Monday, July 9, 2012

The Deele

The Deele was formed in 1981. The Deele recorded three albums during the 1980s, and scored several hit singles. The sextet released their debut album, Street Beat in 1983, and the following year, a single from this album, "Body Talk" became their first hit, reaching #3 on the R&B chart and #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Guitarist/keyboardist Stanley "Stick" Burke left the band prior to the recording of a follow-up album. Recorded as a quintet, Material Thangz was released in 1985. It was not as successful as their debut album.
The band reached the apex of their career in 1987 with the release of their third album, Eyes of a Stranger, which produced two top-10 R&B singles, "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" and perhaps their best-known song, "Two Occasions". The latter track reached #4 on the R&B charts and cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Music videos were made for both songs. The video for the "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" track was directed by Martin Pitts and produced by Mickey Shapiro. It was during this time that L.A. Reid and Babyface Edmonds began crafting their talents as songwriters for other artists. They wrote and produced "Girlfriend" (which featured backing vocals from Deele members[1] and became a top ten hit) for Reid's girlfriend, and eventual wife Pebbles. During this period, they also wrote and produced The Whispers' "Rock Steady".
In 1988, both Babyface and Reid left the group and founded LaFace Records in 1989. At the beginning of the 1990s, Reid and Edmonds would become successful record producers. Although not as recognized as Reid and Edmonds, another Deele member, Kevin "Kayo" Roberson maintained his association with the two, and was an instrumental part of the production team's success behind the scenes as a songwriter, co-producer, and studio bassist.[2] Babyface would also embark on a very successful run as a solo artist.
In 1993, Greene and Bristol reunited again as The Deele (without Reid, Edmonds, or Roberson)[3] to record the album, An Invitation to Love. This album found the group adopting a more new jack swing-based sound and incorporating rap into many of their songs. Failing to make a dent in the charts, the group called it quits later that same year.
Their hit song "Two Occasions" was referenced (along with Babyface) by Mariah Carey in her 2005 megahit song "We Belong Together", by rapper The Game in the song "One Night" in 2006, and by Plies in his 2009 hit song, "Want It, Need It" featuring Ashanti. MF Doom samples the track "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" in his 1999 opus "Red & Gold".
This is The Deele

Great male group. Favorite is "Two occasions".

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