Joyce Irby
Encyclopedia
Joyce Irby is best known as the bassist
and co-lead vocalist of the 1980s all girl band Klymaxx
. She originally signed on with George Clinton
's P-Funk crew as "Fenderella". In 1989, she scored a solo deal with Motown Records
and had 3 charted Billboard singles, most notable "Mr DJ" with Doug E Fresh which peaked at # 2.
Irby relocated from Los Angeles to Atlanta in the late 1980s and since 1986 began attempting to engineer the rise of Atlanta as an urban music center by soliciting major record labels and producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and LA Reid & Babyface to form regional offices in the Atlanta area.
Irby's greater impact may have been the result of her signing a young Dallas Austin
as a songwriter and producer in 1988. Dallas produced the first TLC
and Boyz II Men
projects while still signed to Irby's company Diva One Entertainment.
Ten years later, as an artist developer she signed child star Sammie Bush
, and made a deal with Dallas and Capital Records which launched Sammie's career when he was 12 years old. Irby also signed Lloyd (The Inc)
as an 11 year old and developed and guided his career through four major record deals (Warner, DreamWorks, Magic Johnson Music/MCA, The Inc/Universal).
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and co-lead vocalist of the 1980s all girl band Klymaxx
Klymaxx
Klymaxx is a female Pop/R&B band from Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Klymaxx was conceived and formed by Bernadette Cooper, who also chose the name. The dream of an all girl band became a quest she pursued after leaving college...
. She originally signed on with George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
's P-Funk crew as "Fenderella". In 1989, she scored a solo deal with Motown Records
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...
and had 3 charted Billboard singles, most notable "Mr DJ" with Doug E Fresh which peaked at # 2.
Irby relocated from Los Angeles to Atlanta in the late 1980s and since 1986 began attempting to engineer the rise of Atlanta as an urban music center by soliciting major record labels and producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and LA Reid & Babyface to form regional offices in the Atlanta area.
Irby's greater impact may have been the result of her signing a young Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
as a songwriter and producer in 1988. Dallas produced the first TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
and Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
projects while still signed to Irby's company Diva One Entertainment.
Ten years later, as an artist developer she signed child star Sammie Bush
Sammie
Sammie Bush , better known by Sammie, is an American soul and pop singer. He is best known for his hit, "I Like It" from his debut album, From the Bottom to the Top . He returned with his second studio album, Sammie in 2006...
, and made a deal with Dallas and Capital Records which launched Sammie's career when he was 12 years old. Irby also signed Lloyd (The Inc)
Lloyd (singer)
Lloyd Polite, Jr. , who performs under the mononym Lloyd, is an American R&B recording artist, who experienced as a member of the group N-Toon before embarking on a solo career in 2004....
as an 11 year old and developed and guided his career through four major record deals (Warner, DreamWorks, Magic Johnson Music/MCA, The Inc/Universal).