New York City

New York City was an R&B vocal group from the ’70s that consisted of vocalists Tim McQueen (born in Innettsville, South Carolina), John Brown (born in New York City, New York), Edward Schell (born in Savannah, Georgia) and Claude Johnson (born in the Bronx, New York City, New York).

The group formed in 1972 where they signed to the Chelsea Records label. They previously went under the name “Tri-Boro Exchange.”

The members of the group had previous experience in other music groups; John sang with the Five Satins & the Cadillacs; he also filled in with the Moonglows when founder & member Harvey Fuqua called. Claude was part of the music duo Don & Juan and sang with the Genies. Tim and Eddie had also sung with other music groups around New York City.
In 1973, New York City released their debut single “I’m Doin’ Fine Now” which reached the pop charts, peaking at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it only their highest-charting single on the Hot 100.

The song also peaked at #14 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, #8 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart and #20 on the U.K. Singles chart. It would be later be covered by The Pasadenas in 1991 which became a hit in the United Kingdom.
During that same year, the group released their debut album “I’m Doin’ Fine Now” which peaked at #35 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and #122 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The follow-up single “Make Me Twice the Man” didn’t match the success of their debut single, peaking at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #44 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.
The last single to chart from the album “Quick, Fast, in a Hurry” peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #19 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 16 weeks.

During 1973, New York City toured with The Big Apple Band, whose members consisted of Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards, who went on to achieve success with the band, Chic.
In 1974, the band released their sophomore and last album, “Soulful Road” which peaked at #50 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart. The album cover mimicked The Beatles’ album “Abbey Road.”
The lead single from the album “Happiness Is” peaked at #20 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks.
The second single “Love Is What You Make It” peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and #41 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.
The group’s last charting single from the album “Got to Get You Back in My Life” peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and #76 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks. In late 1974, New York City disbanded.

Claude Johnson passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. These days, it’s unknown what the other members of the group are up to and it appears as if they have faded into obscurity.

To see a fan-made video for “I’m Doin’ Fine Now,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Make Me Twice the Man”, go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Quick, Fast, in a Hurry,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Happiness Is,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Love Is What You Make It,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Got To Get You Back In My Life,” go to:

Dynasty

Dynasty was an R&B band from Los Angeles, California that was created by producer Dick Griffey (who was also the head of the SOLAR Records label) and producer Leon Sylvers III (of R&B group The Sylvers). The members of the band consisted of Nidra Beard, Linda Carriere, Kevin Spencer, William Shelby, Richard Randolph and Leon Sylvers III.

Nidra and Linda first became friends when Linda moved from New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles for college. The two of them were frequent visitors of a popular nightclub called Maverick’s Flat. The owner of the nighclub, John Daniels was in the process of forming a new music group called DeBlanc.

Nidra & Linda became members of the group and toured with them for two years until DeBlanc disbanded in 1975. Some of the other members of the group (along with Linda & Nidra) formed a new music group called Starfire where they toured in the United States and a few key dates in Iran & Finland.

After the tour, Starfire disbanded. Around that time, Nidra developed a strong relationship with Leon Sylvers III; at the time, she performed with the Sylvers as a fill-in on live dates for the female Sylvers, who were underaged at the time.

Kevin Spencer first met Leon Sylvers III when he appeared at the Sylvers’ home in Palo Verdes, California unannounced to audition as a bass player for the Sylvers and ended up becoming a member of Leon Sylvers III’ and Dick Griffey’s new band, Dynasty.
In 1979, Dynasty released their debut album “Your Piece of the Rock” which peaked at #72 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
The group’s first charting single “I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)” peaked at #36 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks. It also peaked at #38 on Billboard’s Disco Top 100 chart and #20 on the U.K. Singles chart.

Another single from the album “It’s Still a Thrill\Satisfied” peaked at #38 on Billboard’s Disco Top 100 chart, staying on the chart for 15 weeks.
In 1980, they released their sophomore album, “Adventures in the Land of Music” which peaked at #11 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
The lead single from the album “I’ve Just Begun to Love You” peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 (making their only highest charting single on the Hot 100 to date) and #6 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 19 weeks.

It also peaked at #51 on the U.K. Singles chart and #5 on Billboard’s Disco Top 100 chart (along with the track “Groove Control”).
The follow-up single “Do Me Right” peaked at #34 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 16 weeks.
The last single released from the album “Something to Remember” peaked at #64 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks. The title song has been sampled by various artists such as Camp Lo, Brooke Valentine, Terri Walker, Jadakiss, Angie Stone and Wiz Khalifa.
In 1981, Dynasty released their third album “The Second Adventure” which peaked at #42 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart. During that same year, Leon Sylvers III joined the band.
The first single from the album “Here I Am” peaked at #26 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart (staying on the chart for 16 weeks) and #51 on Billboard’s Disco Top 80 chart (staying on the chart for 11 weeks).
The follow-up single “Love in the Fast Lane” peaked at #31 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.
In 1982, the band released their fourth album “Right Back at Cha!” which peaked at #54 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
The first single from the album “Check It Out” peaked at #39 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 39 weeks.

