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CAMEO CELEBRATES! MORE THAN '33 YEARS of FUNK...'
CAMEO topped the R&B charts for more than a decade , has sold more than 17 million albums; and CAMEO is one of the most popular Funk/ Rock and Soul bands of its era ! Line-ups change, styles evolve, and record labels merge, but CAMEO has maintained its core funkiness for nearly four decades.
From the seventies through today, CAMEO has been churning out trailblazing hits! The group's pivotal sounds are apart of Music History! CAMEO has permanently marked major turning points in music and set the standard that many have tried to duplicate and follow.
Now, CAMEO's creator and producer; Larry Blackmon, along with founding member Tomi Jenkins are once again ready to challenge the way the world listens to music! CAMEO is ready to introduce a new generation to their Music.
The New York City-based band, led by drummer Larry Blackmon, debuted with a single called 'Find My Way' on Chocolate City Records, (a label managed by Cecil Holmes through Casablanca Records). Larry Blackmon has been synonymous with CAMEO since the beginning of his career in the music industry, growing up in New York City, and digesting the sounds of the city streets. The kind of non-stop activity that Blackmon creates has consistently propelled the across-the-board success that CAMEO has enjoyed for over three decades. Blackmon posses a creative determined mind, spirit and dedication to MUSIC!
BLACKMON & CAMEO have made their place in the archives of urban music!
As an accomplished writer / producer / director, Blackmon was one of the first to create theme-based videos such as 'She's Strange' and 'Attack Me With Your Love'; which used the acting genius of Laurence Fishburne, Debbie Morgan, and Ann Magnusum appearing in the clip. L.B.'s abiding search for excellence is exhibited through his endeavors to constantly improve his creativity through the study of dance, acting and music.
A sought-after writer/producer/director/ musician; Blackmon has produced projects for several outstanding and chart topping artists including: Bobby Brown, Chaka Kahn, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and 8 Ball & MJG, just to name a few. Many artists have paid respect through the replication of CAMEO's unique funk-filled sounds.
A multitude of recording artists and filmmakers have re-created and/or used original recorded versions of their favorite CAMEO music and songs in projects/films being played today. These artists include TuPac, Boys II Men, Will Smith, 8-Ball & MJG, Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, KORN, just to name a few.
'AWE' --- It was Blackmon who popularized the 'AWE' - that has been imitated, but never quite duplicated! Likewise, the phrase 'WORD UP' has never lost its appeal with the urban population today.
BLACKMON & JENKINS emerged as a recording artists with CAMEO via the 1977 debut LP. 'CARDIAC ARREST', (this included the hit 'Rigor Mortis.') Since then CAMEO has enjoyed an action-packed, chart filled career.
Two more albums; ('WE ALL KNOW WHO WE ARE' 77' & 'UGLY EGO' '78), helped establish CAMEO with the music buyers; but it was their fourth LP - 'SECRET OMEN' (1979) featuring the hit singles 'I Just Want to Be' - (CAMEO's first Gold Single), and 'Sparkle'. This began the group's journey to a whole new level of popularity achieving 'Gold Status'. From this album on, all of CAMEO's LP's went GOLD-Plus.
Over time, the group ballooned up to 11 members, but in 1982 CAMEO pared down to its core Larry Blackmon & Tomi Jenkins; having refocused, the group then saw some of their largest successes.
Between 1980 and 1985, the group released the following 7 LP's - Scoring Top 10 Black Music Hits with their singles:
'CAMEOSIS' - (1980); which featured the hit title song 'Shake Your Pants'.
'FEEL ME' - (1980); including 'Keep It Hot' & 'Your Love Takes Me Out'.
'KNIGHTS OF THE SOUND TABLE' (1981) with 'Freaky Dancing'.
'ALLIGATOR WOMAN' (1982) a smash hit single 'Flirt' and critic's favorite.
'STYLE' (1983) including 'Slow Moving' & 'Heaven Only Knows'.
'SHE'S STRANGE' (1984) an acclaimed work including their first
Pop Success and #1 hit title song in the US & Great Britain; it also
included the controversial 'Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck.'
'SINGLE LIFE' (1985) a ground breaking record including the
hit singles 'Attack Me With Your Love' and the tile cut 'Single Life'.
CAMEO's worldwide breakthrough with the 'WORD UP' - LP shook things up in 1986!
This platinum-selling album was an international smash! The album was
Grammy nominated for the 'Record of the Year'. And after
opening the show with a rousing performance at the '1st Annual- 1987
Soul Train Music Awards', CAMEO took home two awards that night:
'Best Single/Group' and 'Album of the Year' for 'WORD UP'.
The title track was also a TOP POP hit and # 1 Black Music Single. The second release from this album 'Candy' did equally as well while the cut 'Back & Forth' was a top 3 R&B hit.
The following year CAMEO's worldwide recognition continued with the release of the Blackmon-produced LP 'MACHISMO' (1987). This album featured the extraordinary Miles Davis, with Blackmon & Miles collaborating on the single 'In the Night'. The collection also included a social commentary - 'Skin I'm In' featuring such talented musicians as Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Bernard Wright, Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. The year was also marked by CAMEO receiving the American Music Award for 'Favorite Group/Soul, R&B.' CAMEO / LARRY BLACKMON
An icon in the music industry, CAMEO is a pacemaker.
It is no accident that Larry Blackmon is a STYLE & TRENDSETTER;
These two entities have been & will continue to be a force to be reckoned with!
