Skyy (band)
Skyy (also known as New York Skyy)[1] was an American R&B/funk/disco band based in New York City.[2] They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit, "Call Me", as well as their 1989 "comeback" hits, "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love".[3]
Skyy | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | New York Skyy |
| Origin | New York City, United States |
| Genres | Disco, R&B, funk, boogie |
| Years active | 1977–1993 |
| Labels | Salsoul, Capitol, Atlantic |
| Past members | Solomon Roberts, Jr. Anibal "Butch" Sierra Gerald Lebon Tommy McConnell (deceased) Larry Greenberg Denise Dunning Wilkinson Benita "Bonnie" Dunning Williams Dolores Dunning Milligan Wayne Wilentz |
Career
Skyy was formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1977.[2] The original line-up consisted of sisters Denise, Delores, and Bonny Dunning as vocalists, with guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon, and drummer Tommy McConnell.[2][3] In 1978 the band was signed to Salsoul Records, releasing their debut album the following year.[2]
After several albums that yielded moderate hits on the R&B charts, the group crossed over to the US pop charts with the release of the Skyy Line album in late 1981. Featured on this album was the single "Call Me" which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts[4] and was their first number 1 on the R&B charts.[5] The album was later certified Gold by the RIAA.[6] The band continued to record for the Salsoul label through to the release of their 1984 Inner City album.[7]
In the mid-1980s, the band signed with Capitol Records and released their next album, From the Left Side in 1986. Apart from the top ten R&B single, "Givin' It (to You)", the album saw limited success, and the group left Capitol soon thereafter.[3][8]
In 1989, after signing to Atlantic Records, Skyy launched a comeback with the release of their Start of a Romance album.[3] This release yielded two number one R&B singles, "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love".[4] "Real Love" also became the group's second and final crossover pop hit peaking at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1990.[4] By the release of the Nearer to You album in 1992, the hits were less successful, and the band has not released a new studio album since then.[9]
The sisters have performed consistently since then. In 2007 they attempted to beat a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo band at the Summerstage Concert Series in Harlem USA, singing their song Skyyzoo.[10][11] Other notable performances have included the Salsoul Reunion Concert, where they performed with former label mates Carol Williams, Double Exposure, Instant Funk and Joe Bataan in New York City.[12]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
NZ [13] |
UK [14] | |||||||||||
| 1979 | Skyy | 117 | 40 | — | — | Salsoul | ||||||||
| 1980 | Skyway | 61 | 17 | — | — | |||||||||
| Skyyport | 85 | 16 | 40 | — | ||||||||||
| 1981 | Skyy Line | 18 | 1 | — | — | |||||||||
| 1982 | Skyyjammer | 81 | 22 | — | — | |||||||||
| 1983 | Skyylight | 183 | 44 | — | — | |||||||||
| 1984 | Inner City | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 1986 | From the Left Side | — | 33 | — | 85 | Capitol | ||||||||
| 1989 | Start of a Romance | 155 | 16 | — | — | Atlantic | ||||||||
| 1992 | Nearer to You | — | 52 | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
- Skyy Flyy (1982, Salsoul)
- Greatest Hits (1996, The Right Stuff)
- The Anthology (2006, Suss'd)[15]
- Skyyhigh: The Skyy Anthology 1979–1992 (2014, Big Break)
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US Dan [4] |
CAN [16] |
NLD [17] |
UK [1] | |||||||||
| 1979 | "First Time Around" | — | 20 | 50 | 49 | — | — | Skyy | ||||||
| "Let's Turn It Out" | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "This Groove Is Bad" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1980 | "High" | 102 | 13 | 26 | — | — | — | Skyway | ||||||
| "Skyyzoo" | — | 32 | 41 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Here's to You" | — | 23 | 24 | — | — | — | Skyyport | |||||||
| 1981 | "Superlove" | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "For the First Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Call Me" | 26 | 1 | 3 | — | 34 | — | Skyy Line | |||||||
| 1982 | "Let's Celebrate" | — | 16 | — | — | — | 67 | |||||||
| "When You Touch Me" | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Movin' Violation" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | Skyyjammer | |||||||
| 1983 | "Let Love Shine" | — | 39 | 41 | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Bad Boy" | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | Skyylight | |||||||
| "Show Me the Way" | — | 35 | 10 | — | — | 97 | ||||||||
| "Married Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1984 | "Dancin' to Be Dancin'" | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | Inner City | ||||||
| 1986 | "Givin' It (To You)" | — | 8 | 42 | — | — | 83 | From the Left Side | ||||||
| "Non-Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Love Illogical" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1989 | "Start of a Romance" | — | 1 | 41 | — | — | — | Start of a Romance | ||||||
| "Love All the Way" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Real Love" | 47 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1992 | "Up and Over (Stronger and Better)" | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | Nearer to You | ||||||
| "Nearer to You" | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 2014 | "Top of the World" (Solidisco featuring Skyy) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
References
- "NEW YORK SKYY - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. pp. 170–174. ISBN 9780595370078.
- Wynn, Ron. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- "US Charts > Skyy". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- Whitburn, Joel (1991). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard #1s, 1950–1991: A Week-by-week Record of Billboard's #1 Hits. University of Virginia: Record Research. p. 217. ISBN 9780898200805.
- "American certifications – Skyy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- "New York Skyy Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- Kwateng, Danielle (July 19, 2017). "Where Are They Now? Black Female Performers From The '80s". Essence.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- Maria Granditsky. "Miss Funkyflyy's Skyy Page". Hem.bredband.net. Archived from the original on July 4, 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- "SKYY Challenges Guiness [sic] Record". Blackstarnews.com. July 24, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- "Band tries to set new kazoo record". Sun Journal. August 3, 2007.
- "Photo Review: Salsoul Reunion At Summerstage". Vibe.com. August 12, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- "NZ Charts > Skyy". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- "SKYY - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- Dewhirst, Ian (2006). Liner notes from The Anthology. Salsa CD 030.
- "CAN Charts > Skyy". RPM. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- "NLD Charts > Skyy". MegaCharts. Retrieved November 29, 2012.