she was inducted into the Iowa Rock n' Roll Music Association Hall of Fame.

These days, Carrie is working on a new cd and an autobiography.

To see the music video for "Uh, Uh, No No Casual Sex," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhG2sAMqGU&amp

Lushus Daim & The Pretty Vain

Lushus Daim was a female R&B singer from the mid-80's. Not much information is given on her, but she was on the Motown\Conceited Records label and released only one album.
In 1985, she released the album, "More Than You Can Handle" under the name "Lushus Daim & The Pretty Vain" which managed to peak at #52 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The first single, "The One You Love" was released and managed to peak at #65 on Billboard's R&B charts. The title song was also released as a single, but it's unknown how well it did. After that, it seemed as if Lushus Daim has practically seemed to fallen off the face of the earth and into obscurity.

(Update: 09\17\10) Here's a post about the latest update about Lushus Daim:
http://musicrareobscure.blogspot.com/2010/09/lushus-daim-update.html

To see the music video for "The One You Love," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-CROlkvmf0

Taka Boom

Taka Boom (born Yvonne Stevens in 1954 in Chicago, Illinois) is a female R&B singer and the sister of Chaka Khan.

She came up with the name "Taka Boom" by combining the Swahilli word for "love of my people" (which is her first name) and her last name "Boom" is comes from her ex-husband's job as a demolition expert.

Taka worked with Chaka in their hometown of Chicago until Chaka joined a local Chicago group called Rufus and she moved to Los Angeles, California. She worked as a session singer in the early 70's, singing with Carl Carlton, the Gap Band, and she was also a member of George Clinton's Brides of Funkenstein.

In 1975, Taka was the lead vocalist for music group, Undisputed Truth and soon after, Taka signed a record deal with Ariola Records.
In 1979, Taka released her self-titled debut album which peaked at #171 on the Billboard 200 and #48 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

She scored a moderate R&B hit with the song "Night Dancin" which peaked at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks.

The follow-up single from the album "Red Hot" peaked at #70 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 4 weeks.

After that, Taka joined the Norman Whitfield-produced music group, Dream Machine. They only released one album in 1981. After that, she returned to her solo career.
In 1983, Taka released her second album "Boomerang" on Calibre Records. It's unknown how or if the album charted at all. The two singles released from the album "Love Party" and "To Hell With Him" were released, but it's also unknown how they charted.

In 1985, Taka signed to Mirage Records and released her third album, "Middle of the Night" which didn't appear to make the Billboard album charts. The title song managed to peak at #63 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

In the mid-90s, Taka moved to London and continued doing session work along with performing in live appearances. She been featured on a few dance\electronic music singles during the 2000's and the most recent one was on electronic music duo, Glimpse's single, "We Existed" in 2008.

To see the music video for "To Hell With Him," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hbdPl0vqfE

To see the music video for "Middle of the Night," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inI5P3DYy78

To see a fan-made video for "Night Dancing," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CJZRjxHPro

Guinn

Guinn were a R&B group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that consisted of the Guinn siblings: Randy, Michael, Skip, Bonnie, Earl, Marjorie and Lori Fulton (who was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania).

Michael, Skip, Bonnie, Marjorie, & Lori sang while Randy played bass and Earl played guitars.

The group has worked together since 1970 and Lori joined in 1985 during a collaboration between the group and their mutual publishing house. Bonnie and Marjorie originally worked under the name "The Passionettes."

Guinn recorded a few songs under the name "New Experience" on the Philly World record label.
In 1986, Guinn released their self-titled debut album on Motown Records. It's unknown how or if the album ever charted at all.
One of the songs on their album, "Dreamin" was later recorded by singer Vanessa Williams in 1988 for her debut album & it became an R&B and pop hit in February of 1989.

The follow-up singles "Open Your Door" and "People Will Be People" were released, but didn't appear to chart at all.

Today, it's unknown what Guinn is up to. I haven't been able to find any information about their whereabouts whatsoever. It seems as if the group has faded into obscurity.

To see a fan-made video for "Dreamin," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCAMD5AYhGY

To see a fan-made video for "Open Your Door," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCKgY4uBDaM

Audrey Wheeler

Audrey Wheeler (born in Jamaica, Queens, New York) is a female R&B singer and top New York-based session singer.

She sang in a local choir and she was a finalist in the Miss Black America Pageant and a runner-up in the Miss Black Universe contest during her teen years.

