Rhyze was an American
R&B and
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
band. They are probably best known for their song "
Just How Sweet Is Your Love
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" was a single for the group Rhyze. It charted on both the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance/Disco chart and on the Black Singles chart.
Background
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" was written by Paul Kyser and Leon Stuckey. It ba ...
" which was an R&B and dance hit. Much of their output was material written by
Paul Kyser and
Leon Stuckey
Paul Kyser (born December 6, 1943) is an American promoter, record label owner, singer, songwriter, record producer and arranger. He wrote and co-produced the hit " Dawning of Love" with Tom Vetri for Devotion. He also wrote " Body and Soul (Tha ...
.
Career
Nu-Sound Express
The group's history can be traced back to an act called Soul Unlimited. They were still at college when they met and became associated with a young
Paul Kyser who was a record producer, song writer and arranger. He changed their name to The Nu-Sound Express, LTD. / Nu-Sound Express. They released 2 singles and had a degree of success playing the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania music venues. Later they changed their name to Rhyze.
[''Gospel USA Magazine'', April / May 2011, Issue No. 68 ]
Page 21 Now available on their debut gospel album, "God Is On Call" featuring the hot tracks
/ref>
Rhyze
The group consisted of Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion), Kevin Barbee (keyboards), Richard Menter (trumpet) and Kenneth Hicks (sax). Rhyze was nominated for Best New Artist Grammy Award in 1981. They were also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The band split up around the same year.
The band was mostly influenced by funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
, disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
and soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
. Their album, ''Just How Sweet Is Your Love'' was reviewed in the July 19, 1979 issue of ''Record World''. The review though brief indicated that it had a wide appeal. Also that week, the record having spent eleven weeks in the ''Record World'' Disco File chart had dropped five places from 16 to 21.
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" was a single for the group Rhyze. It charted on both the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance/Disco chart and on the Black Singles chart.
Background
"Just How Sweet Is Your Love" was written by Paul Kyser and Leon Stuckey. It ba ...
" which entered two ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' charts in 1980.
It reached number 16 on Hot Dance/Disco
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
chart and number 92 on Black Singles
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart.
In 1981, the group had one Grammy nominations. It was for their Paul Kyser produced song, "Rhyze To The Top" in the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category.[''Cash Box'', October 3, 1981 ]
Page 11 REVIEWS SINGLES REVIEWS
/ref>
Later years
In 2011, their devotional album ''God Is On Call'' was released.
Band members
*Roscoe Taylor – lead vocals, trumpet
*Ellsworth 'EI-T' Anderson – bass, lead vocals
*Vince Jackson – guitar, lead vocals
*Charles Holmes – drums
*Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight – congas, percussion
*Kevin Barbee – keyboards
*Richard Menter – trumpet
*Kenneth Hicks – sax
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Singles
*1 A-side only charted.
References
See also
*Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
*SAM Records
SAM Records was a New York-based independent record company active between 1977–1983 and 1989–1991. The label was operated by Sam Weiss and Daniel Glass, who worked as a Vice President.
In the late 1970s, Columbia, as a CBS subsidiary, had a ...
* Prelude Records
* Salsoul Records
{{Authority control
Musical groups established in 1980
Musical groups disestablished in 1981
American contemporary R&B musical groups
American funk musical groups
SAM Records artists