Steve Arrington

Steven Ralph "Steve" Arrington (born March 5, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, drummer, record producer, engineer and minister, who grew up in Dayton, Ohio.[1]

Steve Arrington
Birth nameSteven Ralph Arrington
Born (1956-03-05) March 5, 1956
OriginDayton, Ohio, United States
GenresFunk, soul, R&B, gospel, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, drummer, producer, engineer, minister
Years active1979–1990
2009–present
LabelsTummy Touch, Stones Throw, Atlantic, Manhattan, God Factor Records
Associated actsSlave, Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame, 7 Days of Funk (Dâm-Funk and Snoopzilla)
Websitestevearringtonmusic.com

Biography

Arrington played in various local bands before joining and touring with The Murphys, a lounge band out of Toledo, Ohio, in 1975. About a year later Arrington relocated from Ohio to San Francisco, California where he learned Latin percussion and drumming as well as playing with Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.

He joined the funk group Slave (founded 1975) on their third LP, called The Concept, in 1978 – originally to play percussion, then later becoming the drummer and a backing vocalist. Eventually Arrington took over lead vocals, singing on the hit singles "Just a Touch of Love", "Watching You" (which has been sampled by Snoop Dogg) and "Wait for Me".

Arrington left Slave in 1982, forming Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame,[2][3] and had hit singles such as "Weak at the Knees" (which was sampled by Three Times Dope, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, N.W.A, and others), and "Nobody Can Be You But You".

His most successful album was his 1985 solo work Dancin' in the Key of Life, whose title track became a Top Ten R&B hit. The single also spent three weeks at number two on the dance charts.[4] Another single from the album, "Feel So Real" reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in May that year.[5] He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Male Artist of 1986.

In 1984 Arrington experienced a religious conversion, later becoming a licensed minister and, in 1990, he left pop music until his re-emergence in October 2009, when he released the R&B, Funk, spiritual album Pure Thang.

In September 2010 Stones Throw Records announced that Arrington was working with producer Dâm-Funk on a new album.[6] In February, Arrington did an interview with The Revivalist[7] and told them his new album, "Love, Peace and Funky Beatz", was due out in late summer or early fall 2011.

On August 6, 2013 Stones Throw Records released Arrington + Dam-Funk's "Higher".[8]

In September 2014 Tummy Touch released the album "Way Out (80–84)", a collection of songs from Hall of Fame Vol 1 and Positive Power, plus unreleased and previously unfinished material.[9]

Discography

Collaborations & Features
  • 2019-2020: Black Qualls - Thundercat + Steve Lacy + Steve Arrington + Flying Lotus + Childish Gambino (Brainfeeder)
  • 2018: Are You Beautiful - Kool Moe Dee + Steve Arrington + Teddy Riley
  • 2015: What More featuring Steve Arrington - Christian Rich FW14 (Lucky Number)
  • 2013: 1Question? - Steve Arrington + Snoopzilla + Dam Funk (Stones Throw Records)
  • 2013: Higher - Steve Arrington + Dam Funk (Stones Throw Records)

Solo albums
  • 2014: Way Out (80- 84) (Tummy Touch)
  • 2009: Pure Thang (God Factor Records)
  • 1987: Jam Packed (Manhattan) (US R&B #50)
  • 1986: The Jammin' National Anthem (Atlantic)
  • 1985: Dancin' in the Key of Life (Atlantic) (UK #41 / US #185 / US R&B #32)

Solo singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
 US
 US Dance
 U.S. R&B
 BEL
 GER
 NLD
 NZ
"Summertime Lovin'" 1980 ————————
"Feel So Real" 1985 51045177161342
"Dancin' in the Key of Life" 216828————
"Turn Up the Love" ———80————
"She Just Don't Know" ————————
"The Jammin' National Anthem" 1986 ———42————
"Homeboy" ———28————
"Stone Love" 1987 ———33————
"Lost and Found (You Can Find Me Present)" 1988 ———90————
"No Reason" 1990 ———89————
"Goin' Hard" 2011 ————————

Albums with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame
  • 1984: Positive Power (Atlantic) (Atlantic) (US #141 / US R&B #36)
  • 1983: Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame, Vol.1 (Atlantic) (US #101 / US R&B #12)

Singles with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame
  • 1984: "Hump to the Bump" (Atlantic) (US R&B #25)
  • 1984: "15 Rounds" (Atlantic) (US R&B #85)
  • 1984: "Mellow as a Cello" (Atlantic)
  • 1983: "Nobody Can Be You" (Atlantic) (US Dance #23 / US R&B #18)
  • 1983: "Way Out" (US Dance #49 / US R&B #68)
  • 1983: "Weak at the Knees" (Atlantic) (US R&B #33)
  • 1982: "Pocket Full of Air" (Konglather)
  • 1982: "Way Out" (Konglather)

Compilation albums
  • 2006: Slave: The Definitive Collection
  • 2003: Party Lights (Rhino / Atlantic)
  • 1994: Stellar Fungk : The Best of Slave Featuring Steve Arrington (Atlantic) (US R&B #44)

References
  1. "Steve Arrington Biography". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. Vincent, Rickey (1996). FUNK The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of The One. St Martin's Griffin. pp. 228 and 283.
  3. Wynn, Ron. "Biography: Steve Arrington". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 23.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 30. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. "Steve Arrington & Dam-Funk "I Be Trippin"". Stonesthrow.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. Gao, Boyaun (March 2, 2011). "Steve Arrington's Revival: Exclusive Audio, Video, & Funk". Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  8. "STEVE ARRINGTON & DAM-FUNK – HIGHER". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  9. "Steve Arrington : Way Out (80–84)". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
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