Steve Arrington

Steven Ralph Arrington (born March 5, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, drummer, record producer, engineer and minister, who grew up in Dayton, Ohio.[1]

Steve Arrington
Birth nameSteven Ralph Arrington
Born (1956-03-05) March 5, 1956
OriginDayton, Ohio, U.S.
GenresFunk, soul, R&B, gospel, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, drummer, producer, engineer, minister
Years active1979–1990
2009–present
LabelsTummy Touch, Stones Throw, Atlantic, Manhattan, God Factor Records
Associated actsSlave, Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame, 7 Days of Funk (Dâm-Funk and Snoopzilla)
Websitestevearringtonmusic.com

Biography

Arrington played in various local bands before joining and touring with The Murphys, a lounge band out of Toledo, Ohio, in 1975. About a year later Arrington relocated from Ohio to San Francisco, California where he learned Latin percussion and drumming as well as playing with Coke Escovedo, Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.

He joined the funk group Slave (founded 1975) on their third LP, called The Concept, in 1978 – originally to play percussion, then later becoming the drummer and a backing vocalist. Eventually Arrington took over lead vocals, singing on the hit singles "Just a Touch of Love", "Watching You" (which has been sampled by Snoop Dogg) and "Wait for Me".

Arrington left Slave in 1982, forming Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame,[2][3] and had hit singles such as "Weak at the Knees" (which was sampled by Three Times Dope, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, N.W.A, and others), and "Nobody Can Be You But You".

His most successful album was his 1985 solo work Dancin' in the Key of Life, whose title track became a Top Ten R&B hit. The single also spent three weeks at number two on the dance charts,[4] and went to number three on the Radio & Records R&B airplay chart. Another single from the album, "Feel So Real" reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in May that year.[5] He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Male Artist of 1986.

In 1984 Arrington experienced a religious conversion, later becoming a licensed minister and, in 1990, he left pop music until his re-emergence in October 2009, when he released the R&B, Funk, spiritual album Pure Thang.

In September 2010 Stones Throw Records announced that Arrington was working with producer Dâm-Funk on a new album.[6] In February, Arrington did an interview with The Revivalist[7] and told them his new album, "Love, Peace and Funky Beatz", was due out in late summer or early fall 2011.

On August 6, 2013 Stones Throw Records released Arrington + Dam-Funk's "Higher".[8]

In September 2014 Tummy Touch released the album "Way Out (80–84)", a collection of songs from Hall of Fame Vol 1 and Positive Power, plus unreleased and previously unfinished material.[9]

On July 8 2020, Stones Throw Records announced a new solo album by Steve Arrington titled Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions with the single "Keep Dreamin'". The album recording took place in 2019-2020 in collaboration with a cast of a new generation of talented producers orchestrated with the help of Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf. Producers include Knxwledge, J Rocc, Shibo, Jerry Paper, Brian Ellis, Gifted & Blessed, and Benedek.[10]

Discography

Albums with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame
Year Album Chart positions Record label
US US
R&B
1983 Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame, Vol.1 101 12 Atlantic
1984 Positive Power 141 36

Solo albums
Year Album Chart positions Record label
US US
R&B		 UK[11]
1985 Dancin' in the Key of Life 185 32 41 Atlantic
1986 The Jammin' National Anthem — — —
1987 Jam Packed — 50 — Manhattan
2009 Pure Thang — — — God Factor Records
2014 Way Out (80-84) — — — Tummy Touch

Singles with Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame
Title Year Peak chart positions
US R&B
[12]		 US Dance
[12]
"Way Out" 1982 — —
"Pocket Full of Air" — —
"Weak at the Knees" 1983 33 —
"Way Out" (re-release) 68 49
"Nobody Can Be You" 18 23
"Mellow as a Cello" 1984 — —
"15 Rounds" 85 —
"Hump to the Bump" 25 —

Solo singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
[11]		 US
[12]		 US Dance
[12]		 US R&B
[12]		 BEL
 GER
 NLD
 NZ
"Summertime Lovin'" 1980 ————————
"Feel So Real" 1985 51045177161342
"Dancin' in the Key of Life" 216828————
"Turn Up the Love" ———80————
"She Just Don't Know" ————————
"The Jammin' National Anthem" 1986 ———42————
"Homeboy" ———28————
"Stone Love" 1987 ———33————
"Lost and Found (You Can Find Me Present)" 1988 ———90————
"No Reason" 1990 ———89————
"Goin' Hard" 2011 ————————
"The Joys Of Love" 2020 ————————
"Keep Dreamin'" 2020 ————————

Compilation albums
Year Album Chart positions Record label
US
R&B
1994 Stellar Fungk: The Best of Slave Featuring Steve Arrington 44 Atlantic
2003 Party Lights' —
2006 Slave: The Definitive Collection —
"—" denotes the album failed to chart

References
  1. "Steve Arrington Biography". Pluto.matrix49.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. Vincent, Rickey (1996). FUNK The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of The One. St Martin's Griffin. pp. 228 and 283.
  3. Wynn, Ron. "Biography: Steve Arrington". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 23.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 30. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. "Steve Arrington & Dam-Funk "I Be Trippin"". Stonesthrow.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. Gao, Boyaun (March 2, 2011). "Steve Arrington's Revival: Exclusive Audio, Video, & Funk". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  8. "STEVE ARRINGTON & DAM-FUNK – HIGHER". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  9. "Steve Arrington : Way Out (80–84)". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  10. "Steve Arrington - Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions". Pluto.matrix49.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. "STEVE ARRINGTON - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  12. "Steve Arrington Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
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