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Blaze (band)
Encyclopedia
Blaze is a house-music
group formed in 1984 in New Jersey
, USA.
The group's output consists mainly of house-music
tracks with heavy gospel, soul
and afrobeat
influences (sometimes referred to as gospel house). When the group started, Herbert was the singer, with Milan playing the piano, and Hedge on production. After Herbert left, both Hedge and Milan started to share production duties, vocals, and playing most of the instruments of the group's tracks and albums. The group achieved notoriety with its remix
of Lisa Stansfield
's "People Hold On" in 1989, after signing with the Motown
/MCA Records
.
Blaze released its debut album, 25 Years Later, in 1990, after which Herbert decided to move to a more R&B-oriented career, while the two remaining members invested in the emerging club culture, opening a nightclub
called Shelter. In 1994, the group scored its first big international production success with De'Lacy
's "Hideaway," which was later remixed by Deep Dish
.
Since then, Blaze released three more albums, alongside a few scattered compilations of earlier productions and works and countless singles. The group also began working with other well-known names such as "Little" Louie Vega, Barbara Tucker
, Jody Watley
, and Full Intention
. It is best known to modern audiences by its singles featuring Palmer Brown on vocals, the oft-remixed "My Beat," and the tribute anthem "I Remember House." Blaze's most recent album, released in 2005, is a mix compilation title called Found Love.
Blaze
Underground Dance Artists United For Life
Black Rascals
Funky People
The Colour Funky
James Toney Jr. Project
Other aliases
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
group formed in 1984 in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA.
Career
It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend. Ironically, Herbert was the one who left the group in 1991, leaving Milan and Hedge to keep working together.The group's output consists mainly of house-music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
tracks with heavy gospel, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
influences (sometimes referred to as gospel house). When the group started, Herbert was the singer, with Milan playing the piano, and Hedge on production. After Herbert left, both Hedge and Milan started to share production duties, vocals, and playing most of the instruments of the group's tracks and albums. The group achieved notoriety with its remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield is an English singer and songwriter.-Early years:Stansfield was born to Marion and Keith Stansfield in Heywood, Lancashire, in England, where she attended Redbrook School, Rochdale. Her first television appearance was on a talent programme in the Granada TV area in 1982...
's "People Hold On" in 1989, after signing with the Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
/MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
.
Blaze released its debut album, 25 Years Later, in 1990, after which Herbert decided to move to a more R&B-oriented career, while the two remaining members invested in the emerging club culture, opening a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
called Shelter. In 1994, the group scored its first big international production success with De'Lacy
De'Lacy
De'Lacy were an American 1990s dance band, most famous for their single "Hideaway".-Overview:Initially, the band consisted of De'Lacy Davis - percussionist, Gary Griffin - bassist and keyboard player, Glen Branch - drummer and backing vocalist and Rainie Lassiter - lead vocalist.The band spilt in...
's "Hideaway," which was later remixed by Deep Dish
Deep Dish
Deep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
.
Since then, Blaze released three more albums, alongside a few scattered compilations of earlier productions and works and countless singles. The group also began working with other well-known names such as "Little" Louie Vega, Barbara Tucker
Barbara Tucker
Barbara Tucker , is an African American house, R&B and soul singer, songwriter and choreographer. Her impact on the mainstream music scene has been felt more in Europe, than in her home country....
, Jody Watley
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
, and Full Intention
Full Intention
Full Intention is a house music duo from England who are best known as prolific remixers, reworking songs for varied artists such as the Sugababes and Whitney Houston. Group members are Michael Gray and Jon Pearn....
. It is best known to modern audiences by its singles featuring Palmer Brown on vocals, the oft-remixed "My Beat," and the tribute anthem "I Remember House." Blaze's most recent album, released in 2005, is a mix compilation title called Found Love.
Albums
- 1990 25 Years Later
- 1994 6 Hubert St.
