Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob.[1] They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'Neal, Regina Belle, and Swing Out Sister.[2] Their music has been sampled in hit songs by the Luniz, Puff Daddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jessica Simpson, and others. Foster & McElroy are best known as the founders of the group En Vogue,[3] listed by Billboard as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time.[4] In addition to producing music for various television shows, they are also credited for songs in numerous movie soundtracks including The Great White Hype, Lean on Me, and Who's That Girl.
Foster & McElroy | |
|---|---|
 Denzil Foster (left) and Thomas McElroy | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy |
| Also known as |
|
| Origin | Oakland, California (both) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument(s) | keyboards, synthesizers, drum machine |
| Years active | 1986–present |
Biography
editDenzil Foster was born in Oakland, CA and was greatly influenced by different styles of music, from The Beatles to Parliament/Funkadelic. Thomas McElroy, also born in Oakland, was influenced by his father's love for jazz music. The two musicians first met in California while attending college and decided to work together as colleagues.
Career
editSigning to the independent Triangle label, they released one 12" single. Soon after, Foster & McElroy joined forces with Jay King producing Timex Social Club's hit single "Rumors" in 1986.[5] When that group disbanded, they regrouped with King to form Club Nouveau.[6] Eventually, the duo left Club Nouveau after their first album Life, Love & Pain to focus on production and songwriting.[5] In 1988, they landed a production deal with Wing Records, eventually signing the band Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as brother and sister act Channel 2.[7]
Foster & McElroy are considered pioneers of new jack swing, a genre they helped define with the group Tony! Toni! Tone!.[5][8] The duo produced the group's first album and had success with the first single release, "Little Walter," which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] In 1990, the group released The Revival, its second album which went 2x's Platinum and had numerous #1 singles.[7] Following the success of Tony! Toni! Toné!, Foster & McElroy released their first album as a group, FM2, one of which included songs such as "Around the World in 80 Beats", "Gotta Be a Better Way", and "Dr. Soul", the latter of which was a top ten R&B hit featuring rapper MC Lyte. It earned moderate success. While working on the album, Foster & McElroy made plans to put together a girl group that would be a modern-day version of The Supremes,[9] with what eventually became the group En Vogue.[10]
After several audition calls, Foster & McElroy eventually selected Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, and Dawn Robinson to become the members of the newly titled "For You."[11] The group became a quartet after the addition of Terry Ellis and the name was changed to "Vogue."[12] After learning that another group already had that moniker, Foster & McElroy changed the name to "En Vogue."[12] The group's first album, Born to Sing, was released in 1990 and sold over one million copies with numerous singles reaching #1 on Billboard charts.[12] En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas, was released in 1992 and became the highest selling album to date and one of the top selling albums of that year with over five million copies sold worldwide.[9] With hits such as "Hold On", "Lies", "Free Your Mind", "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)", and "Don't Let Go (Love)", En Vogue has become one of the most successful girl groups in music history.[12] It was also listed as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time by Billboard.[4]
They recorded a second album in 1994, a hip-hop jazz album Once in a Blue Moon, under their new name FMob.[13] The duo has also written theme songs for television programs, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Roc (both themes, used during the former’s first season and the latter’s final two seasons, were performed by En Vogue), and BET's Video Soul.[14] They have also been credited with numerous movie soundtracks.[14]
Discography
editSingles
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Blue Magic | Jay Z | Writers | Peaked at #17 on Billboard Hot Rap Songs[15] |
| 2000 | Riddle | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | From the album Masterpiece Theatre |
| 1999 | Satisfy You | Puff Daddy | Writers | Peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[16] |
| 1995 | I Got 5 On It | The Luniz | Writers | Peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[17] |
| 1993 | Give It Up, Turn It Loose | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #10 on Mainstream Top 40 and #15 on Billboard Hot 100[18] |
| 1993 | Free Your Mind | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #8 on Billboard Hot 100 and nominated for Grammy.[18] |
| 1992 | Something He Can Feel | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[18] |
| 1992 | My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Certified Gold by the RIAA and peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot R&B Singles[18] |
| 1991 | Don't Go | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1991 | Midnight Run | Alexander O'Neal | Writers & Producers | #3 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #49 Pop |
| 1990 | You Don't Have To Worry | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1990 | So You Like What You See | Samuelle | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1990 | Lies | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1990 | Hold On | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Platinum, #2 Pop[19] |
