14 Karat Soul is an
a cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
group from
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 69,612. The city was List of municipalities in ...
. They began their active career in the 1980s. 14 Karat Soul were originally a strictly
doo-wop
Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...
group, but later branched out into other genres. They were featured in the 1980
Mabou Mines short film ''Sister Suzie Cinema'', a 20-minute doo-wop opera by
Bob Telson
Robert Eria Telson (born May 14, 1949) is an American composer, songwriter, and pianist best known for his work in musical theater and film, for which he has received Tony, Pulitzer, and Academy Award nominations.
Biography
Robert Eria Telson wa ...
and
Lee Breuer
Esser Leopold Breuer (February 6, 1937 – January 3, 2021) was an American playwright, theater director, academic, educator, filmmaker, poet, and lyricist. Breuer taught and directed on six continents.
Career
Breuer was a founding co-artistic ...
.
[ Billboard - 14 Sept. 1985 "Sister Suzie Cinema," scheduled for airing during the second season of PBS's weekly "Alive From 01! Center." The half-hour video is an a cappella doo-wop fantasy about the movies, starring 14 Karat Soul and Ben Halley Jr.] 14 Karat Soul also appeared on ''
Saturday Night Live'', ''
Sesame Street'', and ''
Between the Lions''.
Discography
The discography of ''14 Karat Soul'' includes several albums and compilations on
Pony Canyon for the Japanese market, where the group was known through numerous Japanese TV adverts.
*Lovers' Fantasy
*Sister Suzie Cinema & The Gospel at Colonus (with Ben Halley Jr.)
*Have Fun Tonight
*Too Young: 14 Greatest Ballads
*Take Me Back
*On The Road Again
*Ole Skool Soul
*Songs From The Heart
*The Girl in White
*Transpacific
*Get Back In Love
*That's Doo-Wop Acappella
*In Love With You
*14 Karat Soul Sings Disney
*Mo' Disney, Mo' 14 Karat Soul
*Imagine
*Sesame Street: Sing-Along Travel Songs
References
Musical groups from New Jersey
Musicians from East Orange, New Jersey
A cappella musical groups
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