Cameo (band)

Cameo
	General information
Genre (s)	Funk , Contemporary R&B
founding	1974
Founding members
Vocals , drums , percussion , bass	Larry Blackmon

Cameo is a funk and R&B project by the musician Larry Blackmon that emerged from the band "The New York City Players" .

Band history

In 1974 the then 13-member band was formed by Larry Blackmon, who trained at the recognized Julliard Music Academy in New York. Later the New York City Players became the Cameo music group.

The first albums Cardiac Arrest, Ugly Ego, We All Know Who We Are and Secret Omen appeared on the Casablanca Records & Filmworks - Sublabel Chocolate City Records and included dance tracks like Rigor Mortis , I Just Want to Be and Find My Way , the big one Disco hit and can also be found on the soundtrack for Thank God It's Friday .

When the album Cameosis was released in 1980, Cameo had already gained considerable notoriety through singles such as Shake Your Pants . The long players Knights of the Sound Table (1981) and Alligator Woman (1982) showed the musical versatility of the band.

By the mid-1980s, Cameo was ready to move on. The line-up was reduced to Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins, Nathan Leftenant and Charles Singleton. Due to the influence of new bands, which were mainly in the field of "electronic funk", Larry Blackmon drove his group into this style of music as well. Cutting synthesizer sounds , angular drum beats played by the computer and precise bass lines form the basis of their style.

The release She's Strange from the album of the same name became a number one hit on the R&B charts in the USA. The follow-up singles Talkin 'Out the Side of Your Neck and Hangin Downtown were less successful. The biggest cameo hit Word Up! came out in mid-1986 (Charles Singleton had already left the band). Through the skilful connection between funk and pop elements, they created a danceable catchy tune that was played by radio stations and club DJs around the world during this time and made the group into superstars. The following songs Candy and Back and Forth were also great hits for the radio trio. In late 1986, it seemed like Word Up! could be heard everywhere: on the radio, in clubs, MTV, in Coca-Cola advertisements. Even in everyday language use Word Up! heard more and more frequently as it became a national catchphrase.

Before releasing their follow-up album, the band took a break before releasing the record Machismo two years later , which was positively received by critics. The piece In the Night was composed Miles Davis added. The album Emotional Violence , which was released in 1991, was also well received by critics, but could no longer match the success of Word Up! tie in. The long players In the Face of Funk (1994) and Sexy Sweet Thing (2000) followed, but the success of Cameos continued to decline.

Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)						Remarks
year	Title music label	DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B	Remarks
1977	Cardiac Arrest Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US116 (15 weeks) US	R&B16 (25 weeks) R&B	First published: June 29, 1977 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1978	We All Know Who We Are Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US58 (23 weeks) US	R&B15 (25 weeks) R&B	First published: January 2nd, 1978 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1978	Ugly Ego Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US83 (15 weeks) US	R&B16 (17 weeks) R&B	First published: September 25, 1978 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1979	Secret Omen Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US46 gold (21 weeks)US	R&B4 (34 weeks) R&B	First published: June 25, 1979 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1980	Cameosis Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US25th gold (26 weeks)US	R&B1 (29 weeks) R&B	First published: April 24, 1980 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1980	Feel Me Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US44 gold (17 weeks)US	R&B6 (37 weeks) R&B	First published: October 6, 1980 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1981	Knights of the Sound Table Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US44 gold (13 weeks)US	R&B2 (24 weeks) R&B	First published: May 18, 1981 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1982	Alligator Woman Chocolate City Records	-	-	-	-	US23 gold (24 weeks)US	R&B6 (32 weeks) R&B	First published: March 22nd, 1982 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1983	Style Atlanta Artists	-	-	-	-	US53 (12 weeks) US	R&B14 (22 weeks) R&B	First published: April 11, 1983 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1984	She's Strange Atlanta Artists	-	-	-	-	US27 gold (24 weeks)US	R&B1 (32 weeks) R&B	First published: January 16, 1984 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1985	Single Life Atlanta Artists	-	-	-	UK66 (12 weeks) UK	US58 gold (27 weeks)US	R&B2 (33 weeks) R&B	First published: June 17, 1985 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1986	Word Up! Atlanta Artists	DE34 (9 weeks) DE	-	CH30 (1 week) CH	UK7th gold (34 weeks)UK	US8th platinum (54 weeks)US	R&B1 (52 weeks) R&B	First published: September 9, 1986 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1988	Machismo Atlanta Artists	-	-	-	UK86 (1 week) UK	US56 gold (19 weeks)US	R&B10 (35 weeks) R&B	First released October 17, 1988 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1990	Real Men ... Wear Black Atlanta Artists	-	-	-	-	US84 (8 weeks) US	R&B18 (18 weeks) R&B	First published: February 11, 1990 Producer: Larry Blackmon
1994	In the Face of Funk Way Too Funky / Raging Bull Records	-	-	-	-	-	R&B83 (4 weeks) R&B	First released October 18, 1994 Producer: Larry Blackmon
2000	Sexy Sweet Thing Private I Records / Universal	-	-	-	-	-	R&B64 (12 weeks) R&B	First published: April 18, 2000 Producer: Larry Blackmon