- 1997 Basic Blaze
- 1999 Productions
- 1999 The Many Colours of Blaze
- 1999 Pure Blaze
- 2001 Pure Blaze 2
- 2001 Natural Blaze, as James Toney Jr. Project
- 2002 Best of Blaze
- 2002 Spiritually Speaking
- 2004 The Instrumentals Project
- 2004 Keep Hope Alive, as Underground Dance Artists United for Life
- 2004 Spiritually Speaking - Then And Now
- 2007 The Best of Blaze vol 1. (The Motown Years)
- 2007 The Best of Blaze Vol 2 (Hubert Street)
- 2007 The Best of Blaze Vol.3 (Natural Blaze)
- 2011 House Masters-Blaze
Singles
Solo Artist- 2010 "Til You Go Home" (feat. ChinahBlac)
- 2011 "Your Body"
- 2011 "Stay With Me"
- 2011 "Be Your Freak"
- 2011 "Wish" (with Matthew Bandy)
Blaze
- 1985 "Yearnin'"
- 1986 "Whatcha Gonna Do" (with Colonel AbramsColonel AbramsColonel Abrams is a house and urban musician who was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in New York City, New York. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School currently known as Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics which is in East Harlem section of Manhattan, there he met a fellow...
) - 1987 "If You Should Need A Friend"
- 1988 "Can't Win For Losin'"
- 1990 "So Special" (with Timmy RegisfordTimmy RegisfordDJ Timmy Regisford is a House artist and producer who, according to deepattitude.com, "His flare and panache on the decks not only technically, but programming-wise has rightly earned him the well-deserved moniker, The Maestro."...
) - 1990 "We All Must Live Together"
- 1993 "Why Can't We Live Together" (with Hunter Hayes)
- 1994 "#6 Hubert St."
- 1994 "Live A Happy Life" (with Billy Hope)
- 1994 "Just A Little Different" (with Charlé Bishop)
- 1995 "Happy Day" (with Alexander Hope)
- 1995 "The Blaze Tracks EP"
- 1995 "Fly Away" (with Alexander Hope)
- 1996 "Love Comes Around" (with Sheila Slappy)
- 1996 "The Colour Funky EP (A Music Perspective)"
- 1996 "Trans-Jazz EP"
- 1996 "What Can You Do" (with Alexander Hope)
- 1997 "Feel The Music" (with Alexander Hope)
- 1997 "Lovelee Dae"
- 1998 "Directions" (with Joe ClaussellJoe ClaussellJoaquin "Joke Laws-L" Claussell is a New York DJ, music producer, record label owner and former manager of Dance Trax record shop then based in the East Village, Manhattan, New York City, USA....
) - 1998 "Seasons of Love"
- 1998 "My Beat" (with Palmer Brown)
- 1999 "More Than Gold" (with Palmer Brown)
- 1999 "Wishing You Were Here"
- 1999 "Funky People" (with Cassio Ware)
- 2000 "Home Is Where The Heart Is"
- 2000 "My Beat" (re-release) (with Palmer Brown)
- 2001 "Jump 4 Love" (with Palmer Brown)
- 2001 "Shine" (with Palmer Brown)
- 2001 "Paradise" (with Cassio Ware)
- 2002 "A Moment in Time" (with Alexander Hope)
- 2002 "Wonderland" (with Alexander Hope)
- 2002 "When I Fall In Love" (with Tee Alford and Sybil Lynch)
- 2002 "Breathe"
- 2002 "I Remember House" (with Palmer Brown)
- 2002 "How Deep Is Your Love" (with Alexander Hope and Timmy Regisford)
- 2003 "I Think of You" (with Amira)
- 2004 "A Song For Nina (Keep The Faith)"
- 2004 "Found Love"
- 2004 "My Beat (Remixes)" (with Palmer Brown)
- 2004 "I Remember House (Remixes)" (with Palmer Brown)
- 2004 "When I Fall In Love (Remixes)" (with Sybil Lynch)
- 2005 "Gloria's Muse (The Yoga Song)"
- 2005 "Dancing" (with Alexander Hope)
- 2005 "Here With Me"
- 2007 "Lovelee Dae" (OM Remixes)
- 2007 "Listen"
- 2007 "Family"
- 2007 "Force of Nature"
- 2009 "We Are One" (Ian Friday Remixes)
- 2010 "Sacred Sex"
- 2010 "We Are One" (Incl. Kiko Navarro & Ian Friday Mixes)
- 2010 "Cult Of Soul"
- 2011 "Lovelee Dae" (Remix Re-Release)
Underground Dance Artists United For Life
- 2003 "Be Yourself" (with Joi CardwellJoi CardwellJoi Cardwell is a female Biracial Club/Dance, House music and R&B music singer-songwriter.-Career:She has had major success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she placed eight songs in the top ten between 1995 to 2007...
