Rafael Cameron

Randy Muller, the driving force behind the 1970s disco and funk outfit Brass Construction and its signature track “Movin’,” helmed the early-’80s recordings that brought Georgetown, Guyana–born vocalist Rafael Cameron his greatest commercial success: “Magic of You (Like the Way)” and “Funtown U.S.A.” Cameron’s smooth tenor blended seamlessly with Muller’s horn-heavy, groove-oriented arrangements.

Rafael Cameron entered the world in 1951 and first performed with local groups while still in Guyana. He relocated to the United States in the early 1970s to pursue further studies. After crossing paths with Muller amid New York City’s bustling club circuit, several years passed before the pair entered the studio together. Muller’s own ensemble, Brass Construction, eventually secured a deal with Roadshow Records, an imprint distributed by United Artists. Jeff Lane, already known for his work with B.T. Express, produced the band’s self-titled debut album, which included “Movin’,” a 1976 single that reached number one on the R&B chart and number 14 on the pop side.

Having already guided Skyy to a string of Salsoul successes—“First Time Around,” “Call Me,” “High,” “Skyyzoo,” and “Superlove”—Muller brought the emerging singer to the attention of the Cayre Brothers’ label. Cameron’s 1980 debut album on Salsoul, issued simply as Cameron, generated multiple singles, among them the playful, bass-driven “Magic of You (Like the Way),” “Funkdown,” and “Feelin’.”

Subsequent releases kept Cameron on the charts. The album Cameron’s in Love supplied “Funtown U.S.A.” and “Boogie’s Gonna Get Ya’,” while Cameron All the Way yielded “Desires” and “Shake It Down.” Another disco favorite, “Let’s Get It Off,” appeared on the B-side of “Magic of You (Like the Way)” and on its own 12-inch single, which paired a short edit with an extended Larry Levan remix. The track carries the clearest Brass Construction imprint of any Cameron recording.

By 1983 the Cayre Brothers had shifted their focus to a new First Choice Home Video venture, leaving Salsoul inactive. Without a contract, Cameron stepped away from the industry. Later embracing a born-again Christian faith, he returned in the mid-1990s to record gospel material. A revived Salsoul reissued his catalog on compact disc during the same decade.