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Pieces of a Dream is an American R&B and jazz fusion group.[1][2]
Pieces of a Dream | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Elektra, Heads Up |
| Members | James Lloyd Curtis Harmon David Dyson Tony Watson Jr. Chris Harris Elec Simon |
| Past members | Cedric Napoleon Gerald Veasley Lance Webb Vince Evans Federico Pena Tracy Hamlin Ramona Dunlop Ron Kerber Eddie Baccus Jr. Michael Antonio Thornton Norwood Young Benjie Porecki Cherie Mitchell Bennie Sims Leroy "Scooter" Taylor Cliff Starkey Rohn Lawrence George Granville |
| Website | piecesofadream |
Overview
editThe group was formed in Philadelphia during 1976 by bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd who were all teenagers at the time. The group based their name on "Pieces of Dreams", a Michel Legrand tune recorded by Stanley Turrentine that they regularly performed. In 1981 Pieces of a Dream had a minor soul hit with "Warm Weather" with vocals by singer Barbara Walker and synthesizer by Dexter Wansel, which was recorded on Elektra Records and co-produced by Dexter Wansel. In late 1983, the group had their most successful single, "Fo-Fi-Fo", which peaked at No. 13 on the US soul chart.[1][2] During their time with Elektra Records from 1981 to 1983, the group's first three albums were produced by saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.
The single "What Can I Do", from the album 'Bout Dat Time, with Norwood on the lead vocals, peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart in February 1990.[3]
Tracy Hamlin was the group's lead vocalist from 2002 to 2005 and sings on two of their albums, Love Silhouette and No Assembly Required.[4]
David Dyson has been the core bassist with the group from 2001 to the present and has also been a composer on No Assembly Required, Soul Intent, In The Moment, Just Funkin' Around, and Fired Up. Gerald Veasley and Scott Ambush have shared the bass chair intermittently as well.
Bassist Cedric A. Napoleon died in June 2024.[5]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Title[2] | Peak chart positions | Record label | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
US R&B [7] |
US Jazz [8] |
US Con. Jazz [9] |
US Tra. Jazz [10] | |||
| 1981 | Pieces of a Dream | 170 | 37 | 15[11] | — | — | Elektra Records |
| 1982 | We Are One | 114 | 22 | 4[12] | — | — | Elektra Records |
| 1983 | Imagine This | 90 | 16 | — | — | 4 | Elektra Records |
| 1986 | Joyride | 102 | 18 | — | — | 3 | Manhattan Records |
| 1988 | Makes You Wanna | — | 60 | — | 24 | — | Manhattan Records |
| 1989 | Bout Dat Time | — | 57 | — | — | — | EMI USA |
| 1993 | In Flight | — | 81 | 44 | 7 | — | Manhattan Records |
| 1995 | Goodbye Manhattan | — | — | 9 | 8 | — | Blue Note Contemporary |
| 1997 | Pieces | — | — | 13 | 9 | — | Blue Note Contemporary |
| 1999 | Ahead To The Past | — | — | 11 | 9 | — | Blue Note |
| 2001 | Acquainted With The Night | — | — | 20 | 12 | — | Heads Up International |
| 2002 | Love's Silhouette | — | — | 16 | 8 | — | Heads Up International |
| 2004 | No Assembly Required | — | — | 11 | 6 | — | Heads Up International |
| 2006 | Pillow Talk | — | — | 8 | 4 | — | Heads Up International |
| 2009 | Soul Intent | — | — | 11 | 5 | — | Heads Up International |
| 2013 | In The Moment | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | Shanachie |
| 2015 | All In | — | — | 10 | 3 | — | Shanachie |
| 2017 | Just Funkin' Around | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | Shanachie |
| 2019 | On Another Note | — | — | — | 1 | — | Shanachie |
| 2021 | Fired Up | — | — | — | — | — | Shanachie |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Title[2] | Peak chart positions | Record label | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [6] |
US R&B [7] |
US Jazz [8] |
US Con. Jazz [13] | |||
| 1995 | The Best Of.. | — | — | 31 | 19 | Blue Note |
| 2002 | Sensual Embrace - The Soul Ballads | — | — | 30 | 18 | Blue Note |
| 2004 | Sensual Embrace 2: More Soul Ballads | — | — | 16 | 11 | Blue Note |
| 2005 | Blue Note Trip: Jazzanova | — | — | — | — | |
References
edit- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 462.
- ^ a b c d "Pieces of a Dream". Allmusic.com.
- ^ "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ^ No Assembly Required
- ^ "Pieces of a Dream co-founder, "Fo Fi Fo" singer Cedric Napoleon dies". Soul Tracks. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Billboard 200". billboard.com.
- ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". billboard.com.
- ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Top Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
- ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Contemporary Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
- ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Traditional Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
- ^ Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs. Vol. 93. Billboard Magazine. December 19, 1981. p. 27.
- ^ Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs. Vol. 94. Billboard Magazine. October 23, 1982. p. 36.
- ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Contemporary Jazz Albums". billboard.com.