) - 2003 "We Are One"
- 2004 "Most Precious Love" (with Barbara TuckerBarbara TuckerBarbara Tucker , is an African American house, R&B and soul singer, songwriter and choreographer. Her impact on the mainstream music scene has been felt more in Europe, than in her home country....
) - 2005 "Be Yourself (Remixes)" (with Joi Cardwell)
- 2005 "Keep Hope Alive (Remixes)" (with Dawn Tallman)
- 2005 "Most Precious Love (Remixes)" (with Barbara Tucker)
- 2005 "Spread Love" (with Byron StingilyByron StingilyByron Stingily is an African American R&B and house-music singer born in Chicago, Illinois, known for his falsetto voice. He is now a principal at a school in Chicago.-Career:...
) - 2005 "Wonderful Place" (with Ultra NatéUltra NatéUltra Naté is an American house music, Dance-pop and sometimes R&B musician who has achieved a respectable amount of success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind" as part of Stars on 54....
) - 2006 "Most Precious Love 2006" (with Barbara Tucker)
Black Rascals
- 1993 "The Piano"
- 1993 "Sympathy"
- 1993 "Keeping My Mind" (with Roger Harris)
- 1993 "So In Love" (with Cassio Ware)
- 1996 "For The Next Time"
Funky People
- 1995 "The Blaze Tracks EP" (with Cassio Ware, Tee Alford and Allen Jeffrey)
- 1995 "Funky People" (with Cassio Ware and Sabrina JohnstonSabrina JohnstonSabrina Johnston is an American singer, most noted for her 1991 club anthem, "Peace".-Career:Johnson grew up in the United States attending summer music camps, dance and voice classes before enrolling at Cheyney State University as a music major.Johnson released her self-titled album in 1992 with...
) - 1996 "Lift Him Up" (with Talipharaoh and Su Su Bobien)
- 1999 "Funky People (Remixes)" (with Cassio Ware and Sabrina Johnston)
The Colour Funky
- 1996 "Peach Melba"
- 1999 "Our Spirit"
- 1999 "Journey"
James Toney Jr. Project
- 2000 "Elevation"
- 2001 "Afro-Groove"
- 2001 "Lovely Ones"
- 2002 "Better Days"
Other aliases
- 1987 "Let's Work It Out", as Exit
- 1987 "Sometimes Love", as In-Sync (with Jerry Edwards)
- 1988 "Mystery", as Phase II (with Jerry Edwards and Vincent Herbert)
- 1988 "Reachin'", as Phase II (with Jerry Edwards and Vincent Herbert)
- 1989 "Love Will Find A Way/Blazin'", as Stardust
- 1991 "One Kiss", as Pacha (with Joey NegroJoey NegroDave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
and Debbie French) - 1993 "Underground", as System VIII (with Otis Vick)
- 1995 "Klubhead EP", as Klubhead (with Alexander Hope and Otis Vick)
- 1997 "Heaven (When U Smile)", as The Walls & Company (with Simone Jay)
- 1997 "Superstar", as Project MSC (with Ce Ce Rogers)
- 1998 "Artful Noyz EP", as Blaze Team (with Tee Alford)
- 1998 "Mixed Dimensions EP", as Urban Art Trio (with Tee Alford)
- 1998 "When I Fall In Love", as The Klub Family (with Tee Alford and Sybil Lynch)
- 2000 "When I Fall In Love (Remixes)", as The Klub Family (with Tee Alford and Sybil Lynch)
- 2003 "A Better World", as AgeHa (with Satoshi Hidaka, Jocelyn BrownJocelyn BrownJocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
and Loleatta HollowayLoleatta HollowayLoleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
)
Productions for other artists
- 1988 Michelle Ayers - "Another Lover"
- 1988 LaChandra - "Just Started"
- 1988 Heat - "You Can't Get Away"
- 1988 Anthony & The Camp - "Open (Up Your Heart)"
- 1989 Cynthia "Cookie" Abrams - "Best Part Of Me"
- 1989 Jerry Edwards - "I Am Somebody"
- 1989 Chanelle - "One Man"
- 1989 Tawanna Curry - "Let Me Show You"
- 1989 Sense Of Vision - "All My Love"
- 1989 Breed Of Motion - "Gotta Dance"
- 1992 Cassio Ware - "Baby Love"
- 1993 Cassio - "Never Thought I'd See You Again"
- 1993 Sabrynaah PopeSabrynaah PopeSabrynaah Pope was a female Dance/House vocalist from Brooklyn, New York. She was well known for her work with Dance acts 95 North, DJ Pierre, and most recently as part of U.D.A.U.F.L., which scored a number one track on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Most Precious Love" in 2005...
