Steven Greenberg (musician)
Encyclopedia
Steven Greenberg of Saint Paul, Minnesota
is a musician
, record producer
and the owner of the independent October Records label. He is best known for his 1980 hit song "Funkytown
," recorded under the name Lipps Inc
(which was also a huge hit for Australian band Pseudo Echo
). Many of his songs are classics on the dancefloor such as "Addicted to the Night", "How Long", "Designer Music" and "Choir Practice". His music is an inspiration to the new dance music genres. Steven Greenberg's son, Nile, was featured on the MTV show "Made" where he wanted to be made into a rapper. He went by the name Blizzard.
A multi-instrumentalist, Greenberg had played in several bands and had been trying for some time to secure a production deal. He finally caught the Casablanca
label's interest with a disco track called "Rock It," which became something of a hit locally. Casablanca asked Greenberg for a full album, and he gathered a cast of session players that initially included guitar
ists David Rivkin
and Tom Riopelle, keyboardist
Ivan Rafowitz, synth
and vocoder
programmer Roger Dumas
, and bassist
Terry Grant. Most importantly, he recruited lead vocalist Cynthia Johnson
, the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota, who had been performing with an early version of The Time
. Released nationally in late 1979, "Rock It" made it into the Top 20 on the Billboard Disco Charts where it got the attention of Casablanca Records; the group's debut album, Mouth To Mouth, was released in early 1980. "Funkytown" was the first single
, and it was an instant hit, climbing to Number One just a few months later and spending four weeks on top starting May 31 1980. In the wake of its success, "Rock It" was re-released and only made the Billboard Top 50. The six-song release Pucker Up followed, featuring a disco remake of the British pub rock group Ace
's hit ballad "How Long." It received gold and platinum records in many countries, Lipps Inc. full-length, Designer Music was a huge success in Mexico, Central and South America and made Top 10 on the Billboard Disco chart. "Designer Music" also has gold and platinum in many countries including, Mexico and Hong Kong. Cynthia Johnson was already decreasing her involvement with the group, with Melanie Rosales and Margaret Cox picking up some of the slack; Johnson left for good in 1983. Greenberg eventually moved into web design, and owns Designstein, a profitable company that was based in Minneapolis. Greenberg is currently creating a Broadway musical production.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
is a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and the owner of the independent October Records label. He is best known for his 1980 hit song "Funkytown
Funkytown
"Funkytown" is a 1980 disco hit song by the disco band Lipps Inc. The song expresses the singer's pining for a metaphorical place that will "keep me movin', keeps me groovin' with some energy". It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance charts in 1980, also reaching number 1 in Germany,...
," recorded under the name Lipps Inc
Lipps Inc
Lipps Inc. was a studio band that achieved two significant hits, "Funkytown", in 1980 and "Designer Music", in 1981.The group was formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Steven Greenberg, who wrote and produced all of the group's music, and who also played several musical instruments...
(which was also a huge hit for Australian band Pseudo Echo
Pseudo Echo
Pseudo Echo are an Australian New Wave band formed in 1982 in Melbourne. The original line-up consisted of Brian Canham , Pierre Gigliotti , Tony Lugton and Anthony Argiro . A later line-up included James Leigh and his brother, Vince Leigh...
). Many of his songs are classics on the dancefloor such as "Addicted to the Night", "How Long", "Designer Music" and "Choir Practice". His music is an inspiration to the new dance music genres. Steven Greenberg's son, Nile, was featured on the MTV show "Made" where he wanted to be made into a rapper. He went by the name Blizzard.
A multi-instrumentalist, Greenberg had played in several bands and had been trying for some time to secure a production deal. He finally caught the Casablanca
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
label's interest with a disco track called "Rock It," which became something of a hit locally. Casablanca asked Greenberg for a full album, and he gathered a cast of session players that initially included guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ists David Rivkin
David Z.
David Z is a music producer, engineer, mixer, and writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. He is most well known for his long-standing work with Prince, but has also contributed to award winning albums by Etta James, Billy Idol, BoDeans, Buddy Guy, Neneh...
and Tom Riopelle, keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Ivan Rafowitz, synth
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
programmer Roger Dumas
Roger Dumas
Roger Dumas is a French film actor. He has appeared in over 100 films since 1954. He was born in Annonay, Ardèche.-Selected filmography:* Pouic-Pouic * That Man from Rio * La Ligne de démarcation...
, and bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Terry Grant. Most importantly, he recruited lead vocalist Cynthia Johnson
Cynthia Johnson
Cynthia Maria Johnson is an African American singer, best known to many as the lead singer for the late 1970s/early 1980s band Lipps Inc.-Beginnings:...
, the 1976 Miss Black Minnesota, who had been performing with an early version of The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
. Released nationally in late 1979, "Rock It" made it into the Top 20 on the Billboard Disco Charts where it got the attention of Casablanca Records; the group's debut album, Mouth To Mouth, was released in early 1980. "Funkytown" was the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, and it was an instant hit, climbing to Number One just a few months later and spending four weeks on top starting May 31 1980. In the wake of its success, "Rock It" was re-released and only made the Billboard Top 50. The six-song release Pucker Up followed, featuring a disco remake of the British pub rock group Ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
's hit ballad "How Long." It received gold and platinum records in many countries, Lipps Inc. full-length, Designer Music was a huge success in Mexico, Central and South America and made Top 10 on the Billboard Disco chart. "Designer Music" also has gold and platinum in many countries including, Mexico and Hong Kong. Cynthia Johnson was already decreasing her involvement with the group, with Melanie Rosales and Margaret Cox picking up some of the slack; Johnson left for good in 1983. Greenberg eventually moved into web design, and owns Designstein, a profitable company that was based in Minneapolis. Greenberg is currently creating a Broadway musical production.
External links
- The Official Funkytown web site - note: IMDB combines credits for Steven Greenberg and Steve Greenberg (record producer)Steve Greenberg (record producer)Steve Greenberg is a record producer currently heading the S-Curve Records label. He is noted for "discovering" popular musical acts such as Hanson, Baha Men, Jonas Brothers and Joss Stone. He received a 2000 Grammy Award in the "Best Dance Recording" category as a producer of "Who Let the Dogs...
- Minnesota Historical Society article on Steven Greenberg