Song:Tell Me
Album:Groove Theory
This 1995 top five hit really hit the spot and over time proved to be an excellent template for today's Neo Soul movement. Groove Theory only recorded one CD but rapper songwiter producer Bryce Wilson (born 1972 in New York City) and singer songwriter Amel Larrieux (born Mar. 8, 1973 in New York City) have done very well individually. Wilson is a cousin of LL Cool J and Lil' Kim. He started out as Bryce Luvah in the pioneering rap group Mantronix replacing MC Tee in 1990. After Mantronix disbanded in 1991, Wilson met Amel while she was working as a receptionist at a music publishing company and they started working together. He was looking for a singer and she was looking for a producer. They signed with Epic Records and Groove Theory released their debut CD in 1995. Tell Me was a smash hit. It reached #3 on the R & B Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Amel and Wilson along with session bassist Darryl Brown wrote most of the songs on the CD. Amel said she had been writing for a long time so she had a lot of songs stockpiled. She's a tremendous singer and has done guest vocals on lots of other projects. Groove Theory also appeared on the hit TV show New York Undercover in 1997. Unfortunately, Groove Theory never released a second CD. Amel left in 1999 and continues to record solo on her own Blisslife label. Wilson brought in Makeda Davis to replace her. They recorded a CD called The Answer scheduled for a 2001 release. But Wilson was conflicting with Sony over their lack of promotional support for R & B and he asked to be released. The CD was never released. He signed Makeda to a solo deal with Interscope but nothing ever came of it. Bryce Wilson started Czar Entertainment in 2003. The company manages artists like The Game, Too Short, Gucci Mane and others. He also continues to produce artists like Beyonce, Amerie and others. And he's done some acting. You may recognize him from the 2005 film Beauty Shop. So Groove Theory may have only had one big hit. But their influence is felt in today's R & B. Here's the video for Tell Me by Groove Theory.
Good one here. I remember buying this CD after the release of "Tell Me" back when I was in the Navy. Good times. By the way, I am Chief from Fightergirls.
ReplyDeleteI read yesterday that Bryce & Amel are reuniting and will release a new Groove Theory CD in 2010.
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