Skyy | |
---|---|
Also known as | New York Skyy |
Origin | New York City, United States |
Genres | Disco, R&B, funk, boogie |
Years active | 1977–1993 |
Labels | Salsoul, Capitol, Atlantic |
Past members | Solomon Roberts, Jr. Anibal "Butch" Sierra Gerald Lebon Tommy McConnell Larry Greenberg Denise Dunning Wilkinson Benita "Bonnie" Dunning Williams Dolores Dunning Milligan Wayne Wilentz |
Skyy (also known as New York Skyy) [1] was an American R&B/ funk/ disco band based in New York City. [2] They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit, " Call Me", as well as their 1989 "comeback" hits, " Start of a Romance" and " Real Love". [3]
Skyy was formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1977. [2] The original line-up consisted of sisters Denise, Delores and Bonny Dunning as vocalists, with guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon and drummer Tommy McConnell. [2] [3] In 1978 the band was signed to Salsoul Records, releasing their debut album the following year. [2]
After several albums that yielded moderate hits on the R&B charts, the group crossed over to the US pop charts with the release of the Skyy Line album in late 1981. Featured on this album was the single " Call Me" which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts [4] and was their first number 1 on the R&B charts. [5] The album was later certified Gold by the RIAA. [6] The band continued to record for the Salsoul label through to the release of their 1984 Inner City album. [7]
In the mid-1980s, the band signed with Capitol Records and released their next album, From the Left Side in 1986. Apart from the top ten R&B single, "Givin' It (to You)", the album saw limited success, and the group left Capitol soon thereafter. [3] [8]
In 1989, after signing to Atlantic Records, Skyy launched a comeback with the release of their Start of a Romance album. [3] This release yielded two number one R&B singles, " Start of a Romance" and " Real Love". [4] "Real Love" also became the group's second and final crossover pop hit peaking at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1990. [4] By the release of the Nearer to You album in 1992, the hits were less successful, and the band has not released a new studio album since then. [9]
The sisters have performed consistently since then. In 2007 they attempted to beat a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo band at the Summerstage Concert Series in Harlem USA, singing their song Skyyzoo. [10] [11] Other notable performances have included the Salsoul Reunion Concert, where they performed with former label mates Carol Williams, Double Exposure, Instant Funk and Joe Bataan in New York City. [12]
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
NZ [13] |
UK [14] | |||||||||||
1979 | Skyy | 117 | 40 | — | — | Salsoul | ||||||||
1980 | Skyway | 61 | 17 | — | — | |||||||||
Skyyport | 85 | 16 | 40 | — | ||||||||||
1981 | Skyy Line | 18 | 1 | — | — | |||||||||
1982 | Skyyjammer | 81 | 22 | — | — | |||||||||
1983 | Skyylight | 183 | 44 | — | — | |||||||||
1984 | Inner City | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
1986 | From the Left Side | — | 33 | — | 85 | Capitol | ||||||||
1989 | Start of a Romance | 155 | 16 | — | — | Atlantic | ||||||||
1992 | Nearer to You | — | 52 | — | — | |||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US Dan [4] |
CAN [16] |
NLD [17] |
UK [1] | |||||||||
1979 | "First Time Around" | — | 20 | 50 | 49 | — | — | Skyy | ||||||
"Let's Turn It Out" | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"This Groove Is Bad" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1980 | "High" | 102 | 13 | 26 | — | — | — | Skyway | ||||||
"Skyyzoo" | — | 32 | 41 | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Here's to You" | — | 23 | 24 | — | — | — | Skyyport | |||||||
1981 | "Superlove" | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
"For the First Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
" Call Me" | 26 | 1 | 3 | — | 34 | — | Skyy Line | |||||||
1982 | "Let's Celebrate" | — | 16 | — | — | — | 67 | |||||||
"When You Touch Me" | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Movin' Violation" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | Skyyjammer | |||||||
1983 | "Let Love Shine" | — | 39 | 41 | — | — | — | |||||||
"Bad Boy" | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | Skyylight | |||||||
"Show Me the Way" | — | 35 | 10 | — | — | 97 | ||||||||
"Married Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1984 | "Dancin' to Be Dancin'" | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | Inner City | ||||||
1986 | "Givin' It (To You)" | — | 8 | 42 | — | — | 83 | From the Left Side | ||||||
"Non-Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Love Illogical" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1989 | " Start of a Romance" | — | 1 | 41 | — | — | — | Start of a Romance | ||||||
"Love All the Way" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
" Real Love" | 47 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1992 | "Up and Over (Stronger and Better)" | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | Nearer to You | ||||||
"Nearer to You" | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
2014 | "Top of the World" (Solidisco featuring Skyy) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Skyy | |