The follow-up singles, “Strokin'” peaked at #52 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and “Does That Ring” peaked at #53 on the U.K. Singles chart.

Four years later in 1986, Dynasty released their fifth album “Daydreamin'” which didn’t appear to make the charts along with the single “Personality.” During that time, Linda Carriere was no longer a member of the band.

In 1988, Dynasty released their last album to date, “Out of Control” which didn’t appear to make the album charts at all.

The lead single “Don’t Waste My Time” peaked at #41 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks. The follow-up single from the album “Tell Me (Do You Want My Love)?” peaked at #56 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

In 1989, Dynasty disbanded. In the years since they broke up, Nidra Beard continued working as a songwriter, Linda Carriere continued working as a background vocalist, William Shelby did some songwriting as well and Kevin Spencer returned to doing studio work.

As for Leon Sylvers III, he went on to have a successful career as a producer & songwriter and has worked with artists such as The Whispers, Blackstreet, Howard Hewett, Glenn Jones, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Five Star, Chubb Rock and The Brothers Johnson.

To see the music video for “I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself),” go to:

To see the music video for “Do Me Right”, go to:

To see the music video for “I’ve Just Begun to Love You,” go to:

To see the music video for “Something to Remember,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Here I Am,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Love in the Fast Lane,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Check It Out,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Strokin’,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Does That Ring a Bell,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Personality,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Don’t Waste My Time”, go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Tell Me (Do You Want My Love)?”, go to:

As a bonus, here is a fan-made video for “Adventures in the Land of Music,” go to:

Toy

Toy was an electro\hip-hop music act from the mid-’80s that was signed to the MDA Records label.

In 1985, Toy released the single “Party Nites.” It’s unknown how or if the single made any music charts at all. After that, it seems as if Toy faded into obscurity.

To see a fan-made video for “Party Nites,” go to:

Aja

Aja was a pop\R&B duo from the 2000s that consisted of sisters Andrea and Jamie Anderson from Utah. Not much information is given about them, but they were signed to the Big3 Records label.

In 2003, they released their debut and only album. It’s unknown how or if the album made the charts at all. The only single released from the album, “Movin’ On” also failed to chart as well.

After that, it seems as if Aja has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from the Anderson sisters since the 2000s.

To see a fan-made video for “Movin’ On,” go to:

To see a fan-made video for “Sunshine” (a track from their album), go to:

Julie Reeves

Julie Reeves (born on June 18, 1974 in Ashland, Kentucky) is a country music singer from the ’90s.

She first moved to Nashville, Tennesee in 1994 where she worked as a back-up studio singer and provided vocals for studio sessions. Her voice attracted the attention of music producer Ric Wake & songwriter Denise Rich, and Julie signed a record deal with Virgin Records Nashville.

In 1999, she released her debut album, “It’s About Time” which peaked at #70 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The title song peaked at #51 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.
Her follow-up single, “Trouble is a Woman” peaked at #39 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 17 weeks.

The last single released from the album “What I Need” peaked at #38 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks, making it her highest charting single on the chart to date.

Julie later married country music\parody singer Cletus T. Judd and gave birth to her daughter, Caitlyn in 2004; she later took a break from the music business to raise her child.

After divorcing from Cletus T. Judd, Julie moved back to Ashland, Kentucky. She is now married to bluegrass musician Chris Davis and in 2011, she gave birth to a son, Rylan. These days, Julie is now the host of a morning radio show called “Julie Reeves Live” for radio station 93.7 The DAWG.

To see the music video for “What I Need,” go to:

To see the music video for “It’s About Time,” go to:

To see the music video for “Trouble is a Woman,” go to:

Tori Baxley

Tori Baxley (from Wicksburg, Alabama) is a former teenage country music singer from the 2000s. She first began singing in church and at school events.

When she was 8 years old, Tori opened up for singer George Jones and Confederate Railroad. She also warmed up for other artists such as Toby Keith, Trick Pony, Brad Paisley and even Charlie Daniels.

Tori first signed a record deal with Superkala Records after recording a demo and later signed another deal with Dreamworks Records where she released the single “Half a Man” in 2005.

However, the single didn’t appear to make any music charts at all and Tori never appeared to have released an album. These days, it’s seems as if Tori Baxley has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from her since the 2000s.

To see a fan-made video for “Half a Man,” go to: