Shalamar

Shalamar Bio

Shalamar is an American soul and R&B Grammy nominated group that were best known during the 1970s to 1980s. The vocal group was made up of three primary members; Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel, and Howard Hewitt. Shalamar was originally created by Soul Train’s booking agent Dick Griffey along with British R&B producer Simon Soussan. The group’s first single, ‘Uptown Festival’, is a Motown medley and released in 1977 under Soul Train Records. The radio edit of the single landed on number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 list and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles. They followed up with their next hit single, ‘Take That to The Bank’, followed by ‘The Second Time Around’ which also hit the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 8 and peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. Shalamar was loved by their US fan base for their disco dance-soul sound and were also enjoyed by fans in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium and Canada throughout the 80’s. In 1982, the band was left by Jody Watley and Howard Hewitt, being replaced by Micki Free and Delissa Davis in 1984. Shalamar was nominated for two Grammys in 1983 for Best R&B Performance by A Duo or Group with Vocal for their single ‘Dead Giveaway’ and as well in 1984 for the same award but for their single, ‘Dancing in the Sheets’. The band is no longer active and no longer made music after they released their single in 1990, ‘Wake Up’.