Klymaxx
Klymaxx is an American all-female pop/R&B band from Los Angeles, California. The band was composed of members Bernadette Cooper, Lorena Porter Shelby, Cheryl Cooley, Robbin Grider, Lynn Malsby and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby.
Klymaxx | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, dance-pop |
| Years active | 1979–1994, 2003–present |
| Labels | SOLAR, MCA |
| Associated acts | Prince, Madame X, The Time, Cherrelle, Lloyd, Dallas Austin, Bette Midler |
| Members | Bernadette Cooper Robbin Grider Joyce Irby Lynn Malsby Lorena Shelby Cheryl Cooley |
| Past members | Penny Ford M. Ann Williams Judy Takeuchi |
History
Klymaxx was created and formed in 1979 by Bernadette Cooper (producer/drummer/vocals); the other original members included Lorena Porter Shelby (lead vocals), Cheryl Cooley (guitar), Robbin Grider (keyboards), and Lynn Malsby (keyboards). Joyce "Fenderella" Irby (bass/vocals/producer) joined the band later, before the recording of their debut album. The women developed their core sound in rehearsal, and continued with Cooper becoming the band's figurehead. Their debut album Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman was released in 1981, and their second album was Girls Will Be Girls.
However, their first album to achieve national recognition was the 1984 released Meeting in the Ladies Room, featuring the top 5 US Billboard R&B chart successes "The Men All Pause," written by Cooper and Irby, and the title track. The band's self-produced "I Miss You," penned by Lynn Malsby, became the band's pop breakthrough, peaking at #5 on the Hot 100. Critics mentioned that Irby's voice was similar to Michael Jackson's, according to music historian Scot Brown.[1]
Bernadette Cooper wrote and produced much of the band's material, and subsequently began writing and producing for other artists from the mid-80s onward, including Cheryl Lynn, Shalamar, Madame X and Mazarati. She subsequently signed to MCA Records as a solo artist, and released the 1990 album Drama According to Bernadatte Cooper, featuring cameo appearances from Teena Marie and Chuckii Booker.
The group disbanded in 1989,[2] with some members releasing further albums.[3] Following the breakup there was a legal confrontation involving Cooley’s unauthorized use of the band's name and trademark,[2][4] leading to the trademark decision Cheryl Cooley v. Bernadette Cooper and Joyce Irby.[5] Klymaxx without Cooley appeared again together in a 2003 episode of VH1's Bands Reunited.[6]
Klymaxx officially reformed shortly afterward, now billed as Klymaxx featuring Cheryl Cooley.
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Klymaxx among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[7]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
US R&B [8] |
CAN [9] |
NZ [10] | |||||
| 1981 | Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman | — | — | — | — | SOLAR | ||
| 1982 | Girls Will Be Girls | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1983 | Girls in the Band [A] | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1984 | Meeting in the Ladies Room | 18 | 9 | 46 | 18 | Constellation | ||
| 1986 | Klymaxx | 98 | 25 | — | — | |||
| 1990 | The Maxx Is Back | 168 | 32 | — | — | MCA | ||
| 1994 | One Day | — | — | — | — | Valley Vue | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||
- A Album was never released
Compilation albums
- Greatest Hits (1996, MCA)
- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Klymaxx (2003, MCA)
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
US R&B [8] |
US Dan [8] |
US A/C [8] |
BEL [12] |
CAN [9] |
NLD [13] |
NZ [10] |
UK [14] | ||||
| 1981 | "Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman" | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman | |
| "I Want to Love You Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1982 | "Heartbreaker (I'm Such a Mess)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Girls Will Be Girls | |
| "Wild Girls" | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1983 | "Multi-Purpose Girl" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Girls in the Band | |
| 1984 | "The Men All Pause" | 105 | 5 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Meeting in the Ladies Room | |
| 1985 | "Meeting in the Ladies Room" | 59 | 4 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Lock and Key" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "I Miss You" | 5 | 11 | — | 3 | 28 | 1 | 32 | 2 | 89 | |||
| 1986 | "The Men All Pause" (re-release) | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Man Size Love" | 15 | 43 | 18 | — | — | 55 | — | — | 86 | Klymaxx | ||
| "Sexy" | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1987 | "I'd Still Say Yes" | 18 | 7 | — | 8 | — | 50 | — | — | — | ||
| "Divas Need Love Too" | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1990 | "Good Love" | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 89 | The Maxx Is Back | |
| "Private Party" | — | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "When You Kiss Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1994 | "All I Think About Is You" | — | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | One Day | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||
References
- Portia K. Maultsby and Mellonee V. Burnim (2016). Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation. Taylor & Francis. p. 174-75. ISBN 9781315472089.
- "When Artists Fight Over a Group Name". BET. May 2013. p. 7.
- Serene Dominic (2003). Burt Bacharach: Song By Song. Schirmer Trade Books. ISBN 9780857122599.
- "TV-One's "Unsung" Features All Female Band Klymaxx". 106.7 WTLC FM.
- "Cheryl Cooley v Bernadette Cooper and Joyce Irby". Law360.
- Randy Lewis (December 29, 2003). "Discord, with a little harmony". Los Angeles Times. Klymaxx officially reformed shortly afterward, now billed as Klymaxx featuring Bernadette Cooper.
- Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- "US Charts > Klymaxx". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- "CAN Charts > Mary Jane Girls". RPM. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- "NZ Charts > Klymaxx". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- "American certifications – Klymaxx". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- "BEL Charts > Klymaxx". VRT Top 30. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- "NLD Charts > Klymaxx". MegaCharts. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- "UK Charts > Klymaxx". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- "Canadian certifications – Klymaxx". Music Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
External links
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