The Controllers: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "'''The Controllers''', originally '''The Epics''', and later '''The Soul Controllers''', were a soul and funk group founded by students from Fairfield High School. The group emerged from an 8-person Gospel ensemble in primary school, coalescing as a four man group with baritone Reginald McArthor and tenor Ricky Lewis alternating vocal leads, backed by Larry McArthur and Lenard Brown. With Cleve Eaton the high sc...") |
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'''The Controllers''', originally '''The Epics''', and later '''The Soul Controllers''', were a soul and funk group founded by students from [[Fairfield High Preparatory School|Fairfield High School]]. | '''The Controllers''', originally '''The Epics''', and later '''The Soul Controllers''', were a soul and funk singing group founded by students from [[Fairfield High Preparatory School|Fairfield High School]]. | ||
The group emerged from an 8-person Gospel ensemble in primary school, coalescing as a four man group with baritone [[Reginald McArthor]] and tenor [[Ricky Lewis]] alternating vocal leads, backed by [[Larry McArthur]] and [[Lenard Brown]]. | The group emerged from an 8-person Gospel ensemble in primary school, coalescing as a four man group with baritone [[Reginald McArthor]] and tenor [[Ricky Lewis]] alternating vocal leads, backed by [[Larry McArthur]] and [[Lenard Brown]]. | ||
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In [[1983]] the Controllers hired manager Jimmy Bee and signed with MCA Records. They returned to the charts with "Crushed", which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The band made appearances on "Soul Train", MTV, BET's "Video Soul", and HBO. Bee shepherded them to Capitol Records in [[1989]], resulting in the well-received album "Just In Time". | In [[1983]] the Controllers hired manager Jimmy Bee and signed with MCA Records. They returned to the charts with "Crushed", which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The band made appearances on "Soul Train", MTV, BET's "Video Soul", and HBO. Bee shepherded them to Capitol Records in [[1989]], resulting in the well-received album "Just In Time". | ||
After a hiatus, the group reassembled in the late 1990s, releasing an independent album entitled "Clear View" in [[1997]]. | After a hiatus, the group reassembled in the late 1990s, releasing an independent album entitled "Clear View" through Malaco Music Group in [[1997]]. | ||
[[Category: R&B | [[Category: R&B singers]] | ||
[[Category: Soul | [[Category: Soul singers]] | ||
[[Category: 1965 establishments]] | [[Category: 1965 establishments]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:59, 19 June 2024
The Controllers, originally The Epics, and later The Soul Controllers, were a soul and funk singing group founded by students from Fairfield High School.
The group emerged from an 8-person Gospel ensemble in primary school, coalescing as a four man group with baritone Reginald McArthor and tenor Ricky Lewis alternating vocal leads, backed by Larry McArthur and Lenard Brown.
With Cleve Eaton the high school group recorded a regional hit single "Right On, Brother - Right On", backed by "I Ain't Lyin'", which was distributed by Eaton's Publishing Co.
In 1976 The Controllers recorded "The People Want Music" and "This Train" for Frederick Knight's Juana Records. Their 1977 follow-up, "Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose" climbed to #8 on Billboard's US R&B chart and #3 on Cash Box's soul chart. Their next single, "Heaven is Only a Step Away" reached #37 on the soul chart, but their other Juana releases found less success.
In 1983 the Controllers hired manager Jimmy Bee and signed with MCA Records. They returned to the charts with "Crushed", which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The band made appearances on "Soul Train", MTV, BET's "Video Soul", and HBO. Bee shepherded them to Capitol Records in 1989, resulting in the well-received album "Just In Time".
After a hiatus, the group reassembled in the late 1990s, releasing an independent album entitled "Clear View" through Malaco Music Group in 1997.