Lo-Key

The 1990's R&B group "Lo-Key?" was founded by Lance "LA" Alexander and Tony "prof. t" Tolbert, staff writers signed to Flyte Tyme Productions. Group members consisted of Andre "Dre" Shepard (Lead Vocals), Darron "D" Story (Vocals/Trumpet), Tyrone "T-Bone" Yarbrough (Vocals/Bass Guitar), Tony "prof. t" Tolbert (Lead Vocals/Writer/Producer), and Lance "LA" Alexander (Keyboard/Producer). Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Lance, prof. t, T-Bone and Darron were in a band called Grand Jury before moving to Minneapolis. Lance and prof.t met Andre while auditioning for Jesse Johnson's group "DaKrash". To their fortune, Dre was turned down by Jesse Johnson, and thereby joined "Lo-Key?".

During the 1989 Black Minnesota Music Awards Seminar (in which Jimmy "Jam" Harris was a panelist on the producers forum) Lance stood up and told the hit-maker "How do I get one of those Flyte Tyme jackets!" A move that lead to Lance & prof.t promptly sending Flyte Tyme a demo that landed them a songwriter/production deal with the company that same year. After writing songs for Alexander O'Neal, Shanice Wilson,Jane Child, &Johnny Gill, Lance & prof.t were asked to put a group together for Jam & Lewis's new business venture Perspective/A&M Records. The duo rounded up the rest of the guys and "Lo-Key?" was officially off and running, beginning work on their first album in the fall of 1991.

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Album: "Where Dey At?"

The result was "Lo-Key?, Where Dey At?", a fun and funky throwback concept album to the music the guys had grown up to. Influenced by bands like Con Funk Shun, Cameo, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Dazz Band, Parliment and a host of others, "Lo-Key?" was determined not to fall into the typical 5 man vocal group by utilitzing it's musicianship. Something that began to dissappear in the 90's with the rise of groups like Boyz II Men and Jodeci. Their first single "Attention: The Shawanda Story", an ode to an "around the way girl", didn't quite make it on the radar. "Though we really liked the song, I don't think the public could quite figure out who we were and what we were trying to do. It was a bit more hip-hop than old school.", says T-Bone. But things quickly turned around after the release of their second single "I Got A Thang For Ya", a ballad featuring Dre' and prof.t on lead that nailed their throwback style. "I Got A Thang For Ya" eventually lead to their first and only #1 song on the Billboard charts in the fall of 1992. Other singles from "Where Dey At?" included the top 20 Billboard mid-tempo hit "Sweet On You" and the sultry "Hey There Pretty Lady" featuring "D" on trumpet.

In 1994 the group went back in the studio (though without bandmate "D" who went on to pursue other interests) and spawned the album "Back To Da Howse". A more complete and consistent album to their old school roots, but couldn't manage to garnish the same success as their previous effort. "The label changed their whole staff in the middle of that album and I don't think we shared the same vision as it's president at the time.", says Dre'. The first single "Tasty" was similar in it's approach to "Thang For Ya" but only made it into the top 50 on Billboard charts. "Good Ole Fashioned Love", the 2nd single, did better on the charts but by then the group was witnessing the beginning of the end.

"Lo-Key?" disbanded officially in 1995, and it's members went into different directions within the music industry. Affectionately known as the "B-team" at Flyte Tyme, Lance & prof.t went on to pen more songs for Alexander O'Neal, The Sounds Of Blackness, Jason Weaver, rapper Smooth and other acts that passed thru Flyte Tyme studios. Their biggest discovery was the R&B group NEXT. Signed to Naughty By Nature's DJ Kay-Gee's label DivineMill/Arista. Lance & prof.t gave the group NEXT their first hit "Butta Love". The group then went on to sell over 2 million albums and over 3 million singles. In 1997 Lance and prof split with Lance forming his own label "Baby Honey Records" and prof.t becoming the A&R Director for Flyte Tyme's New Label thru the Universal Music Group. "D" landed a gig at BMG distrubution and formed his own artist magnagement company while T-Bone and Dre' continued to write and eventually formed their own bands that toured the country.

Although amongst music circles the group was lauded, Lo-Key? never reached Platinum or Gold status, due to corporate restructuring and political maneuvering at A&M records.