JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS
STARPOINT
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Starpoint was an American R&B band who began recording in the 1980s. They were an African-American sextet from Maryland. Throughout the 80�s, the group would have a string of R&B hit singles. Their 1985 song, �Object of My Desire�, released on the Elektra label, reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their only Top 40 hit on the US pop charts.
Starpoint, initially performing under the name �Licyndiana,� was originally formed in 1969 near Annapolis, Maryland by the children of two local doctors. Kayode Adeyemo, whose parents had been immigrants from Nigeria and Barbados was born and grew up in Crownsville, Maryland. His father, a doctor, worked with Dr. George Phillips at Crownsville Hospital. In this way, a young Kayode Ademeyo was introduced to Dr. Phillips� four sons: Ernesto, Orlando, Greg, and George Jr. Soon thereafter, Adeyemo began jamming with the four Phillips brothers, each of whom were multi-instrumentalists. Initially, Adeyemo played bass guitar in the group. After this foundation had stabilized, Ren�e Diggs came on board as the lead singer, completing the Licyndiana line-up. With so much musical/instrumental talent between them, the Phillips brothers ultimately came to specialize in particular instruments within the band, with Ernesto Phillips handling lead guitar; Orlando Phillips on bass guitar, keyboards, and saxophone; Greg Phillips on drums; and George Phillips, Jr. on keyboards. Diggs and Adeyemo became the vocalists, with Diggs handling most of the lead parts. By the end of the 1970s, the band had scored a recording contract with Chocolate City Records, at which point they changed their name to �Starpoint.�
The group released their self-titled debut album in 1980. One of the singles from this album, �I Just Wanna Dance With You� became their first top 20 hit on the R&B chart. They would continue to release at least one album every year throughout the first half of the 80s, scoring several more minor hits on the R&B chart. When the band�s record label, Chocolate City went out of business, they remained with that label�s parent company, Casablanca Records for one more album, but they were eventually picked up by Elektra Records. Ren�e Diggs and Ernesto Phillips also became romantically involved.
However, major success in the R&B/soul market was elusive until 1985, when the band released their Restless album. This album not only made them superstars in the R&B world, but it also brought them significant crossover success onto the pop charts with the Top 30 single, �Object of My Desire.� Co-written by Kayode Adeyemo and Ernesto Phillips (along with noted R&B musician/producer Keith Diamond), the tune also became Starpoint�s first of several R&B top ten hits. The follow-up single �What You�ve Been Missin�� followed �Object�� into the R&B top ten. The title track (�Restless�) was also released as a single and did decently on both the pop and R&B charts. The band embarked on a lengthy tour in support of the album, during which not only did Ren�e Diggs become well-respected for her explosive vocal abilities, but also Greg Phillips earned a reputation for his drumming skills.
Unfortunately, later in 1985, while the band was on tour and at the peak of their success, Ren�e Diggs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. However, while touring became more of a challenge for the band at this point, Diggs was determined to continue touring and recording with the band and living up to her potential. She remained with the band and persevered without sacrificing any of her exuberant stage presence.
In 1987, the band released their next album, Sensational. While the single �He Wants My Body� became the band�s third top ten hit on the R&B chart, it barely made a dent on the pop charts, and the overall success of the album paled in comparison to its predecessor. The band released two more albums before eventually breaking up in 1990.
Life After Starpoint
In 1990, shortly after the band�s break-up, Ren�e Diggs recorded a solo album titled Oasis that was not initially released in the U.S., although it did see a release in Europe. Several of the tracks on this album were co-written by Diggs and Starpoint guitarist Ernesto Phillips, her longtime lover. She remained involved in the music industry throughout her life. She also created the Ren�e Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, to help bring attention to the disease.
Other band members became involved with session work for various other R&B artists.
Sadly, on March 25, 2004, Ernesto Phillips passed away as the result of a stroke. The Ernesto Phillips Scholarship for Talented Youth was established in his memory and as a tribute to his efforts in helping younger children to realize their ambitions of becoming musicians.
Just a week shy of the one-year anniversary of the death of her longtime companion Phillips, Ren�e Diggs also died (March 18, 2005) at the age of 50, due to a heart condition. Her album, Oasis was finally released in the U.S. posthumously.
--- Courtesy of Wikipedia
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| 01. I Just Wanna Dance With You 02. Gonna Lift You Up 03. We�re Into Love 04. Show Me |
05. Angel 06. Wanting You 07. Starnite Your Night 08. Miracle Love |
| 01. Gonna Lift You Up 02. Let Me Love You 03. Never Find A Better Love 04. Don't Leave Me |
05. I Just Wanna Dance With You 06. Your My Sunny Day 07. Get Ready,Get Down 08. Girl I'm Up For Your Lovin |
| 01. I Just Want To Be Your Lover 02. For You 03. Interlude 04. Keep On It |
05. I Want You Closer 06. Baby Let Me Do It 07. We�re Into Love 08. Starpoint�s Here Tonight |
| 01. Bring Your Sweet Lovin� Back 02. Get Your Body Up 03. All Night Long 04. Show Me |
05. I Like It 06. I Can Give You Love 07. Miracle Love 08. It�s You |
| 01. Don�t Be So Serious 02. Put Your Love On Me 03. Something In our Eyes 04. It�s So Delicious 05. Behind Your Back |
06. Give Real Love A Try 07. I�m So Crazy �Bout You 08. I Got The Love 09. Let Go |
| 01. It�s All Yours 02. Am I Still The One 03. Satisfy Me Lover 04. Send Me A Letter |
05. Breakout 06. This Is So Right 07. Use Me 08. Always On My Mind |
| 01. Object Of My Desire 02. One More Night 03. Emotions 04. See The Light |
05. Till The End Of Time 06. Don�t Take Your Love Away 07. Restless 08. What You Been Missin� |
| 01. He Wants My Body 02. D. Y. B. O. 03. Prove It Tonight 04. Sensational |
05. Another Night 06. The More We Love 07. Touch Of Your Love 08. Second Chance |
| 01. Fresh Start 02. One Step Closer To Your Love 03. Tough Act To Follow 04. Say You Will 05. Hot To The Touch |
06. Swept Away 07. After All Is Said And Done 08. Heart Attack 09. Park It |
| 01. I Want You-You Want Me 02. Your Lover 03. Midnight Love 04. Have You Got What It Takes |
05. When They Love You Back 06. I Don�t Need Another Lover 07. Step By Step 08. True Love |
| 01. Wanting You 02. Do What You Wanna Do 03. Angel 04. Last Night |
05. Try Me 06. Shake It Out 07. Break Up To Make Up 08. Starnite Your Night |
| 01. Object Of My Desire 02. Restless 03. He Wants My Body 04. Don�t Be So Serious 05. D. Y. B. O. |
06. It�s So Delicious 07. Am I Still The One 08. What You Been Missin� 09. The More We Love 10. Till The End Of Time |
