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Commodores

2013-10-19

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The '''Commodores''' is an American [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk funk]/[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music soul] band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshmen freshmen] at Tuskegee Institute (now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_University Tuskegee University]) in 1968, and signed with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown Motown] in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackson_5 The Jackson 5] while on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_tour tour].

The group is best known for their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad ballads], such as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_(Commodores_song) Easy]" and "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Times_a_Lady Three Times a Lady]", but, for the most part, the group recorded [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk funky], driven dance-floor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hit_record hits] which include "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_House_(song) Brick House]", "The Bump", "Fancy Dancer", and "Too Hot ta Trot".

==Contents==

 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores# hide]] *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Band_history 1 Band history]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Original_band_personnel 2 Original band personnel]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Discography 3 Discography]

**[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Albums 3.1 Albums]

**[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Singles 3.2 Singles]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#Awards_and_recognition 4 Awards and recognition]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#References 5 References]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#External_links 6 External links]

==Band history[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=1 edit]]==

The Commodores originally came together from two former groups the Mystics and the Jays, but wanted to change the name. To choose a new name William "WAK" King opened a dictionary and randomly picked a word. "We lucked out," he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_(magazine) People]'' magazine. "We almost became The Commodes!".

"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Gun_(Commodores_album) Machine Gun]", the instrumental title track from the band's debut album, became a staple at American sporting events,[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]''] and is similarly featured in many films, including''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Nights Boogie Nights]'' and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looking_for_Mr._Goodbar Looking for Mr. Goodbar]''. It reached No. 22 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1975. Another instrumental, "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu Cebu]" (named after an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cebu_Province island] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines Philippines]), later became a staple[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch#Unsupported_attributions by whom?]''] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_storm Quiet storm] format. Three albums released in years 1975 and 1976 (''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caught_in_the_Act_(Commodores_album) Caught in the Act]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movin%27_On_(Commodores_album) Movin' On]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_On_The_Tracks Hot On The Tracks]'') are considered the peak of their harder funk period. After those recordings the group started to move towards a softer sound. That move was hinted at in their 1976 Top Ten hits "Sweet Love" and "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_to_Be_Close_to_You Just to Be Close to You]." In 1977 the Commodores released "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_(Commodores_song) Easy]", which became the group's biggest hit yet, reaching No. 4 in the U.S., followed by "Brick House", also Top 5, both from their landmark album "The Commodores", as was "Zoom". The group reached No. 1 in 1978 with the sweet "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Times_a_Lady Three Times a Lady]." The year 1979 saw the Commodores score another Top Five ballad hit, "Sail On", before reaching the top of the charts once again with another ballad, "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_(Commodores_song) Still]". In 1981 they released two Top Ten hits with "Oh No" (#4 U.S.) and their first upbeat single in almost five years, "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_(You_Bring_Me_Up) Lady (You Bring Me Up)]" (#8 U.S.)

The band originated while its members attended [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_University Tuskegee University] in Alabama. After winning the University's annual Freshman talent contest, they played at fraternity parties, as well as a weekend gig at the Black Forest Inn, one of a few clubs in Tuskegee that catered to the College students. They performed mostly cover tunes and some original songs with their first singer, James Ingram (not the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ingram famous solo artist], but another "James Ingram"). Ingram, older than the rest of the members of the band, left to serve active duty in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam Vietnam], and was later replaced by Walter "Clyde" Orange, the second lead singer who wrote or co-wrote many of their hit tunes. Richie and fellow Commodore Walter "Clyde" Orange alternated as lead singers. Orange was also the lead singer on the Top 10 hits, "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightshift_(song) Nightshift]" and "Brick House" among others.

The Commodores made a brief appearance in the 1978 film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thank_God_It%27s_Friday Thank God It's Friday]''. They performed the song "Too Hot ta Trot" during the dance contest; their songs "Brick House" and "Easy" were also played during the movie.

In 1982, Lionel Richie left to pursue a solo career, in 1983, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyler_Jett Skyler Jett], replaced Lionel Richie as the co-lead singer for The Commodores, and toured the world, performing in over 32 countries in a two year span.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CommodoresPerforming.jpg][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CommodoresPerforming.jpg]Band performance in Florida on October 1, 2006Over time, several founding members left. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McClary_(musician) Thomas McClary] left in 1982 (shortly after Richie left) to pursue a solo career and to develop a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_music gospel music] company. McClary was replaced by guitarist/vocalist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Reynolds_(guitarist) Sheldon Reynolds]. LaPread left in 1986 and moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and Reynolds departed for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth,_Wind_%26_Fire Earth, Wind & Fire] in 1987, which prompted trumpeter William "WAK" King to take over primary guitar duties for live performances. Keyboardist Milan Williams exited the band in 1989. The group also gradually abandoned its funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena. In 1984 former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heatwave_(band) Heatwave] singer J.D. Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with drummer Walter Orange. The band remained hitless for several years till 1985 with their final [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown Motown] release of the album "Nightshift" produced by Dennis Lambert (all prior albums were produced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Anthony_Carmichael&action=edit&redlink=1 James Anthony Carmichael]) delivered the Grammy Award-winning title track "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightshift_(song) Nightshift]" (#3 in the U.S., a tribute to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye Marvin Gaye] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Wilson Jackie Wilson]; in 2010 a new version was recorded dedicated to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Michael Jackson]),[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#cite_note-1 [1]] The Commodores were on their European Tour, performing at Wembley Arena, London on June 25, 2009, when they were advised that Michael Jackson had died. Initially the band thought it was a hoax, however back in their dressing rooms they received confirmation, and broke down in tears. The next night in Birmingham the NIA Arena, J.D. Nicholas added Jackson's name into the lyrics of the song, and from then onwards the Commodores have mentioned Jackson and other R&B singers. From this came the inspiration upon the one year anniversary of Jackson's death, to re-record, with new lyrics, the hit song "Nightshift" as a tribute. Initially, "Nightshift" won The Commodores their first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award Grammy] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_R%26B_Performance_by_a_Duo_or_Group_with_Vocals Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals] in 1985.

In 1990 the Commodores formed Commodores Records and re-recorded the Commodores 20 greatest hits "Commodores Hits Vol. I & II", have [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_recording_and_reproduction recorded] a live album "Commodores Live" along with a DVD by the same name, and a Christmas album titled "Commodores Christmas. In 2012, the band has been working on new material, some contributions written by current and former members.

Today, the Commodores consist of Walter "Clyde" Orange, J.D. Nicholas and King "WAK", along with their five piece band, known as the "Mean Machine". The group continues to perform, playing at arenas, theaters and festivals around the world.

==Original band personnel[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=2 edit]]==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Richie Lionel Richie] (vocals, saxophone, piano, drums) – born June 20, 1949, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee,_Alabama Tuskegee, Alabama].

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McClary_(musician) Thomas McClary] (lead guitar) – born October 6, 1949, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustis,_Florida Eustis, Florida].

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Williams Milan Williams] (keyboards, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombone trombone], rhythm guitar) – born March 28, 1948, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okolona,_Mississippi Okolona, Mississippi], died of cancer, July 9, 2006, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston Houston], Texas.

*William "WAK" King (trumpet, rhythm guitar, synthesizer) – born January 30, 1949, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama Alabama].

*Ronald La Pread (bass guitar, trumpet) – born September 4, 1949, Alabama.

*Walter Orange (vocals, drums) – born December 10, 1946, Florida.

*Charles Dean

==Discography[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=3 edit]]==

===Albums[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=4 edit]]===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:0px;border-color:rgb(170,170,170);color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;"

! rowspan="2"|Year

! rowspan="2"|Album

! colspan="3"|Peak chart positions

|-

![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200 US]

![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Albums_Chart UK]

![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums US R&B]

|-

|1974

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Gun_(Commodores_album) Machine Gun]''

| style="text-align:center;"|138

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|22

|-

| rowspan="2"|1975

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caught_in_the_Act_(Commodores_album) Caught in the Act]''

| style="text-align:center;"|26

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|7

|-

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movin%27_On_(Commodores_album) Movin' On]''

| style="text-align:center;"|29

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|7

|-

|1976

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_on_the_Tracks Hot on the Tracks]''

| style="text-align:center;"|12

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|1

|-

|1976

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rise_Up_(The_Commodores_1976_Album)&action=edit&redlink=1 Rise Up]''

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

| rowspan="2"|1977

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores_(album) Commodores]''

| style="text-align:center;"|3

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|1

|-

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores_Live!&action=edit&redlink=1 Commodores Live!]''

| style="text-align:center;"|3

| style="text-align:center;"|60

| style="text-align:center;"|2

|-

|1978

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_High_(Commodores_album) Natural High]''

| style="text-align:center;"|3

| style="text-align:center;"|8

| style="text-align:center;"|1

|-

| rowspan="2"|1979

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Hits_(Commodores) Greatest Hits]''

| style="text-align:center;"|23

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|24

|-

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Magic_(album) Midnight Magic]''

| style="text-align:center;"|3

| style="text-align:center;"|15

| style="text-align:center;"|1

|-

|1980

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_(Commodores_album) Heroes]''

| style="text-align:center;"|7

| style="text-align:center;"|50

| style="text-align:center;"|3

|-

|1981

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Pocket_(Commodores_album) In the Pocket]''

| style="text-align:center;"|13

| style="text-align:center;"|70

| style="text-align:center;"|4

|-

|1982

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=All_the_Great_Hits_(Commodores_album)&action=edit&redlink=1 All the Great Hits]''

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

|1983

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores_13 Commodores 13]''

| style="text-align:center;"|103

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|26

|-

|1984

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Great_Love_Songs_(Commodores_album) All the Great Love Songs]''

