Skyy (also known as New York Skyy) was an American R&B/

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 ...

band based in New York City. They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit, " Call Me", as well as their 1989 "comeback" hits, "

Start of a Romance "Start of a Romance" is a 1989 single by Skyy and the title track of their 1989 album. The single was their first to place on the Hot Black Singles chart in almost two years. "Start of a Romance" peaked at number one on the Black Singles for two ...

" and " Real Love".

Career

Skyy was formed in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York in 1977. The original line-up consisted of sisters Denise, Delores, and Bonny Dunning as vocalists, with guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon, and drummer Tommy McConnell. In 1978 the band was signed to

Salsoul Records Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (the Cayre brothers). Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/post-disco 12-inch releases, ...

, releasing their debut album the following year. After several albums that yielded moderate hits on the R&B charts, the group crossed over to the US pop charts with the release of the ''Skyy Line'' album in late 1981. Featured on this album was the single " Call Me" which reached number 26 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts and was their first number 1 on the R&B charts. The album was later certified Gold by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

. The band continued to record for the Salsoul label through to the release of their 1984 ''Inner City'' album. In the mid-1980s, the band signed with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

and released their next album, ''From the Left Side'' in 1986. Apart from the top ten R&B single, "Givin' It (to You)", the album saw limited success, and the group left Capitol soon thereafter. In 1989, after signing to

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

, Skyy launched a comeback with the release of their ''Start of a Romance'' album. This release yielded two number one R&B singles, "

" and " Real Love". "Real Love" also became the group's second and final crossover pop hit peaking at number 47 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in early 1990. By the release of the ''Nearer to You'' album in 1992, the hits were less successful, and the band has not released a new studio album since then. The sisters have performed consistently since then. In 2007 they attempted to beat a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo band at the Summerstage Concert Series in Harlem USA, singing their song Skyyzoo. Other notable performances have included the Salsoul Reunion Concert, where they performed with former label mates Carol Williams, Double Exposure,

Instant Funk Instant Funk were an American 1970s and 1980s disco band, best known for their disco classic, " I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)". History Instant Funk came out of Trenton, New Jersey consisting of Raymond Earl, drummer Scotty Mille ...

and Joe Bataan in New York City.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

*''Skyy Flyy'' (1982,

Salsoul Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (the Cayre brothers). Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/post-disco 12-inch releases, ...

) *''Greatest Hits'' (1996, The Right Stuff) *''The Anthology'' (2006, Suss'd)Dewhirst, Ian (2006). Liner notes from ''The Anthology''. Salsa CD 030. *''Skyyhigh: The Skyy Anthology 1979–1992'' (2014,

Big Break ''Big Break'' is a British television game show, created by Roger Medcalf, Mike Kemp and Terry Mardell, presented by comedian Jim Davidson and snooker commentator John Virgo, and broadcast on BBC One between 1991 and 2002. Inspired by ITV's '' ...

)

Singles

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skyy (Band) American dance music groups American funk musical groups Musical groups established in 1977 Musical groups from New York City Salsoul Records artists