The Deele (pronounced /deal/) is an United States|American 80s Rhythm and blues|R&B band (music)|band from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally consisting of Indianapolis native Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds along with L.A. Reid|Antonio "L.A." Reid, D-town records|Carlos "Satin" Greene, Darnell Bristol|Darnell "Dee" Bristol, D-town records|Stanley "Stick" Burke, Kevin "Kayo" Roberson, & Steve "Tuck" Tucker from Cincinnati, Ohio. Reid, Roberson, and Tucker were members of a previous Cincinnati-based band, Pure Essence and they later formed The Deele along with Bristol, Greene, Edmonds & Burke. After the group left Cincinnati they went to Indianapolis where they met Babyface & completed the band in 1981. Tucker left the band in 1982before their debut album Street Beat was recorded. They have currently reunited in an incarnation featuring Bristol, Greene, Roberson & Burke.
Biography
The Deele was formed in 1981. The Deele recorded three album s during the 1980s, and scored several chart-topper|hit single (music)|singles. The sextet released their debut album, Street Beat (album)|Street Beat in 1983, and the following year, a single from this album, " Body Talk (The Deele song)|Body Talk " became their first hit, reaching #3 on the R&B chart and #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop music|pop chart. Guitarist/keyboardist Stanley "Stick" Burke left the band prior to the recording of a follow-up album. Recorded as a quintet, Material Thangz was released in 1985. It was not as successful as their debut album.
The band reached the apex of their career in 1987 with the release of their third album, Eyes of a Stranger (album)|Eyes of a Stranger, which produced two top-10 R&B chart|R&B singles, "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" and perhaps their best-known song, " Two Occasions." The latter track reached #4 on the R&B charts and cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Music videos were made for both songs. The video for the "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" track was directed by Martin Pitts and produced by Mickey Shapiro. It was during this time that L.A. Reid and Babyface Edmonds began crafting their talents as songwriter s for other musician|artists. They wrote and produced " Girlfriend (Pebbles song)|Girlfriend " (which featured backing vocals from Deele members Retrieved 6-6-2010 and became a Top 40|top ten hit) for Reid's girlfriend, and eventual wife Perri "Pebbles" Reid|Pebbles. During this period, they also wrote and produced The Whispers ' " Rock Steady (The Whispers song)|Rock Steady."
In 1988, both Babyface and Reid left the group and founded LaFace Records in 1989. At the beginning of the 1990s, Reid and Edmonds would become successful record producer s. Although not as recognized as Reid and Edmonds, another Deele member, Kevin "Kayo" Roberson maintained his association with the two, and was an instrumental part of the production team's success behind the scenes as a songwriter, co-producer, and studio bassist. Retrieved 6-6-2010. Babyface would also embark on a very successful run as a solo (music)|solo artist.
In 1993, Greene and Bristol reunited again as The Deele (without Reid, Edmonds, or Roberson) Liner notes of The Deele- An Invitation to Love Cassette Tape (1993). Accessed 5-28-2010. to record the album, An Invitation to Love. This album found the group adopting a more new jack swing -based sound and incorporating rap into many of their songs. Failing to make a dent in the charts, the group called it quits later that same year.
Their hit song "Two Occasions" was referenced by rapper The Game (rapper)|The Game in the song "One Night" in 2006, and by Plies (rapper)|Plies in his 2009 hit song, " Want It, Need It " featuring Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti. MF Doom samples the track "Shoot 'Em Up Movies" in his 1999 opus "Red & Gold".
Reunion
As of 2007, Darnell Bristol|Dee, D-town records|Satin, Kayo have officially reformed the band with new members. Their new MySpace page currently includes a new released by the band, as well as a recent interview with the three original members (although Kayo was very reserved) at a Dallas radio station, during which Dee discusses, among other things, how The Deele were the first band signed to Solar Records solely based on their music (the representatives hadn't actually seen them perform). Now a part of Dallas Based D-town records|Eieg/D-Town Records.
Original member Stick also later rejoined this latest incarnation of the group, leaving Babyface and L.A. Reid as the only two original members not participating in the current project. The lineup also includes a new fifth member, Qui.
Current Members
Carlos "Satin" Greene: vocals (1981-1993; 2007-present
