Starpoint

Starpoint is an American R&B sextet from Maryland that began recording in 1976, then obtaining a recording contract in 1980, releasing a string of solid albums first on the Casablanca sub-label Chocolate City, and later on Elektra. While the band's earlier albums, especially 1980's Keep on It were more funk than R&B, vocalist Renée Diggs brought the R&B elements to the forefront with her powerful vocals which had both presence and sophistication, coupled with perfect pitch and fantastic tone.

Starpoint
OriginCrownsville, MD Annapolis, MD, and, United States
GenresPop, Funk, Post-disco, New jack swing
Years active1980 - 1990
LabelsChocolate City
Boardwalk Records
Elektra, Warner Bros.
Websitegphillipsproductions.wixsite.com/starpointmusic
MembersGeorge Phillips, Orlando Phillips, Greg Phillips, Ky Adeyemo
Past membersRenee Diggs (Jul. 23, 1954 - Mar. 18, 2005)
George Phillips
Kayode Adeyemo
Ernesto Phillips
Gregory Phillips
Orlando Phillips

The principal members of Starpoint are Ernesto Phillips, George Phillips, Orlando Phillips, Gregory Phillips, Renee Diggs, and Kayode Adeyemo. Starpoint's producers over the years included Lionel Job, Keith Diamond, Bernard Edwards, Ernesto Phillips, George Phillips, Starpoint and Teddy Riley.

Biography

Beginnings

Starpoint was originally formed from the musical evolution of the Phillips Family in late 1960. J.R. and the Royals was the first band, with brothers, George Jr., Ernesto, Lloyd, Orlando, and Gregory Phillips. later, the group changed names to Licyndiana. They were multi-instrumentalists. They welcomed many friends along during this musical development and added Adeyemo. The next true and great find was Renee Diggs! After this foundation had stabilized, Renée Diggs came on board as the lead singer! With so much musical/instrumental talent between them, the Phillips brothers each came to specialize in particular instruments within the band, with Ernesto Phillips handling lead guitar, lead and background vocals and trumpet; Orlando Phillips on bass guitar and keyboards, saxophone, and background vocals; Gregory Phillips on drums, percussion, and background vocals; and George Phillips, Jr. on keyboards and lead and background vocals. Renee Diggs shared principal lead and background vocal duties. By 1979 the Phillips Brother's band had scored a national recording deal!Starpoint' was.

The group released, self-titled debut album in 1980. STARPOINT! One of the singles from this album, "I Just Wanna Dance with You," became their first top 20 hit on the R&B chart. They would continue to release at least one album every year throughout the first half of the 80s, scoring several hits on the [[R&B chart] They were picked up by Elektra Records which reissued their sole Boardwalk album, 1983's It's So Delicious.

Superstardom

Major success happened when the band released'Restless brought them significant crossover success onto the pop charts with the Top 30 single "Object of My Desire." Co-written by band members Kayode Adeyemo and Ernesto Phillips (along with noted R&B musician/producer Keith Diamond), the tune also became Starpoint's first of several R&B top-ten hits. The follow-up single "What You've Been Missin'" followed "Object..." into the R&B top ten. The title track "Restless" was also released as a single and did decently on both the pop and R&B charts. The band embarked on a lengthy tour in support of the album, during which Renée Diggs became well respected for her explosive vocal abilities, with Greg Phillips also earning a reputation for his dynamic drumming skills[1] which garnered many standing ovations.

Later in 1985, the band was on tour with Morris Day The second half of the "Restless Tour" had the group touring with Luther Vandross, Isley Jasper Isley, and Atlantic Starr.

After Starpoint

In 1990, Renée Diggs recorded a solo album titled Oasis that was not initially released in the U.S., although it did see a release in Europe. Several of the tracks on this album were co-written by Diggs and Starpoint guitarist Ernesto Phillips. She created the Renée Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, to help bring attention to the disease.

Other band members became involved with songwriting and session work for various other R&B artists. In 1988, Adeyemo was credited with co-writing Milli Vanilli's hit "Pop/Rock Song Of The Year" "Girl You Know It's True." Milli Vanilli's accompanying American album, titled after the hit single, also featured a song composed by Ernesto Phillips, entitled "More Than You'll Ever Know"

Orlando Phillips and Greg Phillips launched international projects which still are successful to date and have been witnessed and enjoyed by fans all over the world.

In 2000, Ernesto began working with singer-songwriter Terry Cole (Sly Boots) and signed him to his label, Longevity Records. The pair would collaborate on many tracks from 2000–2001.

Ernesto also played a huge role in the launching of the career of Grammy Award-winning superstar Toni Braxton.

Tragedies

Ernesto Phillips's death

On March 25, 2004, Ernesto Phillips died as the result of a stroke. The Ernesto Phillips Scholarship for Talented Youth was established in his memory and as a tribute to his efforts in helping younger children to realize their ambitions of becoming musicians.

