Sly, Slick & Wicked is an American

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed p ...

band from

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...

, Ohio. The group was formed in 1970 by John (Sly) Wilson, Charles (Slick) Still, and Mark (Wicked) Saxton. Two years after their formation, Terry Stubbs replaced Saxton and Maurice Reedus Jr. became part of their backup musicians. Their song "Stay My Love" was a Top Ten rhythm-and-blues song in 1971, and

Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...

issued a 1972 follow-up, "It's Not Easy." On the strength of these recordings, James Brown asked them to work for

People Records __NOTOC__ Over the course of his career James Brown owned and operated several different record labels, which he used primarily to release his own productions of artists associated with his revue. Try Me Brown founded his first label, Try Me Reco ...

, a sublabel of Polydor run by Brown. This made the band a part of what was called James Brown's "First Family of Soul." In 1973, John Wilson wrote the song "Sho' Nuff", which the band recorded with People Records that same year. The success of this record led

Don Cornelius Donald Cortez Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012) was an American television show host and producer widely known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance and music show ''Soul Train'', which he hosted from 1971 until 1993 ...

to sign the band to appear on

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series ...

. Later, the band became part of The O'Jays'

Shaker Records Shaker or Shakers may refer to: Religious groups * Shakers, a historically significant Christian sect * Indian Shakers, a smaller Christian denomination Objects and instruments * Shaker (musical instrument), an indirect struck idiophone * Cock ...

, creating the song "Turn On Your Lovelight" in 1974. Around 1976, the band signed with

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''mot ...

. The band's debut album ''Sly, Slick & Wicked'' was released by Ju-Par in 1977. They were awarded the Men of Motown Award from the

Motown Museum "Hitsville U.S.A." is the nickname given to Motown's first headquarters and recording studio. The house (formerly a photographers' studio) is located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, near the New Center area. The house was purc ...

in 2003, and were inducted into the Motown Alumni Association Hall of Fame. In 2003, the

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and ...

added the group to its permanent display. They were inducted into the

Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame is an independent organization whose mission is to educate and to celebrate, preserve, promote, and present rhythm and blues music globally. History The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame was founded ...

in 2013. "

Suit and Tie A suit, lounge suit, or business suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of tr ...

" by Justin Timberlake and "Chaining Day" by

J.Cole Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his d ...

contain samples from their song "Sho Nuff". The group

John "Sly" Wilson, Charles "Slick" Still & Mark "Wicked" Saxton John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

are inducted into The R & B Music Hall of Fame, Displayed in The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 2003, & Inducted into The Men of Motown Museum. You can see the group in the movie "The Sax Man" starring Maurice Reedus and Sly,Slick & Wicked.

Discography

*"Stay My Love" / "Surely" (1972) - Paramount *"It's Not Easy" / "Your Love Was Meant For Me" (1973) - Paramount *"Sho Nuff" / "Ready For You" (1973) - People Records *"Turn On Your Lovelight" / "We Don't Have To Be Lovers" (1974) - Shaker Records *''Sly, Slick & Wicked'' (1977) - Ju-Par *"All I Want Is Your" / "The Prophet" (1978) - Epic

References

External links

* {{Authority control American rhythm and blues musical groups Musical groups established in 1970 Musical groups from Cleveland