Pajama Party (vocal group)
Encyclopedia
Pajama Party was an American Latin Freestyle
female vocal trio from Brooklyn, New York active between 1988 and 1992. The members were Jennifer McQuilkin of New Jersey, Daphne Rubin-Vega
of Panama, and Suzi Ranta of Michigan with songwriter and producer Jim Klein.
, Jennifer McQuilkin, and Suzi Ranta, with Jennifer singing lead, but McQuilkin and Ranta were replaced in 1989 by Lynn Critelli and Amanda Homi.
The band's biggest hit single, "Yo No Sé" (1988) (sung by Jennifer McQuilkin), was one of the first freestyle songs in which the title was entirely in the Spanish language
. Their second single was "Over and Over" (originally performed by Brenda K. Starr
).
on Atlantic Records. In 1989, Homi was replaced by Club MTV dancer Marialisa Costanzo. The next single, "Hide and Seek" (1990) (remixed by Robert Clivillés and David Cole) became their first music video.
The debut album contained the song "Lovelight" as well as the ballad "Living Inside Your Love". The singles charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs, and the group toured with New Kids on The Block
, George Lamond
, Sweet Sensation
, Brenda K. Starr, Linear
, and Sa-Fire
.
(also on Atlantic). The first single was "Got My Eye on You". The album's title song leaned towards R&B and pop.
. McQuilkin, Ranta, and Critelli are all still in the music business. Homi and Costanzo are pursuing acting careers.
In 2000, for a celebration held in honor of Fever Records
's Sal Abbatiello
, a new version of Pajama Party graced the stage. Costanzo, along with new members Janine Acquafredda (a former backup singer for Lisette Melendez) and Johanna (formerly Freestyle artist Lil' Johanna) performed some of the classics, as well as new material.
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
female vocal trio from Brooklyn, New York active between 1988 and 1992. The members were Jennifer McQuilkin of New Jersey, Daphne Rubin-Vega
Daphne Rubin-Vega
Daphne Rubin-Vega is a dancer, singer, and actress. She is best known for originating the role of Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical Rent, and the role of Lucy, in the Off-Broadway play Jack Goes Boating.-Biography:Rubin-Vega was born in Panama City, Panama, the daughter of Daphine Vega, a...
of Panama, and Suzi Ranta of Michigan with songwriter and producer Jim Klein.
Career
The group originally consisted of Daphne Rubin-VegaDaphne Rubin-Vega
Daphne Rubin-Vega is a dancer, singer, and actress. She is best known for originating the role of Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical Rent, and the role of Lucy, in the Off-Broadway play Jack Goes Boating.-Biography:Rubin-Vega was born in Panama City, Panama, the daughter of Daphine Vega, a...
, Jennifer McQuilkin, and Suzi Ranta, with Jennifer singing lead, but McQuilkin and Ranta were replaced in 1989 by Lynn Critelli and Amanda Homi.
The band's biggest hit single, "Yo No Sé" (1988) (sung by Jennifer McQuilkin), was one of the first freestyle songs in which the title was entirely in the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. Their second single was "Over and Over" (originally performed by Brenda K. Starr
Brenda K. Starr
Brenda K. Starr is an American singer-songwriter. She is well known originally in dance-pop, but now mostly in salsa-based music...
).
First album
In 1988, the band recorded its first full-length album Up All NightUp All Night (Pajama Party album)
Up All Night is the first full-length album by Pajama Party, an American R&B/Dance/Pop female vocal trio from Brooklyn, New York.-Track listing:CD Edition-Charts:Singles - Billboard -External links:...
on Atlantic Records. In 1989, Homi was replaced by Club MTV dancer Marialisa Costanzo. The next single, "Hide and Seek" (1990) (remixed by Robert Clivillés and David Cole) became their first music video.
The debut album contained the song "Lovelight" as well as the ballad "Living Inside Your Love". The singles charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs, and the group toured with New Kids on The Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
, George Lamond
George Lamond
George Lamond, born George Garcia, is an American Freestyle music singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent.-Career:George Lamond began singing backup for various artists before landing a solo deal with Columbia Records...
, Sweet Sensation
Sweet Sensation
Sweet Sensation was a Puerto Rican female freestyle-dance music trio from The Bronx, New York.-History:Formed in 1986, In The Bronx . The original group members were Betty LeBron and sisters Margie and Mari Fernandez. Originally on Next Plateau Records, in 1988 they were picked up by Atco and...
, Brenda K. Starr, Linear
Linear (pop group)
Linear was a Latin freestyle-pop trio from Miami, Florida.It consisted of vocalist Charlie Pennachio, and percussionist Joey Restivo, who both hailed from New York, with Ecuadoran guitarist Wyatt Pauley. In 1990, the band had a hit with the gold single, "Sending All My Love," which was released...
, and Sa-Fire
Sa-Fire
Wilma Cosmé better known by her stage name SaFire, is an American singer. While she was one of the few freestyle artist to have major pop-chart success, she is considered an important part of Latin freestyle...
.
Second album
In 1991 came the release of their second album Can't Live Without ItCan't LIVE Without It
Can't LIVE Without It was the only live album release from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green.It was recorded at The Marquee Club in London, UK on February 25, 1990 and was released by Roadrunner Records later that year....
(also on Atlantic). The first single was "Got My Eye on You". The album's title song leaned towards R&B and pop.
Moving forward
By 1992, the group broke up, but members still continued to be involved in the entertainment industry. Rubin-Vega became a successful solo dance music artist (now with her Rock band DRV), and has done some movies, as well as originating the role of 'Mimi' in the Broadway musical RentRent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
. McQuilkin, Ranta, and Critelli are all still in the music business. Homi and Costanzo are pursuing acting careers.
In 2000, for a celebration held in honor of Fever Records
Fever Records
Fever Records was the New York City freestyle record label of the 80s, founded by promoter Sal Abbatiello.The label was marketed and distributed by Sutra Records until the latter went under, which precipitated a distribution deal with Russel Simmons's RAL division of Def Jam Recordings.Fever...
's Sal Abbatiello
Sal Abbatiello
Sal Abbatiello is a record executive in the music business. His career goes back to the early 1970s and he is still one of the biggest concert promoters and record executives in the New York City area. Abbatiello created and produced the Freestyle, Urban/Dance-Pop trio, The Cover Girls, whose hits...
, a new version of Pajama Party graced the stage. Costanzo, along with new members Janine Acquafredda (a former backup singer for Lisette Melendez) and Johanna (formerly Freestyle artist Lil' Johanna) performed some of the classics, as well as new material.
Discography
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Up All Night Up All Night (Pajama Party album) Up All Night is the first full-length album by Pajama Party, an American R&B/Dance/Pop female vocal trio from Brooklyn, New York.-Track listing:CD Edition-Charts:Singles - Billboard -External links:...
|
| 1991 | Can't Live Without It Can't LIVE Without It Can't LIVE Without It was the only live album release from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green.It was recorded at The Marquee Club in London, UK on February 25, 1990 and was released by Roadrunner Records later that year.... |