Audrey has recorded backup vocals for artists such as Freddie Jackson, Glenn Jones, Eric Gable, Najee and even Atlantic Starr.

Audrey started her music career in the early 80's when former members William Anderson and Bert & Ray Reid (of the 70's disco band, Crown Heights Affair) were looking for a female singer for their new group, Unlimited Touch. They released their self-titled debut album on Prelude Records. She was the lead vocalist from 1981 to 1983.
In 1983, Audrey released the single "Your Love is Serious" on the Prelude Records label. In 1985, she was featured on Jeff Lorber's song. "Step By Step." In 1987, she got a record deal with Capitol Records.
During that same year, Audrey released her debut album, "Let it Be Me." It's unknown how or if the album ever charted.

The two singles released from the album "Forget About Her" and "Irresistible" didn't apear to make Billboard's R&B charts at all.

In the early 90s, Audrey recorded a duet called, "This Must Be Heaven" with musician Omar Chandler on his self-titled 1991 album. During that same year, she was signed to a new record deal on Nile Rodgers' new record label, Ear Candy.
Also in 1991, Audrey released her sophomore album "I'm Yours Tonight" which managed to peak at #57 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The title song was released as a single, but it didn't make the charts at all. After the album's release, Ear Candy Records shut down and Audrey went back to doing session & concert work

These days, Audrey is married to musician Will Downing, but it's unknown if she's still active in the music business.

To see the music video for "I'm Yours Tonight," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhXDZaAapcI

To see a fan-made video for "Irresistible," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ssikZU-LU

To see a fan-made video for "I Miss You, Love," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPtYf13Bejs

Tashan

Tashan (born Thomas Jerome Pierce on April 30, 1962 in Poughkeepsie, New York) is a male R&B artist.

As a kid, Tashan's mother enrolled him in a dance studio and took him out of school from time to time to take him into New York for auditions. He was a part of a group called Estelle and Alphonse's Dance Studio, performing before live audiences.

Tashan sang in his local church choir when he was 7 years old where his mother was the musical director. At the age of 13, she gave up the music group and started developing his musical skills.

He started his music career in the mid-80's, writing and producing the song "Yours for a Night" which was recorded by rap group Whodini. In 1985, he was signed to Def Jam\Columbia Records.
A year later in 1986, Tashan released his debut album, "Chasing a Dream." It's unknown how the album charted, but it was well-received by critics and the song "You've Got the Right Attitude," a duet with singer Alyson Williams was popular with soul purists.

The title song managed to peak at #100 on the U.K. Singles chart, but didn't make any impact on the charts in the U.S. at all.

The follow-up singles "Thank You Father," "Read My Mind" and "Love Is..." were released, but it's unknown how or if these singles ever charted.
In 1989, Tashan's second album, "On the Horizon" was released, but didn't appear to chart at all on the Billboard 200 chart.

The first single "Black Man" managed to peak at #35 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

The second single "Save the Family" became Tashan's highest chart appearance to date, peaking at #34 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks.

The last single from the album "Think About You" peaked at #74 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 5 weeks.
In 1993, Tashan released his third album, "For the Sake of Love" was released, but it didn't chart at all on the Billboard charts.

The only single to chart "Love is Forever" managed to peak at #25 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart.

The songs from the album, "All I Ever Do" and "Romantically Inspired" were well-received from fans. He also covered Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" on the album also.

In 2002, Tashan performed a sold-out concert in the UK at the Fleetwood Soul Weekender. During that same year, a compliation album of his songs from 1986 to 1993 was released in the UK.
Also in that same year, Tashan released his fourth album "Life Goez On" on his own record label, PowerKingdom Music. These days, he continues to be active with his music career.

To see Tashan's official website, go to:
www.Tashan7.com

To see a fan-made video for "Chasin' a Dream," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2QIpj2yCWU

To see a fan-made video for "Read My Mind," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5T4NCTDRlU

To see a fan-made video for "Thank You Father," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0241Et4S4M

To see a fan-made video for "Love Is...," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zo-UbZgCA

To see the music video for "Black Man," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtLUyNvzVk

To see the music video for "Save the Family," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRvh77QbY0

To see a fan-made video for a remixed version of "Think About Me," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wlRoAPBsQY

To see the music video for "Love is Forever," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTiX-8kPiOQ


[Updated on 4\15\2016]