Booker Newberry III

Booker Newberry III (born 19 January 1956, in Youngstown, Ohio) is a singer and keyboardist, who was a member of the mid 1970s soul groups Sweet Thunder ("Baby I Need Your Love Today"), and Impact before pursuing a solo career.

Career

Newberry began his professional singing career in the group Mystic Nights around 1971. Moving to Philadelphia he became the lead singer of Sweet Thunder, which also included drummer John Aaron, bassist Rudell Alexander, and guitarist Charles Buie. Signing with the Philly-based record label WMOT Records, the group's single, "Baby I Need Your Love Today" b/w "I Don't Care What You Say," stirred interest and was picked up for distribution by Berkeley, California based Fantasy Records.

The group recorded three albums, "Above The Clouds" (1976), "Sweet Thunder" (1978), and "Horizons" (1979), the latter of which listed the single "I Leave You Stronger," which went to #63 Billboard R&B chart in late 1979. Newberry joined another WMOT Records group, Impact, who was best known for the dance hits "Give a Broken Heart a Break" and "Rainy Days Stormy Nights."

Newberry signed with Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records in 1983 and his solo single "Love Town" originally released on the Boardwalk label, was a Top Ten UK hit. The "Love Town" album was issued the same year. He has also recorded for Malaco Records and Omni Records - (the LP "Take a Piece of Me").

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gzdfylo8xp9b~T1 Booker Newberry III biography at the All Music Guide website]