| 1989 | Dr. Soul | Foster McElroy | Writers & Producers | #10 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1989 | Body Talk | Sharon Bryant | Writers & Producers | #15 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1989 | For The Love Of You | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | #3 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | Baby Doll | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | "Born Not to Know" | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | Tell Me It's Not Too Late | LIA | Writers & Producers | #33 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | True Obsession | LIA | Writers & Producers | #49 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | Little Walter | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1988 | Little Drummer Boy | Alexander O'Neal | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1987 | To Prove My Love | Michael Cooper | Writers & Producers | #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1986 | Last Time | Theresa | Writers & Producers | #12 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
| 1986 | Heavy On My Mind | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | #7 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[20] |
| 1986 | Why You Treat Me So Bad | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #21 Pop[20] |
| 1986 | Lean On Me | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #1 Pop[20] |
| 1986 | Situation #9 | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | #2 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[20] |
| 1986 | Jealousy | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | #1 Dance, #8 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[20] |
| 1986 | Rumors | Timex Social Club | Producers | 4× Platinum, #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs & #6 Pop[20] |
Albums
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Electric Café | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | |
| 2004 | Soul Flower | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | #47 on the charts for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #15 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart |
| 2002 | The Gift of Christmas | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | |
| 2000 | Masterpiece Theatre | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #33 on Billboard R&B and #67 on Billboard 200[18] |
| 1997 | EV3 | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Platinum |
| 1995 | Southern Gal | Terry Ellis | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #27 on Billboard R&B/Hip-hop albums[21][22] |
| 1995 | Reachin' Back | Regina Belle | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #18 on Billboard R&B[23] |
| 1994 | Once In A Blue Moon | FMob | Writers & Producers | |
| 1993 | Runaway Love | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | Peaked at #16 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[18] |
| 1992 | Funky Divas | En Vogue | Writers & Producers | 5× Platinum, #8 Pop |
| 1992 | Forever | Puff Daddy | Sample tracks used from Why You Treat Me So Bad | #2 on Billboard 200 |
| 1990 | Born To Sing | En Vogue | Writers & Producers[24] | Platinum, #1 R&B, #8 Pop |
| 1990 | Revival | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | 2× Platinum, #1 R&B |
| 1990 | Living in Black Paradise | Samuelle | Writers & Producers | #37 R&B |
| 1989 | FM2 | Foster & McElroy | Writers, Producers, Performers | |
| 1988 | Let It Be Me | Robert Brookins | Writers & Producers | #37 R&BTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[25] |
| 1988 | Who? | Tony! Toni! Tone! | Writers & Producers | Gold, #1 R&B[26] |
| 1986 | Life, Love & Pain | Club Nouveau | Writers & Producers | 3× Platinum, #1 R&B, #2 Pop[27] |
Movie soundtracks
edit| Year | Soundtrack | Song(s) | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Great White Hype | We Got It | Writers & Producers |
| 1989 | Lean on Me | Lean on Me | Writers & Producers |
| 1987 | Who's That Girl | Step by Step | Writers & Producers |
References
edit- ^ Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. pp. 208. ISBN 9780743201698.
- ^ J.R. Reynolds (21 Dec 1996). "Industry Vets, City Back Y? Entertainment, Multifacedted Oakland Co. Formed By Foster & McElroy". Billboard.
- ^ "Holding On". Vibe. October 1997. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (5 March 2015). "Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Phinney, Kevin (2005). Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823084043. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Leland, John (February 1987). "Cold Busted, Timex Social Club takes a licking and stops ticking". Spin. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Gonzales, Michael A. (February 1997). "Family Ties". Vibe. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Williams, C.L. (6 October 2011). "How a Movement Redefined as Era". Pop Matters. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ a b Bianco, David P. (1998). Parents aren't supposed to like it. U X L. ISBN 9780787617349. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879307448. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Bogle, Donald (2007). Brown Sugar: Over One Hundred Years of America's Black Female Superstars. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780826416759.
- ^ a b c d "En Vogue's Funky Divas album revisited with producers Foster & McElroy Return To The Classics". Soul Culture. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Marius, DJ (19 February 1994). "EastWest Looks For Fmob's Blend of Hip-Hop Jazz To Produce Success". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ a b St. Croix, Stephen (1998). "Its About Time". Mix.
- ^ "Billboard Chart History - Jay Z". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Chart History - Puff Daddy". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Chart History - The Luniz". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Billboard Chart History - En Vogue". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Crouse, Richard (2000). Big Bang, Baby: Rock Trivia. Dundurn. ISBN 9781459718784. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 9780898201697. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Reynolds, J.R. (21 October 1995). "En Vogue's Ellis Steps Out With EastWest Solo Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Chart History - Terry Ellis". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Chart History - Regina Belle". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698.
- ^ "Robert Brookins – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "No Title". Ebony Man. 1990. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ White, Adam (1990). The Billboard book of gold & platinum records. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823075478. Retrieved 22 June 2016.