Hyman, meanwhile, was featured on two Connors singles from 1976: “We Both Need Each Other” (a duet with Henderson) and a remake of Thom Bell & Linda Creed’s Philly soul favorite “Betcha By Golly Wow” (a big hit for the Stylistics in 1972). That approach proved advantageous for him: he scored major R&B hits by featuring Henderson and Carn on “Valentine Love” in 1975 and Henderson in 1976 on the haunting quiet storm ballad “You Are My Starship” (which became Connors’ biggest hit ever and reached #4 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart).
But most of the time, Connors made his mark in R&B by finding great singers to feature-singers like Michael Henderson, Jean Carn and the late Phyllis Hyman. Occasionally, Connors would sing lead on his R&B-oriented albums of the late 1970s and early 1980s. But while Duke, Rushen, Ayers and Benson came to be recognized as R&B singers, Connors usually left the lead vocals to others. The Philadelphia native started out as a jazz drummer and an instrumentalist before making R&B his main focus. Norman Connors is another musician whose name belongs on that list. And George Benson, once exalted as a master of hard bop guitar, found himself being compared to Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway rather than Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell or Grant Green. Pianist/keyboardist George Duke hit big in the funk realm with his 1977 smoker “Reach For It.” Patrice Rushen, also a pianist/keyboardist, gained an abundance of new fans with her 1979 smash “Haven’t You Heard.” Roy Ayers, a masterful vibist who was influenced by Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, became better known for his funk and quiet storm hits than for the hardcore jazz he had played in the 1960s. I Love You Backing Vocals – Cliff Branch, Genobia Jeter, Glenn Jones, Jeff Smith* Guitar – Steve Love Keyboards – Cliff Branch, Onaje Allan Gumbs Percussion – Bashiri Johnson Producer, Bass – Wayne Brathwaite Saxophone – Jeff Smith* Written-By – Dianne Quander, Willard Meeks, Jr.During the 1970s, a long list of jazz instrumentalists successfully reinvented themselves as R&B artists. Eastmond*, Phil Medley Written-By – Glenn Jones, Mann And Weil, Tom Snow Eastmond*, Wayne Brathwaite Saxophone – Jeff Smith* Strings – Barry J. Eastmond*, Phil Medley Written-By – Cliff Dawson, Jolyon Skinner, Wayne BrathwaiteĪll I Need To Know Bass – Wayne Brathwaite Drums – Buddy Williams Guitar – Mike Campbell (3) Percussion – Bashiri Johnson Piano – Barry Eastmond Producer – Barry J. Nelson, Genobia Jeter, Phillip Ballou Guitar – Ira Siegel Keyboards – Cliff Branch, Eric Rehl Percussion – Bashiri Johnson Producer, Programmed By – Wayne Brathwaite Strings – Barry J. It's All In The Game Backing Vocals – B.J. Living In The Limelight Backing Vocals – Glenn Jones, Johnny Kemp, Marva Hicks, Timmy Allen Keyboards – Eric Rehl Mixed By – Bryan 'Chuck' New* Producer – Timmy Allen Saxophone – Jeff Smith* Synthesizer – Timmy Allen Written-By – Glenn Jones, Timmy Allen Bryan Synthesizer – Frank Doyle Written-By – Eugene Record Oh Girl Backing Vocals – Glenn Jones, Loris Holland, Rock Wilk Keyboards – Loris Holland Producer, Arranged By – Loris Holland Programmed By – Jim Baker Saxophone – Roger G. That Night Mood Backing Vocals – Cliff Branch, Rock Wilk Bass – Wayne Brathwaite Drums – Trevor Gale Guitar – Doc Powell Keyboards – Cliff Branch, Loris Holland Mixed By – Bryan "Chuck" New Producer – Wayne Brathwaite Written-By – Glenn Jones, Jolyon Skinner, Wayne Brathwaite Nelson, Genobia Jeter, Glenn Jones, Timmy Allen Guitar – Fritz Cadet Keyboards – Eric Rehl Producer – Timmy Allen Synthesizer – Timmy Allen Written-By – Glenn Jones, Timmy Allen It Must Be Love Backing Vocals – Diane Garisto, Genobia Jeter, Glenn Jones Guitar – Steve Love Keyboards – Cliff Branch Mixed By – Bryan 'Chuck' New* Producer – Wayne Brathwaite Saxophone – Jeff Smith* Written-By – Glenn Jones, Jolyon Skinner, Wayne BrathwaiteĪt Last Backing Vocals – B.J. We've Only Just Begun (The Romance Is Not Over) Backing Vocals – Glenn Jones, LaForrest Cope, Yogi Lee Keyboards – Eric Rehl Producer – Timmy Allen Synthesizer – Timmy Allen Written-By – Glenn Jones, Timmy Allen
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