- "It Works For Me" - 1993 Althea McQueen - "Changes"
- 1993 Kechia Jenkins - "Goin' Through The Motions"
- 1993 Alexander Hope - "Let The Music Take You"
- 1993 Alexander Hope - "Saturdays"
- 1994 Alexander Hope - "Share"
- 1994 Cassio Ware - "Fantasy", with Sajaeda
- 1994 De'LacyDe'LacyDe'Lacy were an American 1990s dance band, most famous for their single "Hideaway".-Overview:Initially, the band consisted of De'Lacy Davis - percussionist, Gary Griffin - bassist and keyboard player, Glen Branch - drummer and backing vocalist and Rainie Lassiter - lead vocalist.The band spilt in...
- "Hideaway" - 1994 Cookie - "Choose Me"
- 1994 Cookie - "Best Part Of Me"
- 1995 Cassio - "Paradise"
- 1995 Alex & Rai - "For The Love Of You"
- 1995 Alexander Hope - "Brothers & Sisters"
- 1996 Alexander Hope - "Happy Days"
- 1996 De'Lacy - "That Look"
- 1996 Amira - "Getaway"
- 1996 Amira - "Walk", with Alexander O'Neal
- 1997 Amira - "My Desire"
- 1997 De'Lacy - "All I Need Is Love"
- 1997 Debbie Pender - "Movin' On"
- 1997 Alexander Hope - "Never Can Get Away"
- 1998 De'Lacy - "More"
- 1999 Kathy BrownKathy BrownKathy Brown is an American R&B Dance/House singer from South Carolina.-Career:Brown began singing in her local Gospel choir. After joining the contemporary R&B group Sweet Cinnamon...
- "Happy People" - 2001 Nicci - "Count On Me"
- 2001 Nicci - "When You're Free"
- 2004 Alexander Hope - "Big Mistake"
- 2005 Stephanie CookeStephanie CookeStephanie S. Cooke is a journalist who began her reporting career in 1977 at the Associated Press. In 1980 she moved to McGraw-Hill in New York as a reporter for Nucleonics Week, NuclearFuel and Inside N.R.C. In 1984 she transferred to London and two years later covered the aftermath of the...
- "Love Will" - 2005 Stephanie Cooke - "Lovers' Holiday"
Appears on
- 2000 Louie Vega - "Elements of Life"
- 2002 Louie Vega - "Brand New Day"
- 2004 Louie Vega - "Love Is On The Way"
- 2004 Louie Vega - "Sunshine"
- 2006 Catalan FC & Sven Löve - "All About Love"
- 2006 Louie Vega - "Joshua's Jam"
- 2006 Studio Apartment - "The Rising Sun"
- 2006 Shuya Okino - "Love Is The Key" (produced by Phil Asher)
- 2007 Luisito Quintero - "Love Remains The Same" (produced by Louie Vega)
Remixes
- 2007 "Listen" Dreamgirls Soundtrack feat. Beyoncé Knowles
- 2007 "Force Of Nature" Sunshine Anderson
- 2007 "Family" Dreamgirls Soundtrack feat. Jennifer Hudson
Sources
See also
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart