The party never stopped at the 12th annual Unity in the Park concert in Luke Easter Park in Cleveland as thousands of people crowded into the park to see classic music stars Evelyn “Champagne” King, Stephanie Mills and the SOS Band.
The hot, humid day topped the thermostat but it only seemed to fuel the dance muscles of the thousands of people who came to see the concert. The day started off with local Cleveland acts, which readied the audience for King who’s crystalline voice could be heard all over the 116-acre space.
King, dressed in a black dress, sang her most popular hits including “Love Come Down,” “I’m in Love,” and “Betcha She Don’t Love You.”
Born in the Bronx, but raised in Philadelphia, King was discovered as a young woman while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as an office cleaner. Producer Theodore overheard her singing and began coaching her. That led to a development deal with Galaxy Productions and a contract with RCA records.
Her debut album, “Smooth Talk” was released in 1977. It included her only top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “Shame.” The song reached No. 7 on the R & B chart and No. 8 on the dance chart.
1982’s “Love Come Down” was a top 20 pop hit and # 1 R & B single. It was followed, “I Betcha She Don’t Love You,” which peaked at No. 2 on the R & B chart and No. 49 on the pop chart.
King stepped away from the limelight for years, resurfacing in 2007 with the release of her first album in over a decade, “Open Book.” It featured the single, “The Dance,” which peaked at # 12 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart.
In 2004, “Shame” became one of the first records to be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame.
The 55-year-old diva is currently working on an album and will be releasing a single in the near future.
“As women in this business we are survivors Evelyn Champagne King and I. I love you my sister,” said Stephanie Mills to thunderous applause. The mezzo soprano opened her 90-minute set with her 1978 No. 1 single,“(You’re Puttin’) A Rush on Me,” which proved to the adoring audience that she still has the chops as her voice cut above the too-loud music in the park.
Clad in black pants, a white shirt and curly black wig with red high lights, Stephanie proved that true talent never wanes.
“I’ve Learned to Respect the Power of Love” showcased the Stephanie we all know and love as she did her THANG on this powerful, classic ballad hitting the high note in the middle of the song with ease and making the audience clap with excitement.
“I came here to have a good time, ya’ll. I don’t know about you but I’m having a ball up here. This ain’t nothing but a party,” she said after the applause died down.
Mills put on her rock star hat for a minute and did a rousing cover of the Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars mega hit, “Uptown Funk” before going into her 1989 hit, “Something in the Way You Make Me Feel.”
Her hits, “Feel the Fire” and her disco ditty, “Put Your Body In it” were performed before she ended with her signature song, the magnificent “Home” from the soundtrack of the Broadway hit musical The Wiz.
“Home” is what brought the diminutive powerhouse singer to the attention of millions. She created the role of Dorothy in the 1975 adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Mills was born in New York and at the tender age of nine began appearing on Broadway in the musical Maggie Flynn. She won Amateur Night at the Apollo six weeks straight, which led to her becoming the opening act for The Isley Brothers.
Although she found success on the Great White Way, commercial success eluded her until 1979 when she scored hits with “Put Your Body In It,” “You Can Get Over” and “Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’.” “Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” became Mills’ first gold record.
Her success continued with the 1980 single, “I Never Knew Love Like This Before,” which became a #12 R & B hit and a # 6 hit on the Pop charts that year. In 1981, Mills and the late Teddy Pendergrass scored a hit with “Two Hearts.” In 1983 she scored another hit with a cover of Prince’s “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore.”
Mills success waned until 1986 when she scored a hit with the Angela Winbush-written “I’ve Learned to Respect the Power of Love” and that success continued with “If I Were Your Woman,” and “I Feel Good All Over.”
After taking a break from the music business to take care of her son, Mills returned to her musical theater roots taking on the lead role in Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden.
She will be portraying the role of Aunt Em in the NBC live version of The Wiz in early December. The show will be co-produced by Cirque du Soleil’s new stage theatrical division. The musical version will make its Broadway revival in the 2016-2017 season.
The SOS Band served as the headliners for Unity in the Park concert. The funksters from the ATL caressed the audience’s ear drums with tight harmonies on such songs as “The Finest,” “Better Be Good to Me,” “Take Your Time,” and “Just the Way You Like It.”
The SOS Band (whose name stands for sounds of success) first gained notoriety after Tabu Records founder Clarence Avant was impressed with the group’s demo tape and signed them to a recording contract.
Their first hit single “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” sold over two million copies and its debut, self-titled album sold over 800,000 copies. In 1983 the group teamed up with super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and released a litany of hits including “The Finest,” “No one’s Gonna Love You “ and “Just the Way You Like It.”
Lead vocalist Mary Davis left the group in 1987 to pursue a solo career and was replaced with Chandra Currelley in 1989, beginning with the band’s “Diamonds in the Raw” album. Davis reunited with the band in 1994. She has since split with some of the remaining members of the band and began touring using its name.
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