Apollo (quintet)
Encyclopedia
Apollo was an American
R&B
/disco
group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina
and Kerry Gordy
.
after the green substance that weakened Superman
. The group's moniker was changed to Apollo after the creators of the superhero refused to let the band use the name they created. As a result the name of their first single was changed from "Krypto Disco" to "Astro Disco."
The band consisted of keyboardist Kerry Gordy
, drummer Lenny Greene, bassist Cliff Liles, vocalist Benny Medina
and guitarist Larry Robinson. Liles and Gordy were the sons of Ray Singleton
, who produced their self-titled debut album for Gordy Records. The latter son was Singleton's child through her relationship with Berry Gordy
.
Initially, the band showed promise, appearing on Soul Train
and other dance shows. They also had a successful two week tour in Japan, but Motown's interest in the band waned and pulled the plug before they could start on a second album.
Cliff Liles did re-emerge a few years later as a member of the rock
band Kagny and the Dirty Rats, which recorded a self-titled album on the Motown label. The latter was produced by former bandmates Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy (now known as Kerry Ashby).
Larry Robinson also collaborated with Todd Homer of the L.A. Punk band "The Angry Samoans" to form the psychedelic band "Mooseheart Faith" that released several CD's on September Gurls Records in Germany.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina
Benny Medina
Benny Medina is the CEO of The Medina Company and son of legendary Jazz drummer Ahmad "Benny" Medina. He has worked in the music business as a producer, talent manager and record executive...
and Kerry Gordy
Kerry Gordy
Kerry Ashby Gordy is a career music executive who is now the CEO of Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC and Nu Vintage, LLC. .-Early years:...
.
History
Originally the band was called KryptoniteKryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
after the green substance that weakened Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. The group's moniker was changed to Apollo after the creators of the superhero refused to let the band use the name they created. As a result the name of their first single was changed from "Krypto Disco" to "Astro Disco."
The band consisted of keyboardist Kerry Gordy
Kerry Gordy
Kerry Ashby Gordy is a career music executive who is now the CEO of Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC and Nu Vintage, LLC. .-Early years:...
, drummer Lenny Greene, bassist Cliff Liles, vocalist Benny Medina
Benny Medina
Benny Medina is the CEO of The Medina Company and son of legendary Jazz drummer Ahmad "Benny" Medina. He has worked in the music business as a producer, talent manager and record executive...
and guitarist Larry Robinson. Liles and Gordy were the sons of Ray Singleton
Ray Singleton
Ray Mayberry Liles Gordy Singleton is an American R&B producer, songwriter and vocalist, best known for her association with ex-husband Berry Gordy during the early days of Motown.-Early life:...
, who produced their self-titled debut album for Gordy Records. The latter son was Singleton's child through her relationship with Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
.
Initially, the band showed promise, appearing on Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
and other dance shows. They also had a successful two week tour in Japan, but Motown's interest in the band waned and pulled the plug before they could start on a second album.
Cliff Liles did re-emerge a few years later as a member of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Kagny and the Dirty Rats, which recorded a self-titled album on the Motown label. The latter was produced by former bandmates Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy (now known as Kerry Ashby).
Larry Robinson also collaborated with Todd Homer of the L.A. Punk band "The Angry Samoans" to form the psychedelic band "Mooseheart Faith" that released several CD's on September Gurls Records in Germany.