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Surface

 
Artist: Surface
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Surface

Group Members:

David Townsend, David Conley, Bernard Jackson

Similar Artists:

The System, Loose Ends, Portrait, Kiara, R.J.'s Latest Arrival, Atlantic Starr, Aurra, Dreamboy

Followers:

Kevin Lyttle

Performed Songs By:

Everett Collins, Derrick Culler, David Townsend, David Conley, Bernard Jackson

Formal Connection With:

Keron Boodoosingh
See Surface Lyrics
  • Genres: World
  • Representative Albums: "The First Time: The Best of Surface", "The Best Surface: A Nice Time for Loving", "Super Hits

Biography

When you think of the group Surface, the term disco dancefloor doesn't come to mind. The '80s soft soul vocal trio known for such lush ballads as "Closer Than Friends" and the million-selling singles "Shower Me With Your Love" and the number one pop hit "The First Time" had one of its first charting records as artists signed to dance music pioneer Salsoul Records. "Falling in Love," co-written by Surface member David Conley, doesn't have much in common with the aforementioned titles other than the group name and a (presumably) Conley flute solo. The single made it to number 84 R&B in summer 1983 and the U.K. pop charts. Singer Bernard Jackson who grew up in Stamford, CT, got into the music business through his cousin who lived in New York. Seizing the opportunity, he relocated to New York and began performing around the city. While doing a show in Stamford, his godfather suggested that he contact his nephew David Townsend who was also in the music business. Townsend, a former touring guitarist for the Isley Brothers, was the son of singer/songwriter/producer Ed Townsend who had a hit with "For Your Love" in summer 1958 and wrote the Impressions' "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man)" and co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Around 1973, Townsend joined a band called the Port Authority where he met David "Pic" Conley. Townsend, whose father shared hit songwriting tips with him, began writing songs with Conley. After Townsend and Conley met Jackson it was decided that they'd write songs together. The trio became staff writers for EMI Music. Their songs were covered by New Edition ("Let's Be Friends" from their 1985 MCA LP All for Love) and Sister Sledge ("You're So Fine"). The trio became performers using the name Surface and moved to Los Angeles. An EMI Music executive brought one of their songs, "Let's Try Again," to the attention of Larkin Arnold of Columbia Records. Arnold's previous successes include Natalie Cole and Peabo Bryson. He signed the group to Columbia and their first single "Let's Try Again" charted number 80 R&B in late 1986. The debut album Surface included the smooth and sweet "Happy," which hit number two R&B for two weeks in early 1987, "Lately" (number eight R&B), and the reissued "Let's Try Again." The next LP, 2nd Wave yielded "I Missed" (number three R&B), "Closer Than Friends" (number one R&B for two weeks in early 1989), the wedding standard "Shower Me With Your Love" (gold, number one R&B/number five pop), "You Are My Everything" (number one R&B for two weeks), and "Can We Spend Some Time" (number five R&B). Jackson brought the sheet music to a song he had written in 1986 to his friend, songwriter Brian Simpson, who had a recording studio in his garage. After listening to the finished demo tape, Jackson thought that he had a hit. Hiring a mobile 24-track recording studio truck to capture his vocal in the best professional conditions, Jackson sang "The First Time" in Simpson's house. "The First Time" was the first single from Surface's 3 Deep album and went gold hitting number one R&B and holding the number one pop for two weeks in early 1991. While "The First Time" was topping the charts, Surface was one of the presenters at the American Music Awards and were enthusiastically congratulated. The hits continued with "All I Want Is You" (number eight R&B, early 1991) and "Never Gonna Let You Down." "You're the One" billed as Surface featuring Bernard Jackson made it to number 24 R&B, summer 1991. The group's last charting single was "A Nice Time for Lovin'" included on their 1991 greatest hits LP The Best Surface: A Nice Time for Loving. Conley and Townsend also produced sides on Rebbie Jackson ("Reaction") that are on The Rebbie Jackson Collection from U.K. label Expansion distributed by Sony/3MV. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Surface (band)
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Surface

Background information
Origin New Jersey, United States
Genres Contemporary R&B,
Pop,
Post-disco,
Quiet Storm
Years active 1983 - 1994,
1999
Labels Salsoul[1],
Columbia
Former members
Bernard Jackson,
David Conley,
David Townsend

Surface was an American R&B and pop music group from 1983 to 1994 best known for its #1 pop and R&B hit "The First Time."

