Evelyn King
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Evelyn "Champagne" King (born July 1, 1960 in New York , New York ) is an American disco , post disco and R&B singer. During the disco era, she made her breakthrough with the classic Shame .
Career
Evelyn King was born in the Bronx , New York , but grew up in Philadelphia . As a teenager she worked in the Sigma studios of Gamble and Huff - albeit as a cleaning lady. King liked to sing during this job, by chance the producer Theodore Life became aware of her "adult voice" (Allmusic). In 1977 she signed a long-term contract with RCA . As an addition to her name, she chose the word "Champagne", according to the artist as a reference to her nickname "Bubbles". Kings singles Shame and I Don't Know If It's Right were instant hits in the American pop, R&B and disco charts and were awarded gold. Shame in particular established itself as a classic of the disco genre: The trade magazine New Musical Express placed the song in 1978 at number 11 of the "Singles of the Year". In 2000 the "100 greatest dance songs" were voted on the music channel VH1 , Shame took 19th place. The song was also inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004 .
King recorded a total of eight albums for RCA by 1985 and had among others I'm in Love (1981, R&B No. 1), Love Come Down (her only top 10 hit in Great Britain, R&B No. 1), Betcha She Don 't Love You (1982) and Your Personal Touch (1985) other hits. In 1981 and 1982 she gave up the nickname "Champagne" for a short time and the album Face to Face (1983) reappeared with this addition. As part of the promotion of this work, the singer announced that Prince was her greatest musical influence.
The albums Smooth Talk (1977), Music Box (1979) and Get Loose (1982) were also awarded gold. With the beginning of the 1990s, King's success waned. She has remained active as a live artist to this day, and occasionally records albums. In 2008, Open Book was their first CD in thirteen years.
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1977 | Smooth talk | - |
US14th  (45 weeks)US |
First published: August 17, 1977
|
| 1979 | Music box | - |
US35 (17 weeks)US |
First published: March 19, 1979
|
| 1980 | Call on Me | - |
US124 (7 weeks) US |
First published: September 8, 1980
|
| 1981 | I'm in love | - |
US28 (18 weeks) US |
First published: June 21, 1981
|
| 1982 | Get Loose |
UK35 (9 weeks) UK |
US27 (32 weeks)US |
First published: August 11, 1982
|
| 1983 | Face to face | - |
US91 (9 weeks) US |
First published: November 7, 1983
|
| 1988 | flirt | - |
US192 (3 weeks) US |
First published: April 27, 1988
|
More albums
- 1984: So Romantic
- 1985: A Long Time Coming
- 1989: The Girl Next Door
- 1990: The Best of
- 1993: Love Come Down: The Very Best of
- 1995: I'll Keep a Light On
- 1997: Let's Get Funky
- 2001: Greatest Hits
- 2003: Platinum & Gold Collection
- 2006: If You Want My Lovin
- 2007: Open Book
- 2014: Action: Anthology 1977-1986
- 2015: The Essential
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1977 | Shame Smooth Talk |
UK39 (23 weeks) UK |
US9 (19 weeks)US |
First published: September 1977
|
| 1978 | I don't know if it's right smooth talk |
UK67 (2 weeks) UK |
US23 (16 weeks)US |
First published: December 1978
|
| 1979 | Music Box Music Box |
- |
US75 (6 weeks) US |
First published: May 1979
|
| 1981 | I'm in Love I'm in Love |
UK27 (11 weeks) UK |
US40 (14 weeks) US |
First published: June 1981
|
| If You Want My Lovin ' I'm in Love |
UK43 (6 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: September 1981
|
|
| 1982 | Love Come Down Get Loose |
UK7th  (13 weeks)UK |
US17 (16 weeks) US |
First published: August 1982
|
| Back to Love Get Loose |
UK40 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: November 1982
|
|
| 1983 | Betcha She Don't Love You Get Loose |
- |
US49 (11 weeks) US |
First published: January 1983
|
| Get Loose Get Loose |
UK45 (6 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: February 1983
|
|
| Action face to face |
- |
US75 (7 weeks) US |
First published: December 1983
|
|
| 1984 | I'm So Romantic So Romantic |
UK76 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: September 1984
|
| 1985 | Give Me One Reason So Romantic |
UK93 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: February 1985
|
| Your Personal Touch A Long Time Coming |
UK37 (5 weeks) UK |
US86 (4 weeks) US |
First published: October 1985
|
|
| 1986 | High Horse A Long Time Coming |
UK55 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: March 1986
|
| 1988 | Hold on to What You've Got Flirt |
UK47 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: July 1988
|
| 1992 | Shame (Remix) |
UK74 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: October 1992
(vs. Age 8 ) |
| 1997 | One more time |
UK94 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: May 1997
(vs. Divas of Color) |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b biography, Allmusic
- ↑ Short biography at Taurus Press
- ↑ a b Evelyn King turns to Punk Funk on album; reclaims 'Champagne', Jet Magazine, Jan 2, 1984, pages 60-61
- ^ NME Albums + Singles 1978
- ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Dance Songs," rockonthenet.com
- ↑ Gold awards at RIAA
- ↑ Info and release date of the CD at Amazon.com
- ↑ a b Chart sources: UK US
- ↑ Music Sales Awards: UK US
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | King, Evelyn |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | King, Evelyn Champagne |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American disco and R&B singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 1, 1960 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New York , New York |