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

|1985

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightshift_(album) Nightshift]''

| style="text-align:center;"|12

| style="text-align:center;"|13

| style="text-align:center;"|1

|-

|1986

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_(Commodores_album) United]''

| style="text-align:center;"|101

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|17

|-

|1988

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Solid_(Commodores_album) Rock Solid]''

| style="text-align:center;"|101

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

|1992

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores_Christmas Commodores Christmas]''

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

|1993

|''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Tricks No Tricks]''

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

| style="text-align:center;"|—

|-

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart

|}

===Singles[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=5 edit]]===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:0px;border-color:rgb(170,170,170);color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;text-align:center;"

! rowspan="2"|Year

! rowspan="2"|Single

! colspan="5"|Peak chart positions[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#cite_note-Singles-2 [2]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodores#cite_note-3 [3]]

! rowspan="2"|Album

|- style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="30"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100 US]

! width="30"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs US R&B]

! width="30"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Dance_Club_Songs US Dance]

! width="30"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Adult_Contemporary_Tracks US AC]

! width="30"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart UK]

|-

| rowspan="3"|1974

| style="text-align:left;"|"Machine Gun"

|22

|7

|—

|—

|20

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|''Machine Gun''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"The Zoo (The Human Zoo)"

|—

|—

|—

|—

|44

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"I Feel Sanctified"

|75

|12

|—

|—

|—

|-

| rowspan="2"|1975

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_When_Wet_(song) Slippery When Wet]"

|19

|1

|—

|—

|—

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''Caught in the Act''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"This Is Your Life"

|—

|13

|—

|—

|—

|-

| rowspan="2"|1976

| style="text-align:left;"|"Sweet Love"

|5

|2

|—

|—

|32

| style="text-align:left;"|''Movin' On''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_to_Be_Close_to_You Just to Be Close to You]"

|7

|1

|—

|—

|62

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''Hot on the Tracks''

|-

| rowspan="3"|1977

| style="text-align:left;"|"Fancy Dancer"

|39

|9

|33

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_(Commodores_song) Easy]"

|4

|1

|—

|—

|9

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''The Commodores''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_House_(song) Brick House]"

|5

|4

|34

|—

|32

|-

| rowspan="3"|1978

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Hot_ta_Trot Too Hot ta Trot]"

|24

|1

|—

|—

|38

| style="text-align:left;"|''The Commodores Live!''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Times_a_Lady Three Times a Lady]"

|1

|1

|—

|1

|1

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''Natural High''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Flying High"

|38

|21

|—

|—

|37

|-

| rowspan="2"|1979

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sail_On_(song) Sail On]"

|4

|8

|—

|9

|8

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|''Midnight Magic''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_(Commodores_song) Still]"

|1

|1

|—

|6

|4

|-

| rowspan="4"|1980

| style="text-align:left;"|"Wonderland"

|25

|21

|—

|—

|40

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Old-Fashion Love"

|20

|8

|—

|—

|—

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|''Heroes''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Heroes"

|54

|27

|—

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Jesus Is Love"

|—

|34

|—

|—

|—

|-

| rowspan="2"|1981

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_(You_Bring_Me_Up) Lady (You Bring Me Up)]"

|8

|5

|—

|—

|56

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"|''In the Pocket''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_No_(Commodores_song) Oh No]"

|4

|5

|—

|5

|44

|-

| rowspan="3"|1982

| style="text-align:left;"|"Why You Wanna Try Me"

|66

|42

|—

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Lucy"

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Painted Picture"

|70

|19

|—

|—

|—

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''All the Greatest Hits''

|-

| rowspan="2"|1983

| style="text-align:left;"|"Reach High"

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Only You"

|54

|20

|—

|8

|—

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|''Commodores 13''

|-

| rowspan="1"|1984

| style="text-align:left;"|"Turn Off the Lights"

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|-

| rowspan="3"|1985

| style="text-align:left;"|"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightshift_(song) Nightshift]"

|3

|1

|6

|2

|3

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|''Nightshift''

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Animal Instinct"

|43

|22

|9

|—

|74

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"Janet"

|87

|65

|—

|8

|—

|-

|1986

| style="text-align:left;"|"Goin to the Bank"

|65

|2

|—

|—

|43

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"|''United''

|-

| rowspan="2"|1987

| style="text-align:left;"|"Take It from Me"

|—

|38

|—

|—

|—

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|"United in Love"

|—

|—

|—

|22

|—

|-

|1988

| style="text-align:left;"|"Solitaire"

|—

|51

|—

|—

|—

| style="text-align:left;"|''Rock Solid''

|-

| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt;"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart

|}

==Awards and recognition[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commodores&action=edit&section=6 edit]]==

The Commodores were inducted into The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_Group_Hall_of_Fame Vocal Group Hall of Fame] in 2003. Among multiple Grammy nominations, they won a Grammy for "Nightshift" in 1986.