Renée Diggs's death

Just a week shy of the one-year anniversary of the death of longtime companion Ernesto Phillips, Renée Diggs also died (March 18, 2005) at the age of 50, due to a heart condition. Her album Oasis was finally released in the U.S., posthumously.

Band members

Discography

Albums
  • 1980: Starpoint (#62, U.S.) (Chocolate City)
  • 1981: Keep on It (#31 R&B, #138 U.S.) (Chocolate City)
  • 1981: Wanting You (Chocolate City)
  • 1982: All Night Long (#52 R&B) (Chocolate City)
  • 1983: It's So Delicious (#32 R&B) (Boardwalk, reissued by Elektra)
  • 1984: It's All Yours (Elektra)
  • 1985: Restless (#14 R&B, #60 U.S.) (Elektra)
  • 1987: Sensational (#29 R&B, #95 U.S.) (Elektra)
  • 1988: Hot to the Touch (#75 R&B) (Elektra)
  • 1990: Have You Got What it Takes? (Elektra)

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[2]		 US Dan
[2]		 US R&B
[2]		 U.S. DSL
[2]		 UK
[3]
1980 "Get Ready, Get Down"[4] — — — — — Starpoint
1980 "I Just Wanna Dance With You" — 26 19 — — Starpoint
1980 "Gonna Lift You Up"[5] — — — — — Starpoint
1980 "You're My Sunny Day"[6] — — — — — Starpoint
1981 "Keep On It" — — 28 — — Keep On It
1981 "I Just Want to Be Your Lover"[7] — — — — — Keep On It
1981 "I Want You Closer" — — 67 — — Keep On It
1981 "Wanting You" — — 66 — — Wanting You
1981[8] "Do What You Wanna Do" — — 56 — — Wanting You
1981[9] "Angel" — — 50 — — Wanting You
1982 "Get Your Body Up"[10] — — 76 — — All Night Long
1982 "Bring Your Sweet Lovin' Back"[11] — — — — — All Night Long
1982 "All Night Long" — — 69 — — All Night Long
1983 "It's So Delicious"[10] — — 79 — — It's So Delicious
1983 "Don't Be So Serious" — 46 14 — — It's So Delicious
1984 "It's All Yours"[10] — 23 17 — 84 It's All Yours
1984 "Breakout"[12] — — — — — It's All Yours
1984 "Am I Still the One"[10] — — 59 — — It's All Yours
1985 "Object of My Desire"[13] 25 12 8 7 96 Restless
1985 "Emotions"[14] (U.K. only) — — — — Restless
1985 "What You Been Missin'"[15] — — 9 — — Restless
1986 "Restless" 46 13 11 — — Restless
1986 "Til the End of Time"[13] — — 64 — — Restless
1987 "He Wants My Body"[13] 89 40 8 — — Sensational
1987 "D.Y.B.O."[13] — — 25 — — Sensational
1987 "The More We Love"[13] — — 30 — — Sensational
1987 "Touch of Your Love"[16] — — — — — Sensational
1988 "Say You Will"[13] — — 18 — — Hot to the Touch
1988[17] "Tough Act to Follow"[13] — — 81 — — Hot to the Touch
1990 "I Want You -- You Want Me" — 9 32 — — Have You Got What it Takes?
1990 "Midnight Love" — — 45 — — Have You Got What it Takes?
1990 "Have You Got What it Takes?" — — 93 — — Have You Got What it Takes?
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

[18][19]

Compilations
  • 2005: Object of My Desire and Other Hits (includes singles released between 1983 and 1987)

References
  1. Greg Phillips Drum Solo-Starpoint @YouTube.com Retrieved 5-7-2017.
  2. "Starpoint Album & Song Chart History - R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. Charstats - Starpoint. UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-09-January
  4. Starpoint- "Get Ready, Get Down" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  5. Starpoint- "Gonna Lift You Up" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  6. Starpoint- "You're My Sunny Day" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  7. Starpoint- "I Just Want to Be Your Lover" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  8. Starpoint- "Do What You Wanna Do" single @Discogs.com (released in 1981, even though it did not peak on the charts until the following year) Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  9. Starpoint- "Angel" single @Discogs.com (released in 1981, even though it did not peak on the charts until the following year) Retrieved 6-15-2013.
  10. Starpoint- chart positions @AllMusic.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  11. Starpoint- "Bring Your Sweet Lovin' Back" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  12. Starpoint- "Breakout" @Discogs.com Retrieved 7-8-2012.
  13. Starpoint- singles placements on R&B chart @Billboard.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  14. Starpoint- "Emotions" single @Discogs.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  15. Starpoint- Restless album: charting singles @AllMusic.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  16. Starpoint- "Touch of Your Love" @Discogs.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  17. Starpoint- "Tough Act to Follow" @Discogs.com (released in 1988, despite not charting until the following year) Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  18. Starpoint- singles placements on the Hot 100 @Billboard.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
  19. Starpoint- singles placements on the Dance chart @Billboard.com Retrieved 1-9-2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.