RGG November 2016 - p.28
Soul Train producer Dick Griffey had the idea of
a Soul Train singing group and drafted in Jeffrey
to start forming the band. Jeffrey was hugely
popular with the American public and it made
sense to build on this. When asked if he knew a
female singer, Jeffrey immediately sought
Mickey Braiden a cousin of the De Barge family
singing group. Unfortunately she was pregnant
at the time. As a result Jeffrey began rehearsing
Jody Watley whom he and his family had known
from his church since she was 12 years old. She
was in her final year of high school and loved to
rehearse to Diana Ross and Barbara Streisand
records. After auditioning for Dick Griffey she was
included in the line up. Gary Mumford who
actually sings on ‘Uptown Festival’ was the third
member of the new group named ‘SHALAMAR’.
At the time Jody had no prior vocal recording
experience and ‘The Whispers’ and Carrie Lucas
were brought in to help with background vocals.
(Carrie Lucas and Dick Griffey’s future daughter
Carolyn is the new female singer in Shalamar
today). After Gary Mumford voiced his
reluctance to tour and be away from his vocal
teaching sessions in the Bay Area, Jeffrey
brought in Gerald Brown (against Dick Griffey’s
judgement) who was a vocalist in the previous
‘Soul Train’ singing group. Added to the mix was
producer and new maestro of the music scene
Leon Sylvers. After the hit song ‘Take that to the
bank’ made the first legitimate waves for
Shalamar, Gerald left the group during a
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21
YEARS
1995-2016
SHALAMAR
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER – THE GREATEST HITS TOUR!
FEATURING HOWARD HEWETT, CAROLYN GRIFFEY, JEFFREY DANIEL.
Shalamar are one of the most successful Soul groups of all time
selling 25 million albums worldwide – this is their story.
promotional tour in protest for a higher salary but
he was never called again.
Shalamar went on to have world-wide hits such
as ‘Night to Remember, There It Is, I Can Make
You Feel Good,’ and many others. Shalamar
toured the world and filled arenas and stadiums.
Jeffrey left the group at its peak to pursue a solo
career as one of the highest profile
choreographers and dancers in the business
and also as a creative consultant, singer, writer
and producer. Jody followed suit to pursue a
solo career. Thus came the end of the original
line up of the most remembered R&B group
since the Jackson’s.
Babyface reunited Jeffrey, Howard and Jody for
his version of their hit single ‘For The Lover in You’
in on which he sang lead with Jeffrey, Howard
and Jody on backing vocals.
Shalamar followed this success with two UK
Arena tours in 2000 and 2003 and then in 2005
performed on the UK TV show ‘Hit Me Baby one
more time’ with Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett
and new singer Carolyn Griffey (daughter of
Shalamar founder Dick Griffey the CEO of
SOLAR).
