80s | Musicosity

80s

Kid Creole & the Coconuts

Kid Creole and the Coconuts are an American band created and led by August Darnell. Their music incorporates styles like big band jazz, disco, and in particular Caribbean/Latin American salsa. The Coconuts are a glamorous trio of female backing vocalists whose lineup changes throughout the years. Thomas August Darnell Browder (aka August Darnell, aka Kid Creole) was born in Montreal, Canada, on 12 August 1950, the son of a French Canadian mother and a father from the Caribbean island of Dominica, but was raised in the New York City borough of the Bronx.

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Brian Hyland

Brian was born November 12, 1943, in Brooklyn/Queens, New York City, where his first musical experience ranged from church choir at nine, to clarinet and guitar, to his first local harmony group, the Delfis. In 1959, they cut a demo record and made the rounds of New York City record labels. Finally, with much persistence, after many closed doors, Brian was signed as a solo artist to a management contract, where he cut demos for band leader Sammy Kaye's publishing company. Kapp Records heard a demo and signed Brian at age 16.

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Latin Quarter

Latin Quarter are a British band noted for their protest songs, the most successful of which was Radio Africa which was first released in 1984, re-released several times and reached number 19 in the charts in 1986. Formed in 1984 by Steve Skaith, Mike Jones and Richard Wright (not of Pink Floyd!), the most popular lineup consisted of Skaith, Jones, Wright with Yona Dunsford, Greg Harewood, Carol Douet and Martin Lascalles. Latin Quarter finally disbanded around 1998, but reunited in 2011 for a new album and tour in early 2012.

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The Dead

There are at least four bands using the name "The Dead": *American; rock, jamband genres: The Dead, also known as the Other Ones, are a North American rock band composed of former members of the Grateful Dead. After the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann formed a band called The Other Ones. They performed concert tours in 1998, 2000, and 2002, and released one album, The Strange Remain. In 2003, they changed their name to The Dead.

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Code Blue

IMPORTANT NOTE: ***There are several bands/artists under the name CODE BLUE. The following bio refers to the Los Angeles based Power Pop/Post-Punk/ band from 1978-1981 fronted by Dean Chamberlain.*** "Quoted from the liner notes written by Chris Silagyi for Code Blue's reissue of their self-titled album in 2003. The most complete and accurate bio of the band to date." In a field crowded with fine, adventurous new rock ’n’ roll bands that made their homes in Los Angeles between ’78–82, Code Blue stood out from the pack.

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Streets

Streets is a rock band that Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh formed in the 80s. They released two albums for Atlantic Records starting with 1983's 1st, and 1985's Crimes in Mind. The former featured the hit If Love Should Go, but both albums didn't do very well in the sales market, and Atlantic dropped them in 1985. Wounded Bird Records reissued both the band's albums on CD in 2002. (Not to be confused with hip-hop act The Streets.)

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Tina Turner

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939) is a Grammy-winning multi-platinum American rock/soul singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She is the most successful female rock artist of all time. She started her storied career by joining Ike Turner to form The Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1960. They had a string of hits like "Fool in Love", "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine", a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary", and the autobiographical "Nutbush City Limits" and were widely admired by their audiences and peers.

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