Alicia Myers

From an early age, R&B performer Alicia Myers claimed first place in a hometown Detroit talent contest at ten, joining her brother Jackie on their version of Ashford & Simpson's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," the Motown staple first popularized by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The siblings shared stages in several bands before Jackie moved on to Chairmen of the Board, while Alicia established herself as a core contributor, songwriter, and occasional lead voice inside Al Hudson & the Partners. Her presence registered immediately through co-writing and co-leading the 1979 single "You Can Do It." After the ensemble adopted the name One Way, she remained involved until 1981, when she stepped out as a solo artist on MCA, the same label that housed One Way. Across the next three years she issued four albums of polished, funk-infused R&B: Alicia, Alicia Again, I Fooled You This Time, and I Appreciate. Three singles that involved Hudson and/or One Way's Kevin McCord reached Billboard's R&B chart: the gospel-leaning "I Want to Thank You," the number-five entry "You Get the Best from Me (Say, Say, Say)," and "Appreciation." The deeper cut "If You Play Your Cards Right" also found steady rotation on quiet-storm playlists. Recording sessions grew scarce after the mid-'80s, though Myers kept performing live. In 2011 she returned with Peace of Mind, co-produced alongside Surface's David Conley.