Введение
Американская фанк- и соул-группа Commodores, часто называемая Commodores, – это американский фанк- и соул-коллектив. Наиболее успешным периодом группы были конец 1970-х и начало 1980-х годов, когда Лионель Ричи был одним из вокалистов. Участники группы познакомились в основном будучи первокурсниками в Институте Таскеги (ныне Университет Таскеги) в 1968 году и подписали контракт с Motown в ноябре 1972 года, впервые заявив о себе как разогревающая группа для Jackson 5 во время тура. Самые известные хиты группы – баллады, такие как "Easy", "Three Times a Lady" и "Nightshift"; а также танцевальные композиции в стиле фанк, включая "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" и "Too Hot ta Trot". Commodores были включены в Зал славы музыки Алабамы и Зал славы вокальных групп. В состав новой шестикомпонентной группы вошли Лионель Ричи, Томас МакКлэри и Уильям Кинг из The Mystics, а также Андре Каллахан, Майкл Гилберт и Милан Уильямс из The Jays. Свое нынешнее название они выбрали, когда Кинг открыл словарь и провел пальцем по странице. "Нам повезло", – с улыбкой заметил он, рассказывая эту историю журналу People. "Мы чуть не назвались "The Commodes"". Члены группы учились в Университете Таскеги в Алабаме. После победы в ежегодном конкурсе талантов первокурсников они выступали на вечеринках в братствах, а также на выходных в Black Forest Inn, одном из немногих клубов в Таскеги, ориентированных на студентов. Они исполняли кавер-версии и собственные песни с первым вокалистом Джеймсом Инграмом (не тем известным сольным исполнителем). Их музыка также звучит во многих фильмах, включая "Ночи буги" и "В поисках мистера Гудбара". В 1974 году песня достигла 22-й позиции в Billboard Hot 100. Другая песня 1974 года, "I Feel Sanctified", была названа "прототипом" большого хита Wild Cherry 1976 года "Play That Funky Music". Из трех альбомов, выпущенных в 1975 и 1976 годах, "Caught in the Act" был фанковым альбомом, а "Movin' On" и "Hot on the Tracks" – поп-альбомами. После этих записей группа развила более мягкое звучание, намек на которое можно было услышать в их хитах 1976 года "Sweet Love" и "Just to Be Close to You". Основатель группы МакКлэри покинул ее в 1984 году (вскоре после Ричи), чтобы начать сольную карьеру.
Commodores, often billed as the Commodores, are an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co lead singer. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for the Jackson 5 while on tour. The band's biggest hit singles are ballads such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", and "Nightshift"; and funk influenced dance songs, including "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", and "Too Hot ta Trot". Commodores were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The new six man band featured Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, and William King from the Mystics, and Andre Callahan, Michael Gilbert, and Milan Williams from the Jays. They chose their present name when King flipped open a dictionary and ran his finger down the page. "We lucked out," he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to People magazine. "We almost became 'The Commodes.'" The bandmembers attended Tuskegee University in Alabama. After winning the university's annual freshman talent contest, they played at fraternity parties as well as a weekend gig at the Black Forest Inn, one of a few clubs in Tuskegee that catered to college students. They performed cover tunes and some original songs with their first singer, James Ingram (not the famous solo artist). and is also heard in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Another 1974 song "I Feel Sanctified" has been called a "prototype" of Wild Cherry's 1976 big hit "Play That Funky Music". Of the three albums released in 1975 and 1976, Caught in the Act was funk album, but Movin' On and Hot on the Tracks were pop albums. After those recordings the group developed the mellower sound hinted at in their 1976 top ten hits, "Sweet Love" and "Just to Be Close to You". Founding member McClary left in 1984 (shortly after Richie) to pursue a solo career,
The group gradually abandoned its funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena. The Commodores were on a European tour performing at Wembley Arena, London, on June 25, 2009, when they walked off the stage after they were told that Michael Jackson had died. Initially the band thought it was a hoax. However, back in their dressing rooms they received confirmation and broke down in tears. The next night at Birmingham's NIA Arena, J. D. Nicholas added Jackson's name to the lyrics of the song, and henceforth the Commodores have mentioned Jackson and other deceased R&B singers. Thus came the inspiration upon the one year anniversary of Jackson's death to re record, with new lyrics, the hit song "Nightshift" as a tribute. In 1990, they formed Commodores Records and re recorded their 20 greatest hits as Commodores Hits Vol. I & II. They have recorded a live album, Commodores Live, along with a DVD of the same name, and a Christmas album titled Commodores Christmas. In 2012, the band was working on new material, with some contributions written by current and former members. Commodores as of 2020 consist of Walter "Clyde" Orange, James Dean "J. D." Nicholas, and William "WAK" King, along with their five piece band The Mean Machine. They continue to perform, playing at arenas, theaters, and festivals around the world.
