Freeez

Freeez was a UK dance music group from London, initially known for its emergence as one of the UK's leading jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Founded by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and other members such as Andy Stennet (keyboards, Peter Maas (bass) and Paul Morgan or Everton Mcalla (drums).

Career

Freeez's first single, "Keep in Touch" (1980), included guitarist Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, the founder of Incognito. Freeez is perhaps best remembered for its UK Top 10 hit "Southern Freeez", which included guest vocals by Ingrid Mansfield Allman. Much of the band's early work, including "Southern Freeez" became part of the jazz-funk scene in the UK, in the early 1980s^[1] In the UK, the band was signed to the record label Beggars Banquet Records.^[2]

The song "I.O.U.", written, produced and mixed by Arthur Baker, (then known for his work with New Order and Afrika Bambaataa), was also used on the 1980s breakdance movie, Beat Street. It spent two weeks at number one in the Billboard Dance chart^[3] sandwiched between the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, and was number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1983. It was followed by other releases from the album such as "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub", which hit the U.S. Top 5. In 1987 a remix of "I.O.U." climbed back up to number 18 on the U.S. dance chart, plus number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.

Freeez reformed in 1984 without Rocca, or any of the other original members, apart fom Peter Maas. With a new sound and almost a new group altogether, Maas worked with Louis Smith who took over the duties of keyboard player, co-writer and programmer with Billy Crichton as songwriter and guitarist. The new Freeez then went on to record an album, Idle Vice (1985) at Studio number 2 at Abbey Road Studios in the same room where the Beatles made their recordings. "That Beats My Patience" was the first single from the album. Smith went on to be a session keyboard player and toured with the rock band The Escape Club who had U.S. number one hit "Wild, Wild West" and several other U.S. Top 10 successes. He also recorded as one half of Bass Kruncher with lead guitarist John Holliday from The Escape Club.

Rocca and Stennet also recorded under other pseudo names such Pictures and Pink Rhythm in 1985.

Discography

Singles

Albums

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

• Freeez at Discogs