Lakeside (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Lakeside


Img_capt = Lakeside on a "Best of" release
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Origin = Dayton, Ohio, United States
Genre = Funk
Years_active = 1969-1990
Label = Solar, ABC
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Current_members = Mark Wood
Stephen Shockley
Fred Alexander, Jr.
Tiemeyer McCain
Thomas Oliver Shelby
Otis Stokes
Norman Beavers
Marvin Craig

Past_members =
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Lakeside is a former funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit, "Fantastic Voyage".

Band History

Formation and early years

In early 1969, The Nomads, a singing quartet consisting of lead singer Mark Wood; Tiemeyer McCain; Tony White; and Brian Mulberry, met the Montereys, a band that featured Stephen Shockley as the lead guitar player. The two groups played together in musical revues in the Tri-State (Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky) area.

When the Montereys left the Tri-State area later in 1969 to pursue opportunities in New York, Stephen Shockley and The Nomads remained behind. Mark Wood, the other Nomads, and Stephen Shockley soon added other instrumentalists; the result was The Nomads (singers) and The Young Underground (their backup band). In 1971, The Nomads and The Young Underground took on a new, singular identity: Ohio Lakeside Express.

In 1971 the group became acquainted with Eddie Thomas of Curtom, a record label owned and operated by Mr. Thomas and his partner, Curtis Mayfield. Eddie Thomas left Curtom to form his own label: "Lakeside", which he named after the south-side of Chicago. Lakeside, the label, signed Ohio Lakeside Express, the band, with the band ultimately dropping "Ohio" and "Express", in favor of, simply, "Lakeside." Eddie Thomas had a number of producers expressing interest in producing an album for Lakeside, but nothing materialized at this stage in their career. That would soon change, however, and how it did is an interesting story.

In the spring of 1972 Lakeside left the Tri-State area, bound for Oklahoma to play a two-week engagement. All ten band members left in a rented U-haul, along with all the equipment they owned. Unfortunately, the promoter of the show was not able to deliver the anticipated "gate" (attendance), disappointing everyone. Almost unbelievably, perhaps due, in part, to the sour mood associated with the disappointing turnout for the engagement, a dispute arose concerning a promotional 8" x 10" glossy.

As Mark Wood and the promoter's wife struggled with the glossy, each claiming ownership, Mr. Wood suddenly heard: "Let it Go!” turning to see the promoter, hand shaking, waving a pistol in his face. It shocked him. Tiemeyer McCain intervened, pulling Mark away, stating, "C'mon, man, let's go; it's just a picture."

This was a crossroads, of a sort. Thinking about what they had accomplished thus far with their career; the disappointment that they had just experienced with the engagement; the incident with the pistol; and the long drive back to the Tri-State area, it was Thomas Shelby (by then a vocalist with the group) who said: "Why don't we just go on all the way to California." Lakeside did just that, arriving in California in June of 1972.

Success in California was not immediate. On many occasions, Lakeside scoured the streets, equipment in tow, looking for opportunities to play live. When a "gig" told them that they could play if they were ready by 1 am that same day, they often had to jump at the opportunity. Lakeside was good, though, and through word-of-mouth, better opportunities began to present themselves. After about six months, they were playing the best venues, e.g., "Whiskey a Go-Go", "Starwood Theatre", and "The Roxy."

At "Mavericks Flat", another of the big-time venues of the day, the group was seen by Dick Griffey, a promoter handling successful artists like Stevie Wonder. Impressed by the group, he offered his friendship and advice, and began informally managing Lakeside in early 1974. It was also in 1974 that Lakeside met Frank Wilson and signed a deal with Motown. Unfortunately, Motown was promoting/prioritizing other groups, and shelved what they had produced for Lakeside. When Frank Wilson left Motown in 1976, for ABC Dunhill, Lakeside went with him.

It was in 1976, that Lakeside's success really started to accelerate, though. In that year, Lakeside had its first album, Lakeside Express (with the single, If I Didn't Have You) released. It was also the time that the group debuted on Soul Train performing one of the songs written by Beloyd and Peter Cor, "Shine On" , and paving the way for what was to come.

What was to come involved Dick Griffey, the producer that had befriended Lakeside back in 1974. In 1978, Mr. Griffey stared Solar Records. It was also in that year that he reconnected with Lakeside, inviting them to join his new record company. Parting amicably with Frank Wilson, Lakeside became a part of the Solar family. Soon, they released another album Shot of Love, which contained the single It's All the Way Live , which hit number four on the charts. I

Despite the success of Shot of Love and It's All the Way Live, the next album, Rough Riders, didn't fare as well. However, very next one, Fantastic Voyage, exceeded all expectations. Its eponymous single, Fantastic Voyage, went to reach number one on the charts. Subsequent to that album, Lakeside released eight more successful ones. The rest is history.

Mark Adam Wood Jr.: 1969-Present

Brian Mulberry: 1969-1970

Tiemeyer McCain: 1969-1986

Tony White: 1969-1970

Stephen Shockley:1969-Present

Norman Beavers: 1969-1987

Vincent Beavers: 1969-1975

Terry Williams: 1969-1975

Ricky Abernathy: 1969-1975

Thomas Shelby: 1970-1983, 2007-Present

Shirley Wood: 1970-1971Marvin Craig: 1973- PresentFred Lewis: 1974-Present

Johnny Rogers: 1975-Present

Otis Stokes: 1976-1986

Will Shelby: 1977-1983, 1996-Present

Fred Alexander Jr: 1977-Present, Donald Tavie:1986-Present, Barrington Henderson:1989-1995,Larry Bolden:1989-1996

Major label success

Things seemed to be turning up in the late '70s, when Lakeside signed with Motown, but this again led nowhere. Finally, in 1977 they recorded an album for the label, ABC Records. This time things were really turning up for the nine piece band with a move to SOLAR Records. They dropped the "Express" from their name, and began to make the R&B charts, starting with "It's All the Way Live" (#4 R&B). Bassist Marvin Craig, drummer Fred Alexander, percussionist Fred Lewis, guitarist Steve Shockley, and four male vocalists including Mark Wood's sound stemmed from years of playing together. The band dressed in costumes on their album covers, including pirates, 1920's police officers, cowboys, Arabian knights, and even Robin Hood.

Lakeside's biggest hit came in 1980 with "Fantastic Voyage" which topped the R&B charts, and also made the pop charts, the first and last time for the band, peaking at number 55. They followed the song up with a remake of the Beatles' song, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," which made the R&B Top Ten again. More hits on the R&B charts kept the group going until their split in the late '80s.

Coolio took a rap version of "Fantastic Voyage" to number three on the pop charts in 1994. "Fantastic Voyage" was also performed by Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa L. Williams, Bow Wow, and Solange Knowles in the movie "Johnson Family Vacation".

Discography

Albums

Charting Singles