Secret Weapon was a New York-based short-lived post-disco music group,[1] formed by Jerome Prister. The group had a number of hits throughout the 1980s with their most successful single being "Must Be the Music" which hit #24 on the R&B chart[2] and #66 on the dance chart in 1982.[3]
Secret Weapon | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York, New York U.S. |
| Genres | Post-disco • funk |
| Labels | Prelude Records |
Post-breakup
editBand founder Jerome Prister went on to form the short-lived off-shoot group Output and later released several solo singles, along with a 1989 studio album, under the name Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister. He died of a stroke in 2007.[4][citation needed]
Singer Michele Blackmon, who also co-wrote "Must Be the Music," later began working as a unit team member managing inmates at a correctional facility, although she would continue performing/entertaining on the side until shortly before her death in late 2014.[5]
Secret Weapon's Djuana "DJ" Thomas is a radio personality on Atlanta's WRDA.[6]
One-time lead vocalist Stanley Snider (credited as "'The' Roy Skip Snider" in liner notes for the band's self-titled album) went on to release several solo singles after the dissolution of the group[7] but would never officially join another group, opting to work more behind the scenes, creating and producing several groups. The founder of a health insurance non-profit, Snider currently works as the CEO of this company and recently announced his return to singing.[8]
Original members
edit- Djuana "DJ" Thomas - vocals
- Michele Blackmon - vocals
- Kevin Walker - keyboards
- Russell Thomas - lead guitar
- Jeff Bell - rhythm guitar
- Jerome Prister - bass, vocals
- Ricci Paige - drums
- Darren Steward - percussion
Other members (at various times)
edit- Stanley Snider - vocals
- Bobby Coleman- vocals
- Frank Prato - background vocals
- Calvin Fields - bass guitar
- Dave Brown - drums
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
US Dance | ||
| 1983 | Secret Weapon | — | — |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
US Dance | ||
| 1982 | "Must Be the Music" | 24 | 66 |
| 1983 | "DJ Man" | 73 | — |
| 1984 | "Move for Me" (as Output) | 88 | — |
| 1988 | "Say You'll Be" (as Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister) | 89 | — |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||
References
edit- ^ Kellman, Andy (Allmusic). Secret Weapon overview. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 516.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 229.
- ^ Jerome Prister @Discogs.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.
- ^ Michele Blackmon - Obituaries - The Hutchinson News - Hutchinson, KS (December 23, 2014) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
- ^ "DJ Thomas - WiLD 105.7 & 96.7 FM! Atlanta, GA Radio - WWVA -". www.1057thegroove.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Stanley Snider @Discogs.com (needs to be verified, as Discogs no longer considered a reliable source) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
- ^ Secret Weapon's Chart topping Vocalist Shouts Out "DOW Principle & JAMBOX Studios" @YouTube.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.
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