Rhyze

The group's history can be traced back to an act called Soul Unlimited. They were still at college when they met and became associated with a young Paul Kyser who was a record producer, song writer and arranger. He changed their name to The Nu-Sound Express, LTD. / Nu-Sound Express. They released 2 singles and had a degree of success playing the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania music venues. Later they changed their name to Rhyze.[1][2]

The group consisted of Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion), Kevin Barbee (keyboards), Richard Menter (trumpet) and Kenneth Hicks (sax). Rhyze was nominated for Best New Artist Grammy Award in 1981. They were also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[3] The band split up around the same year.[4]

The band was mostly influenced by jazz, funk, disco and soul.

Their album, Just How Sweet Is Your Love was reviewed in the July 19, 1979 issue of Record World. The review though brief indicated that it had a wide appeal.[5] Also that week, the record having spent eleven weeks in the Record World Disco File chart had dropped five places from 16 to 21.[6]

"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" which entered two Billboard charts in 1980. It reached number 16 on Hot Dance/Disco chart and number 92 on Black Singles chart.[7]

In 1981, the group had two Grammy nominations. One was for Best New Artist. The other was for their Paul Kyser produced song, "Rhyze To The Top" in the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category.[8][9][10]

In 2011, their devotional album God Is On Call was released.[1]

• ¹ A-side only charted.