New York City

New York City's initial release "I'm Doing Fine Now" registered an immediate chart entry, which on first glance suggested the act had simply coalesced long enough to enjoy one success before fading away. John Brown and Claude Johnson already carried substantial résumés; Brown had performed with the Five Satins and the Cadillacs and had substituted in the Moonglows at Harvey Fuqua's request, while Johnson had recorded with the Genies and served as the "Don" half of Don & Juan. Lead singer Tim McQueen and Eddie Schell likewise brought years of experience from numerous New York City vocal ensembles.

Prior to adopting the New York City name, the same four singers had worked and recorded as Tri-Boro Exchange, a title Wes Farrell devised after a bridge spanning three boroughs. Buddah Records issued one single under that billing. Farrell next persuaded Philadelphia legend Thom Bell to oversee sessions that included "I'm Doing Fine Now," the Sherman Marshall–Bell composition that climbed to number 17 on the pop chart in 1973.

The hit prompted a schedule of live dates, for which the Big Apple Band—whose lineup included the late Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, later of Chic—supplied backing. Follow-up singles, however, made little commercial headway. McQueen's own "Make Me Twice the Man" stopped at number 93, and "Quick, Fast, in a Hurry" peaked at number 79. Chicago's Notations later covered the McQueen ballad, whose style underscored the quartet's deep doo-wop origins. Chelsea Records ultimately issued two albums and a scattering of singles before the group disbanded.