Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul | |
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Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active |
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Labels | |
Members | |
Past members |
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Website | soul2soul |
Soul II Soul are a British
Career
1988–1989: Beginnings and club classics
The group initially attracted attention as a sound system some years prior to 1988 run by founder Jazzie B, playing at nights including their own at the Africa Centre, London.[6][7]
By 1988, the official lineup was Jazzie B,
The weekly club night, having grown ever more popular, moved to the much larger The Fridge Nightclub in Brixton, South London, where it would remain well into the 1990s. The collective used the venue to test their musical composites on the dance floor. Together with an eclectic mix of “Funki Dredd" – "A happy face, a thumpin' bass, for a lovin' race!" – themed club classics that combined British, Caribbean, African, and African American influences.[8] One night in 1988, the residency hosted a personal appearance by the nascent rap group N.W.A. who were briefly in the UK promoting their album Straight Outta Compton.
At
During the late 1980s, Jazzie B and several other members of the group became involved in the local pirate radio station movement. Jazzie B hosted a show on KISS-FM.
In March 1989, their label released the group's single "
In late 1989, Waddell and Windross departed from the group. Marcia Lewis, a cousin of Jazzie B, joined the group. The single "Get a Life", which featured Lewis on lead vocals, charted at number three on the UK Singles chart. The song also sold over 60 thousand copies in the United Kingdom. Lewis' debut performance came on Top of the Pops when she performed alongside Caron Wheeler and Jazzie B.[11]
1990: Volume II A New Decade and lineup changes
In early 1990, Wheeler officially left the group to pursue her solo career. To fill out the group's dynamic, Jazzie B turned to a few singers he had performed with in the past. This led to the brief addition of Kym Mazelle, Lamya, and Victoria Wilson-James to the new lineup. With a new official lineup, the group released their second album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade, which peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart.[6]
The album's second single "
1991–1993: Volume III Just Right and another lineup change
In 1991, Soul II Soul was in need of lead vocalists for the recording of their third album. During recording sessions, Jazzie B recruited guest singers
In April 1992, Soul II Soul released their third album, Volume III Just Right. The album's lead single, "Joy", performed by Stephens, reached the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. The follow-up single "Move Me No Mountain", performed by Kofi on lead vocals, achieved moderate success in the UK. The third single, "Just Right", suffered the same fate, regulating the album to limited and moderate sales figures.
The group toured for a brief time throughout 1993. In November 1993, the group released their
1994–1997: Volume V Believe, lineup changes, Time for Change
In 1994, Soul II Soul prepared to record their fourth album. Despite her career as an established solo artist, Caron Wheeler once again joined the group and committed to the recording of the group's upcoming album.[6] During the record sessions, Wheeler and Jazzie B struggled with creative difficulties for the production of the album. This ultimately led to Wheeler leaving the group again during the recording of the song "Love Enuff". Now without an official lead singer for the group, Jazzie B was left to recruit a few singers once more. Penny Ford, background vocalist on the group's single "Move Me No Mountain", officially became a member of the group.[6] Charlotte Kelly, a background vocalist from the group's previous tour, was also recruited to join the group. Melissa Bell and Lamya also contributed vocals to the forthcoming album.
In January 1995, Soul II Soul and Isaac Hayes also performed "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" live on French TV show Taratata, with Kelly on lead vocals. In June 1995, Soul II Soul released the single "Love Enuff". The single retained the use of Wheeler's pre-recorded background vocals and Penny Ford on lead vocals.[6] The song invited Soul II Soul to perform on Top of the Pops with Ford performing lead vocals. In August 1995, Soul II Soul released their fourth studio album, Volume V Believe. The album's second single "I Care", which features Charlotte on lead vocals, charted at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
In August 1997, the group released their fifth studio album, Time for Change.[12] The album featured the singles "Represent" and "Pleasure Dome".
1998–2006: Disbandment and aftermath
In 1997, Daddae teamed up with Joey Jay and
In March 2002, Doreen Waddell, who had been living in Hove following her departure, died at 36 after being hit by three cars while she was fleeing from a shoplifting incident.[12] In July 2002, Lamya released her solo debut album Learning from Falling, which spawned the number-one Dance chart single "Empires (Bring Me Men)".
2007–2012: Reunion
In 2007, Soul II Soul reformed at the Lovebox Festival in Victoria Park, London. The lineup consisted of Caron Wheeler, Jazzie B, Aitch B, with the new addition of MC Chickaboo. In December 2008, a radio programme about Soul II Soul was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In January 2009, Lamya died of a heart attack.[14]
The Soul II Soul Sound System featuring Caron Wheeler toured Australia nationally in February 2009. They performed at the Playground Weekender Festival near Sydney. Soul II Soul performed live at the Yasalam free concerts in conjunction with the 2009 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebrations in October 2009.
In 2010, Soul II Soul reunited for their reunion tour with the lineup consisting of Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, Rose Windross, Kym Mazelle, Charlotte Kelly, Aitch B, and MC Chickaboo. The group toured until the end of 2011. Following the tour, Kelly and Wheeler performed on-and-off as the featured vocalists for Soul II Soul. In 2012, Soul II Soul performed at the Lovebox Festival in which Kelly performed as the featured vocalist. In June 2012, Soul II Soul received the honorary PRS Heritage Plaque award. Jazzie B, Wheeler, Daddae, Mazelle, Kelly, Aitch B were among the members present. They also performed during the ceremony. In August 2012, Soul II Soul (Jazzie B, Jazzi Q, Aitch B, Caron Wheeler, and MC Chickaboo) performed at Channel 4's "House Party".[15] In December 2012, Soul II Soul performed "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" on Later... with Jools Holland with Caron Wheeler as the lead vocalist. They also confirmed to be working on a new album.
2013–present: Later years
In April 2013, Jazzie B and Charlotte Kelly launched the Soul II Soul "Classics" Collection at Harvey Nichols in London, England. The Classics Collection features T-shirts and sweatshirts with Soul II Soul's Funky Dred logo. In the same year, Kelly left the group again and Wheeler rejoined the group. In 2014, Soul II Soul performed at the Lovebox Festival.
In 2016, Soul II Soul released a single, "A New Day", credited to Caron Wheeler, which features production from Jazzie B and
In May 2017, Soul II Soul performed at
On 28 August 2017, Melissa Bell died after suffering from kidney failure.[17]
The group appeared on Jools' Annual Hootenanny on New Year's Eve in 2017.
Members timeline
Current members
Touring and session musicians
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Former members
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Awards and nominations
Award | Year | Nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
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American Music Awards | 1990 | Themselves | Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Nominated | [18] |
Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist | Nominated | ||||
Favorite Dance New Artist | Nominated | ||||
"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | Favorite Dance Song | Nominated | |||
"Keep On Movin'" | Favorite Soul/R&B Song | Nominated | |||
Brit Awards | 1990 | Themselves | British Group | Nominated | [19] |
British Breakthrough Act | Nominated | ||||
Club Classics Vol. One | British Album of the Year | Nominated | |||
"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | British Single of the Year | Nominated | |||
1991 | Themselves | British Group | Nominated | [20] | |
Grammy Awards | 1990 | Themselves | Best New Artist | Nominated | [21] |
"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Won | |||
"African Dance" | Best R&B Instrumental Performance | Won | |||
1993 | "Mood" | Nominated | |||
Ivor Novello Awards | 1990 | "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | Best Contemporary Song | Nominated | [22] |
The Best Selling "A" Side | Nominated | ||||
NAACP Image Awards
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1989 | Keep On Movin' | Outstanding Album | Nominated | [23] |
Q Awards | 2015 | Club Classics Vol. One | Classic Album | Won | [24] |
Soul Train Music Awards | 1990 | Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album – Group, Band, or Duo | Won | [18] | |
"Keep On Movin'" | Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Group, Band, or Duo | Won | |||
Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year | Won | ||||
Themselves | Best R&B/Urban Contemporary New Artist | Nominated |
Discography
- Club Classics Vol. One (1989)
- Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990)
- Volume III Just Right (1992)
- Volume IV The Classic Singles 88–93 (1993)
- Volume V: Believe (1995)
- Time for Change (1997)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
- ^ "Caron Wheeler: Soul Survivor". Musician (171–176): 13. 1993.
...Caron Wheeler took the world by storm in the summer of '89 as the lead singer and visual centerpiece of the neo-soul band Soul II Soul.
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Soul II Soul – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- Rovi.
- ^ "Soul II Soul | The BRIT Awards 2012". 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ a b "Jazzie B Interview". DJHistory.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ "Soul II Soul". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "The Fridge". Londonremembers.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Soul II Soul". Londonremembers.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- Reed International Books Ltd. p. 458. CN 5585.
- ^ a b "UK Charts > Soul II Soul". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: Soul II Soul". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Lamya Al-Mugheiry - Duran Duran". Duranduran.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Metropolis Labels". Musicglue.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "X Factor star's Soul II Soul singer mum dies". Sky News. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Soul II Soul". IMDb.
- ^ "History : 1990". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "History : 1991". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Soul II Soul". Grammy.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "The Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators". Ivorsacademy.com.
- ^ "21st NAACP Image Awards". IMDb.
- ^ [2] [dead link]
External links
- Official website
- Soul II Soul discography at Discogs
- Soul II Soul at AllMusic