Kleeer

Kleeer was an American New York City–based funk, disco and post-disco band, which was formed in 1972 under the name The Jam Band, as a backup group to different disco bands and vocalists.[1]

Kleeer
Background information
Also known asThe Jam Band
Pipeline
The Universal Robot Band
OriginNew York City, New York, United States
GenresFunk, disco, post-disco
Years active1972 (1972)–1985 (1985)
LabelsAtlantic Records
Past membersRichard Lee
Norman Durham (deceased)
Paul Crutchfield
Woody Cunningham (deceased)

Members
  • Woodrow "Woody" Cunningham (lead vocalist and drummer, died 2010)[1]
  • Paul Crutchfield (percussionist and keyboardist)
  • Richard Lee (guitarist)
  • Norman Durham (bassist, died 2011)[1]

Career

After a switch to the name Pipeline in 1975, the group also decided to switch to making hard rock instead of disco. Record labels competed to sign them but, when they finally ended up at Columbia Records, their single "Gypsie Rider" did not fare well commercially.

In 1976, they got the opportunity to become The Universal Robot Band along with underground disco producers Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael. This project was more successful than their former projects. They made the single "Barely Breaking Even" alongside singer Leroy Burgess, and they also recorded an album. The group toured as The Universal Robot Band until 1978. After 1978, the band decided to make all their music themselves under the new name of Kleeer.[1]

Between 1979 and 1985 the group released seven albums and had several hits in the US Billboard Hot 100 and in R&B charts. The most mentionable are "Keep Your Body Workin'", "Tonight's the Night", "Winners", "Intimate Connection", and "Get Tough". The sound was now more focused on 1980s style funk, and electronic instruments, like vocoders and synthesizers.[2]

The System lead singer Mic Murphy was a road manager for the band before the start of his record career.[3]

After the 1985's album Seeekret, the band disappeared for unknown reasons. Most of the musicians continued working with other projects. In the 1990s, however, the group re-formed as Kleeer at some occasions.[2]

Influence

The group's influence today is best found in many hip hop songs, where DJs have frequently sampled Kleeer, for example by Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Lil Jon and others. "Keeep Your Body Workin'", which reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in 1979, was "reworked" into an updated recording by Tony Moran featuring Martha Wash, under the title "Keep Your Body Working". The Moran/Wash version reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 2007. Just Blaze sampled "She Said She Loves Me" from Kleeer's 1982 album "Get Ready" for the Intro to Jay Z's fifth studio album "The Dynasty: Roc La Familia".

Discography

Studio albums
Year Single Peak chart positions
US US
R&B		 UK
[4]
1979 I Love to Dance
—
53
—
Winners
140
24
—
1981 License to Dream
81
13
—
1982 Get Ready
—
—
—
Taste the Music
139
31
—
1984 Intimate Connection
—
49
—
1985 Seeekret
—
—
96
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Chart singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[5]		 US
R&B
[5]		 US
Dance
[5]		 UK
[4]
1979 "Tonight's the Night (Good Time)"
—
33
—
—
I Love to Dance
"Keeep Your Body Workin'"
101
60
54
51
1980 "Winners"
—
23
37
—
Winners
"Open Your Mind"
—
86
—
—
1981 "Running Back to You"
—
69
—
—
License to Dream
"Get Tough"
—
15
5
49
"License to Dream"
—
—
—
"De Kleeer Ting"
—
—
—
1982 "Taste the Music"
—
55
31
—
Taste the Music
"De Ting Continues"
—
74
—
—
1983 "She Said She Loves Me"
—
84
—
—
Get Ready
1984 "Intimate Connection"
—
48
—
—
Intimate Connection
"Next Time It's for Real"
—
79
—
—
1985 "Take Your Heart Away"
—
62
—
86
Seeekret
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References
  1. "Soul Walking Page". Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  2. Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  3. Andersson, Patrik. "An interview with Mic Murphy". Jacquespetrus.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  4. "KLEEER - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  5. "Kleeer Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
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