80s Balladeers

[K-Bee]

As Disco faded into relative obscurity in the early 80s, black music moved on to both house, freestyle and hip-hop - we all know that but thats only half of the truth. There's another turning point for the music as well, rarely discussed around these boards.

OH YES - it's the 80's balladeers. A whole bunch of (apparantley) male only singers who hit the charts by doing bedroom ballads before fading away again, when new jack swing started to kick in.

Luther Vandross were probably the only one of these guys to make commercially through the 90s as well. Many of the following did not, but they're still some of my favorite artists:

Freddie Jackson
Glenn Jones
Peabo Bryson
Beau Williams
James Ingram
Kashif
Michael Lovesmith
Sherrick
Michael Cooper

What are your views on this type of music? Any other artists I forgot about?

[Recker]

Definitely a genre that didn't really seem to take off. Is it a genre? Or do they come under another category?

I'm trying to think of some more, but none are coming to mind right now.

[K-Bee]

I'm not too sure about that Recker. it seemed to do very well on the US R&B charts at the time.
Hits included:

Freddie Jackson - "Rock Me Tonight" & "Tasty Love"
Luther Vandross - "So Amazing"
Gregory Abbot - "Shake You Down"

...and a few others I'm sure

[timster]

Luther was king, Peabo (and whomever he is "duet"-ing with), and Freddie are tops for me. I'm still waiting to bump into my ole high school sweetheart and spin, "Rock Me Tonight". Abbott's "Shake You Down" is a must in a ballad collection! "Girl, I've been watching you....." Mmm, babee.

Lionel Richie had some pretty cool ballads, "Penny Lover", "Truly", etc. El Debarge had a couple, "Love Always", and "Someone", but they didn't quite damage the charts.

Damn, I made ALOT of these "smooth grooves" tapes back n da day.

*Sigh*