Группа постепенно отошла от своих фанковых корней и перешла в более коммерческое поп-направление. The Commodores находились в европейском турне и выступали на Wembley Arena в Лондоне 25 июня 2009 года, когда им сообщили о смерти Майкла Джексона. Сначала группа подумала, что это розыгрыш. Однако, вернувшись в гримерку, они получили подтверждение и разрыдались. На следующий вечер на арене NIA в Бирмингеме Дж. Д. Николас добавил имя Джексона в текст песни, и с тех пор Commodores упоминают Джексона и других ушедших из жизни исполнителей R&B. Именно тогда, в годовщину смерти Джексона, пришло вдохновение перезаписать хит "Nightshift" с новыми словами в качестве дани уважения. В 1990 году они основали Commodores Records и переиздали свои 20 самых больших хитов в сборниках "Commodores Hits Vol. I & II". Они записали концертный альбом "Commodores Live", а также одноименный DVD и рождественский альбом "Commodores Christmas". В 2012 году группа работала над новым материалом, в создании которого участвовали как нынешние, так и бывшие участники. Состав Commodores по состоянию на 2020 год включает Уолтера "Клайда" Оранжа, Джеймса Дина "Джей Ди" Николаса и Уильяма "ВАК" Кинга, а также их пятичленную группу The Mean Machine. Они продолжают выступать на аренах, в театрах и на фестивалях по всему миру.
Commodores, often billed as the Commodores, are an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co lead singer. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for the Jackson 5 while on tour. The band's biggest hit singles are ballads such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", and "Nightshift"; and funk influenced dance songs, including "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", and "Too Hot ta Trot". Commodores were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The new six man band featured Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, and William King from the Mystics, and Andre Callahan, Michael Gilbert, and Milan Williams from the Jays. They chose their present name when King flipped open a dictionary and ran his finger down the page. "We lucked out," he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to People magazine. "We almost became 'The Commodes.'" The bandmembers attended Tuskegee University in Alabama. After winning the university's annual freshman talent contest, they played at fraternity parties as well as a weekend gig at the Black Forest Inn, one of a few clubs in Tuskegee that catered to college students. They performed cover tunes and some original songs with their first singer, James Ingram (not the famous solo artist). and is also heard in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Another 1974 song "I Feel Sanctified" has been called a "prototype" of Wild Cherry's 1976 big hit "Play That Funky Music". Of the three albums released in 1975 and 1976, Caught in the Act was funk album, but Movin' On and Hot on the Tracks were pop albums. After those recordings the group developed the mellower sound hinted at in their 1976 top ten hits, "Sweet Love" and "Just to Be Close to You". Founding member McClary left in 1984 (shortly after Richie) to pursue a solo career,
The group gradually abandoned its funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena. The Commodores were on a European tour performing at Wembley Arena, London, on June 25, 2009, when they walked off the stage after they were told that Michael Jackson had died. Initially the band thought it was a hoax. However, back in their dressing rooms they received confirmation and broke down in tears. The next night at Birmingham's NIA Arena, J. D. Nicholas added Jackson's name to the lyrics of the song, and henceforth the Commodores have mentioned Jackson and other deceased R&B singers. Thus came the inspiration upon the one year anniversary of Jackson's death to re record, with new lyrics, the hit song "Nightshift" as a tribute. In 1990, they formed Commodores Records and re recorded their 20 greatest hits as Commodores Hits Vol. I & II. They have recorded a live album, Commodores Live, along with a DVD of the same name, and a Christmas album titled Commodores Christmas. In 2012, the band was working on new material, with some contributions written by current and former members. Commodores as of 2020 consist of Walter "Clyde" Orange, James Dean "J. D." Nicholas, and William "WAK" King, along with their five piece band The Mean Machine. They continue to perform, playing at arenas, theaters, and festivals around the world.
Зал славы музыки Алабамы
В 1995 году группа Commodores была принята в Зал славы музыки штата Алабама.
Зал славы вокальных групп
В 2003 году группа Commodores также была удостоена чести быть включенной в Зал славы вокальных групп.