Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Origin Detroit, Michigan
Genres Detroit soul
Years active 1970s-1980s
Labels Ariola
Beverly Glen
Capitol
Associated acts Anita Baker
Members Michael J. Powell
Derek Dirckson
Gerald Lyles
David Washington
Van Cephus
Courtlen Hale
Scott Guthre
Alan Nance
Valerie Pinkston
Past members Anita Baker

Chapter 8 was a Detroit soul group of the 1970s and 1980s formed by Michael J. Powell and David Washington. Anita Baker was featured as lead vocalist on their first, self-titled album on Ariola in 1979, produced by Michael and Derek.

History

The group was started in Detroit, Michigan in the late 70's. Derek Dirckson became the band leader after James Mitchell asked Derek to play drums with Chapter 8, who were at the time the backup Band for the Detroit Emeralds. In 1979 Derek Dirckson and Michael Powell produced the first album expanding the groups roster to include Anita Baker, Gerald Lyles, David Washington, Van Cephus, Courtlen Hale, Scott Guthrie, and Alan Nance. In 1985 Valerie Pinkston replaced Anita as the lead vocalist and was featured on This Love's For Real.

As Chapter 8 was the launching pad for Anita Baker, so was it for Michael J. Powell who went on to produce Anita Baker's Rapture, Giving You The Best That I Got, and Compositions albums as well as producing Carylon Crawford, Regina Bell, Peabo Bryson, James Ingram and David Peaston. Many of the Chapter 8 group members can be found performing on these 80's recording masterpieces.

Ariola was merged with the Bertelsmann Music Group (the same company that owned Arista Records, the longtime home of Baker's main rival Whitney Houston) in 1987, and Baker would end a ten-year hiatus in 2004, when she released My Everything under Capitol's Blue Note Records sublabel.

Derek Dirckson went on to discover, manage and produce, Fred Hammond, Commissioned, The Winans, John P. Kee, Mary, Mary, and the great gospel plays, "Momma Don't", "Wicked", "Come Out of The Rain" and many more. In 1999 Derek Dirckson opened the Blackstage Pass Recording Studio in Detroit, Michigan. Dirckson has recorded his first solo CD entitled "Dirckson". The CD features Evangelist Ella Worthington and Minister Noah I. Brown on lead vocals.

David Washington who cofounded the group with Michael Powell continued to record and tour with David Peaston and continued to work with Michael Powell on several of his projects including Anita Baker, and Regina Bell. David also has 2 new singles out, one a remake of chapter 8's ready for your love and turn the page.

Discography

Extended plays

  • 1979: Chapter 8 (EP, Ariola)[1]
  • 1985: This Love's For Real (Beverley Glen Records)
  • 1988: Forever (Capitol Records)

References

  1. ↑ David Nathan The Soulful Divas: Personal Portraits of Over a Dozen Divine Divas New York: Billboard Books, 1999. p.348 "The group's first self-titled album hit the streets in the fall of 1979 and yielded two R&B chart singles, "Ready for Your Love" and "l Just Want to Be Your Girl." Even though "l Just Want to Be Your Girl" did poorly on the charts at the time, the tune would go on to become something of a classic among R&B music collectors. Certainly, the song gave listeners a first real taste of Anita's sultry, velvet-toned, smoky alto sound even though it didn't exactly set the world on fire in terms of airplay or sales. "
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