Skyy

Emerging from New York City as an eight-piece ensemble, this outfit represented one among three funk or disco acts connected to producer and keyboardist Randy Muller. Denise, Delores, and Bonny Dunning handled vocals in the initial roster, joined by guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon, and drummer Tommy McConnell. The assembly of the band fell to Muller, leading to recordings on the Salsoul label spanning the late 1970s through 1984. In 1981, they scored their greatest success via the R&B number one "Call Me." Capable of expansive funk numbers, rhythm-focused numbers suited for dancing, and gentle ballads alike, the ensemble nevertheless failed to achieve the mainstream breakthrough attained by acts such as Atlantic Starr. A shift to Capitol occurred in 1986, yielding their strongest chart performance in years through the Top Ten R&B entry "Givin' It (To You)." The year 1989 saw the release of Start of a Romance on Atlantic, which brought yet another hit in the form of "Real Love." Nearer to You arrived as their latest effort in 1992.