---|---|
Also known as | New York Skyy |
Origin | New York City, United States |
Genres | Disco, R&B, funk, boogie |
Years active | 1977–1993 |
Labels | Salsoul, Capitol, Atlantic |
Past members | Solomon Roberts, Jr. Anibal "Butch" Sierra Gerald Lebon Tommy McConnell Larry Greenberg Denise Dunning Wilkinson Benita "Bonnie" Dunning Williams Dolores Dunning Milligan Wayne Wilentz |
Skyy (also known as New York Skyy) [1] was an American R&B/ funk/ disco band based in New York City. [2] They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit, " Call Me", as well as their 1989 "comeback" hits, " Start of a Romance" and " Real Love". [3]
Skyy was formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1977. [2] The original line-up consisted of sisters Denise, Delores and Bonny Dunning as vocalists, with guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon and drummer Tommy McConnell. [2] [3] In 1978 the band was signed to Salsoul Records, releasing their debut album the following year. [2]
After several albums that yielded moderate hits on the R&B charts, the group crossed over to the US pop charts with the release of the Skyy Line album in late 1981. Featured on this album was the single " Call Me" which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts [4] and was their first number 1 on the R&B charts. [5] The album was later certified Gold by the RIAA. [6] The band continued to record for the Salsoul label through to the release of their 1984 Inner City album. [7]
In the mid-1980s, the band signed with Capitol Records and released their next album, From the Left Side in 1986. Apart from the top ten R&B single, "Givin' It (to You)", the album saw limited success, and the group left Capitol soon thereafter. [3] [8]
In 1989, after signing to Atlantic Records, Skyy launched a comeback with the release of their Start of a Romance album. [3] This release yielded two number one R&B singles, " Start of a Romance" and " Real Love". [4] "Real Love" also became the group's second and final crossover pop hit peaking at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1990. [4] By the release of the Nearer to You album in 1992, the hits were less successful, and the band has not released a new studio album since then. [9]
The sisters have performed consistently since then. In 2007 they attempted to beat a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo band at the Summerstage Concert Series in Harlem USA, singing their song Skyyzoo. [10] [11] Other notable performances have included the Salsoul Reunion Concert, where they performed with former label mates Carol Williams, Double Exposure, Instant Funk and Joe Bataan in New York City. [12]
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
NZ [13] |
UK [14] | |||||||||||
1979 | Skyy | 117 | 40 | — | — | Salsoul | ||||||||
1980 | Skyway | 61 | 17 | — | — | |||||||||
Skyyport | 85 | 16 | 40 | — | ||||||||||
1981 | Skyy Line | 18 | 1 | — | — | |||||||||
1982 | Skyyjammer | 81 | 22 | — | — | |||||||||
1983 | Skyylight | 183 | 44 | — | — | |||||||||
1984 | Inner City | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
1986 | From the Left Side | — | 33 | — | 85 | Capitol | ||||||||
1989 | Start of a Romance | 155 | 16 | — | — | Atlantic | ||||||||
1992 | Nearer to You | — | 52 | — | — | |||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US Dan [4] |
CAN [16] |
NLD [17] |
UK [1] | |||||||||
1979 | "First Time Around" | — | 20 | 50 | 49 | — | — | Skyy | ||||||
"Let's Turn It Out" | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"This Groove Is Bad" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1980 | "High" | 102 | 13 | 26 | — | — | — | Skyway | ||||||
"Skyyzoo" | — | 32 | 41 | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Here's to You" | — | 23 | 24 | — | — | — | Skyyport | |||||||
1981 | "Superlove" | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
"For the First Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
" Call Me" | 26 | 1 | 3 | — | 34 | — | Skyy Line | |||||||
1982 | "Let's Celebrate" | — | 16 | — | — | — | 67 | |||||||
"When You Touch Me" | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Movin' Violation" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | Skyyjammer | |||||||
1983 | "Let Love Shine" | — | 39 | 41 | — | — | — | |||||||
"Bad Boy" | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | Skyylight | |||||||
"Show Me the Way" | — | 35 | 10 | — | — | 97 | ||||||||
"Married Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1984 | "Dancin' to Be Dancin'" | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | Inner City | ||||||
1986 | "Givin' It (To You)" | — | 8 | 42 | — | — | 83 | From the Left Side | ||||||
"Non-Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Love Illogical" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1989 | " Start of a Romance" | — | 1 | 41 | — | — | — | Start of a Romance | ||||||
"Love All the Way" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
" Real Love" | 47 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
1992 | "Up and Over (Stronger and Better)" | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | Nearer to You | ||||||
"Nearer to You" | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
2014 | "Top of the World" (Solidisco featuring Skyy) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |