Cameo

Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players,[citation needed] another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several hit records. As of 2009, some of the original members continue to perform together, while two others were hired by the hip hop group Outkast. Influences include the humour of Rick James, Parliament-Funkadelic, contemporary funk bands like the Bar-Kays, Earth, Wind and Fire, Ohio Players, The Isley Brothers etc. and singers like Marvin Gaye, Billy Paul, Prince, Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder and Bootsy Collins.. In 1974, Cameo started out with 10 members created by Juilliard graduate and New York-area clubgoer Larry Blackmon called the New York City Players. Signed by Casablanca Records to their Chocolate City imprint in 1976, the group soon changed its name to Cameo after concerns that "New York City Players" might cause confusion between them and the funk band Ohio Players. Prior to this, Blackmon, keyboardist Gregory Johnson, and the late Gwen Guthrie formed the band East Coast, together with James Wheeler (alto saxophone), Melvin Whay (bass), Michael Harris (percussion), and Haras Fyre (also known as Pat Grant) on trombone. They released one self-titled album in 1973 on the independent label Encounter.. Cameo started with a deep, funky sound, but it was obvious from the start their sights were set on the dance floor. Their first album was titled Cardiac Arrest. The gold single, written by Nathan Leftenant, Larry Blackmon and Arnett Leftenant titled Rigor Mortis was the start of Cameo's hit-studded career. Ugly Ego, We All Know Who We Are, and Secret Omen contained dance floor songs such as, "I Just Want To Be" and "Find My Way," the latter of which was a major disco smash and was included on the soundtrack to Thank God It's Friday. But the sleeper hit on the movie was It's Serious. The height of Cameo's career was Word Up!. The group, down to just Nathan Leftenant, Larry Blackmon, and Tomi Jenkins, put out one of the best albums of the '80s....
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