London Boys

For the David Bowie song, see The London Boys.

London Boys
Origin	Germany
Genres	Soul-dance Eurobeat Euro disco Dance-pop
Years active	1986–1992 1995
Labels	Warner Elektra Atlantic
Members
Edem Ephraim Dennis Fuller

London Boys were a British/German dance pop duo composed of Edem Ephraim (1 July 1959, London – 21 January 1996, Austria) and Dennis Fuller (19 June 1959, Jamaica – 21 January 1996, Austria). They were both killed in an Alpine car accident in Austria on 21 January 1996.^[1]

Musical career

Although they had lived near Hamburg, Germany since 1981, the pair had actually met when they were at school in Greenwich, London. They were formed in 1986 as a vehicle for songwriter and record producer Ralf-René Maué. Their musical style was a mix of soul and dance music or eurobeat dance music. Spinning on their heads was combined with choreography acquired during their experience as Rollerblade dancers prior to forming the duo. (Dennis Fuller was a former member of the Roxy Rollers rollerskating disco act, who released a single called "I Need A Holiday" in May 1979.) Their early releases were marketed towards the Eurodisco scene.^{[citation needed]}

The duo's most notable songs were "London Nights" and "Requiem", which were initially released in 1988. The record "Requiem" eventually became their breakthrough single in April 1989, reaching No.4 on the UK Singles Chart. Subsequently, the re-released "London Nights" and the album The Twelve Commandments Of Dance, both peaked at No.2 in the UK singles and album charts, respectively. Another single, "Harlem Desire", reached No.17. A fourth single from the album, a remixed version of their 1987 release "My Love", also reached No. 46. After that their last two UK Singles Chart entries were with "Chapel of Love" (#75) in 1990 and "Freedom" (#54) in 1991. The music videos for their singles were largely based around dance sequences and relationship/love storylines.

After this, their later recordings had little commercial success, with no further UK chart entries. However, in total, the London Boys sold 4.5 million records worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

After being dropped by their record label, the band effectively split up. In 1995, shortly before their deaths, a reformed version of the group made a crossover album called Hallelujah Hits, which incorporated Eurodance arrangements into traditional religious compositions.^[2]

Death

Ephraim and Fuller both died in a car accident on 21 January 1996. They were travelling in the Austrian Alps on a mountain road on their way to a skiing holiday and along the route met a car driven by an inebriated driver who was trying to pass on the opposite side of the road. The Swiss driver had reportedly been overtaking other cars in dangerous places along the road for a couple of miles beforehand, in bad weather conditions, until he finally hit their car head on. Fuller, Ephraim, Ephraim's German wife Bettina, a Hamburg DJ (who was their mutual friend) and the Swiss driver all died in the accident. Ephraim and his wife were survived by a son, Stevie, who was 3 years old at the time. Fuller had a daughter, Laura, who was 10.^[1]

Discography

Albums

• The Twelve Commandments Of Dance (1988/89) (#2 UK)^[3]
• Sweet Soul Music (1991) (#22 Austria)
• Love 4 Unity (1993)
• Hallelujah Hits (1995) as "New London Boys"
• The Twelve Commandments Of Dance (Special Edition) (2009)

Singles

• 1986 - "I'm Gonna Give My Heart"
• 1986 - "I'm Gonna Give My Heart" (remix)
• 1987 - "Dance Dance Dance"
• 1987 - "Harlem Desire"
• 1987 - "My Love"
• 1987 - "Supermix"
• 1988 - "Requiem" (#4 UK, #11 Austria)
• 1989 - "Harlem Desire '89" (#17 UK)
• 1989 - "London Nights" (#2 UK, #9 Switzerland)
• 1989 - "Megamix"
• 1989 - "My Love '89" (#46 UK)
• 1990 - "Chapel of Love" (#75 UK)
• 1990 - "Freedom" (#54 UK, #29 Switzerland)
• 1991 - "Sweet Soul Music" (feat. Soul Kitchen) (#11 Austria)
• 1991 - "Is This Love?"
• 1991 - "Tonight! Tonight!"
• 1992 - "Moonraker"
• 1993 - "Baby Come Back" (#27 Austria)
• 1995 - "Gospel Train to London"
• 1995 - "Kumbaya"^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Verzeanu, Milena "a.k.a The New London Boys" website accessed 2007-06-21
2. ^ http://www.discogs.com/New-London-Boys-The-Hallelujah-Hits/release/1234875
3. ^ ^{a b} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 326–327. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Discogs
• Unofficial fan biography