Amii Stewart

Emerging from Washington, D.C., vocalist Amii Stewart exploded into view with an energetic yet atypical take on Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood.” Her powerful delivery, paired with relentless production and equally unrestrained backup singers, claimed the top spot on the pop charts in 1979 while peaking at number six on the R&B side. Having appeared in the Broadway production Bubbling Brown Sugar, Stewart followed up with another reinterpretation, the Doors’ “Light My Fire,” coupled with “137 Disco Heaven.” That release eroded the early success of the lead track, and her chart momentum faded quickly. She later relocated to Italy, where several singles appeared on overseas labels, before returning to the United States for a mid-’80s stint on RCA. The 1985 single “Friends,” issued on Emergency, came just short of the R&B Top 40.