Contents

History

Early years

Bernard Jackson moved from Stamford, Connecticut to New York to pursue a music career. While in New York, his godfather said Jackson should contact his nephew David Townsend who had been a guitarist with The Isley Brothers. Meanwhile, Townsend was in Port Authority, a 1970s band, and met David Conley. Conley and Townsend started writing and when they met Jackson, then they formed a band.

Songwriters/Early recordings

They then became resident songwriters for EMI and wrote New Edition's "Let's Be Friends" and Sister Sledge's "You're So Fine."[1] Encouraged by this success, the group called themselves Surface and began recording their own material, releasing several Post-disco/early-80s-style tracks under the name.[1] They would find moderate success in the UK with their singles "Falling in Love" in 1983 and "When Your Ex Wants You Back" in 1984 (according to the Allmusic, "Falling in Love" also cracked the U.S. R&B chart, peaking at #84). With a sound more reminiscent of Kashif and related early 1980s soul groups, these early singles contrast significantly with the smoother, ballad-style material that would later make the group successful in the U.S.

First major label record deal

The trio then moved to Los Angeles, California, searching for more mainstream success. The song "Let's Try Again" came to the attention of Larkin Arnold of Columbia Records, who signed the band and released this track as a single in 1986. Also in 1986, Jackson met with a friend, Brian Simpson, and recorded a demo tape of a track he had written entitled "The First Time." He believed it to be a hit and hired a recording studio to get the best professional conditions for the track. Their self-titled debut album followed in 1987, featuring two more hit singles: "Happy," which hit #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks,[1] and "Lately," which hit #8.

The bands follow-up album, 2nd Wave, was released in 1989 and included some of the group's biggest hits. "I Missed" reached #3 on the R&B charts, "Closer Than Friends" was the group's first #1 hit, topping the R&B charts for two weeks, and "Can We Spend Some Time" which reached #5 on the R&B charts. The album featured two other #1 R&B hits, "You Are My Everything" which topped the charts for two weeks and the album's biggest hit,[1] "Shower Me With Your Love" which went Gold, reached #1 on the R&B charts and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Thanks to the album's number of hits, it managed to go Platinum.

Later years

The song "The First Time", originally recorded by Jackson in 1986, was featured on the band's third album 3 Deep in 1991 and was the first single off the album. The song was a hit, going Gold and becoming the group's biggest hit to date. It topped both the R&B and pop charts. The album continued on with "All I Want Is You" which reached #8 on the R&B charts and helped the album go Gold.

Jackson and Townsend left in 1994, and the group disbanded. In 1999 the group go back together and released Love Zone and had just announced a return to live appearances when Townsend was found dead at his home.[1] Townsend, son of producer/songwriter Ed Townsend[1] (co-writer of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"), died of unknown causes on October 26, 2005, at the age of 50, almost two years after his father.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Chart positions [2]
US Pop US R&B
1986 Surface (Columbia) #55 #11
1988 2nd Wave (Columbia) #56 #5
1990 3 Deep (Columbia) #65 #19
1991 The Best Surface: A Nice Time for Loving (Columbia) - -
1999 Love Zone[1] - -
2001 The First Time: The Best of Surface (Sony) - -
2005 Our World (Sony) - -

Singles

Year Song US Hot 100[3] US R&B[4] US A.C.[5] US Hot Dance[6]
1983 "Falling in Love" - #84 - -
1984 "When Your Ex Wants You Back" - #84 - -
1986 "Let's Try Again" - #22 - -
1987 "Happy" #20 #2 #24 #16
1987 "Lately" - #8 - -
1988 "I Missed" - #3 - -
1989 "Can We Spend Some Time" - #5 - -
1989 "Closer Than Friends" #57 #1 - #39
1989 "Shower Me With Your Love" #5 #1 #3 -
1989 "You Are My Everything" #84 #1 - -
1990 "The First Time" #1 #1 #1 -
1991 "All I Want Is You" - #8 - -
1991 "Never Gonna Let You Down" #17 #24 #17 -
1991 "You're the One"/"We Don't Have to Say Good-bye" - #35 - -
1992 "A Nice Time for Lovin'" - #52 - -

Members

Best-known lineup

Other members

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Perrone, Pierre (December 25, 2005). "David Townsend - Singer with the soul trio Surface". Independent.co.uk - Obituaries. http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article334783.ece. Retrieved April 24, 2009. 
  2. ^ "Billboard" Albums on Allmusic
  3. ^ "Billboard" Hot 100 Singles on Allmusic
  4. ^ "Billboard" R&B Singles on Allmusic
  5. ^ "Billboard" AC Singles on Allmusic
  6. ^ "Billboard" Club Play Singles on Allmusic

External links/sources


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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