Freeez

Infobox musical artist
Name = Freeez
Landscape = yes

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Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|UK UK, London
Genre = jazz-funk
Dance
Freestyle music
Electro music
Synth-Pop
Post-disco
Years_active = 1980s
Label = Beggars Banquet, Streetwise, City Beat
Associated_acts = Pink Rhythm
Current_members = John Rocca, Peter Maas (bass), Andy Stennet (keyboards), Paul Morgan

Freeez was a musical group initially known for its emergence as one of the UK's first and leading jazz-funk bands of the very early eighties. Founded by John Rocca, Freeez gained considerable respect from the industry, DJs and the jazz funk and dance public as a dance music group from London, England. The original group consisted of various musicians depending on the year but always with founder John Rocca and key members such as Andy Stennet - keyboards, Peter Maas - bass, and Paul Morgan or Everton Mcalla—drums.

History

Freeez's first record, "Keep in Touch", included guitarist Jean Paul Bluey Maunick founder of Incognito. Southern Freez incuded vocals by Ingrid Mansfield Allman. John Rocca and Stennet also recorded as Pictures and under other pseudo names such Pink Rhythm in 1985.Freeez is perhaps best remembered for its youthful style of British funk especially the UK top ten eighties hit "Southern Freeez" and other UK and European hits. Much of the band's early work, including the track "Southern Freeez"became part of the jazz-funk scene in the UK, in the early 1980s [http://www.disco-funk.co.uk/f/FREEEZ.HTM] . The band was signed to the record label Beggars Banquet Records [http://www.beggars.com/banquet/index.htm?../history/index.htm&0] in the UK.

The song "I.O.U.", written, produced and mixed by Arthur Baker, (then known for his work with New Order and Afrika Bambaataa), was also used on the 1980s breakdance movie "Beat Street". It spent two weeks at number one in the US Billboard dance chartFact|date=August 2008, sandwiched between the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, and was number 2 in the national United Kingdom Gallup charts through the summer of 83. It was followed by other releases from the album such as "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub", which hit the US top five. In 1987 a new remix of "I.O.U." showed the strength of the 80's anthem by climbing back up to number eighteen on the U.S. dance chart, plus number twenty-three in the national UK Singles Chart.

Freeez reformed in 1983 with Louis Smith taking the duties of keyboard player co-writer and programmer with Billy Crichton (formerly of VOXPOP) now the songwriter and guitarist. Freeez then went on to record an album called Idle Vice at the famous studio number 2 at Abbey road studios in the same room where the Beatles did their recordings. "That Beats My Patience" was the first single from the album. Louis Smith went on to be a session keyboard player and toured with the rock band The Escape Club who had USA number one hit "Wild Wild West" and several other USA top tens. He also recorded as one half of Bass Kruncher with the lead guitarist from The Escape Club and enjoyed a number 1 hit in the British dance charts.

Discography

ingles

Albums

References and notes

*

ee also

*List of number-one dance hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart