Artist Roster |
The Ladies of SKYY
Official Website : |
skyyonline.com |
YouTube: | www.youtube.com/user/skyyhigh2 |
In a nutshell
Denise and her two sisters, Dolores and Bonne, are the original vocalists of the legendary R&B/Funk group SKYY. Last year, the Ladies of SKYY celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the RIAA certified gold status of their number one hit album, SKYYLINE, and their number one hit single CALL ME.
The Ladies of SKYY perform a full show using the original tracks. For performances which require live music, they have put together the Ladies of SKYY Band. They are capable of performing a 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour show which consists of all of their major hits (Let's Celebrate, Here's to You, SKYYZOO, High, From the Left Side (Givin' It To You), Real Love, Call Me, etc.).
Biography
The epic tale of the Brooklyn, New York-based band SKYY had its humble beginnings when the sister trio vocalists, Denise, Dolores and Bonne Dunning, met Solomon Roberts, Jr.
In 1976, the Dunning Sisters, along with Solomon (vocals and rhythm guitar), Anibal “Booche” Sierra (lead guitar), and Gerald Lebon (bass) officially formed the group. Tom McConnell (drums) joined the group a short time later. Larry Greenberg, Wayne Wilentz, and Vinnie DiPaolo (keyboards) worked with SKYY over their 13-year performance history.
In 1979, SKYY signed their first record deal with Salsoul Records, a New York-based record label that operated from 1974 to 1985. Salsoul Records was best known for being the first label to release the commercial twelve-inch record. “First Time Around” was the first of many successful singles. The singles “High,” “Here's To You,” and “Skyyzoo” raised the group’s profile over the next few years and solidified their successful relationship with Salsoul Records. That relationship propelled the group to their all-time Number One best-selling album, “SKYYLINE” (Certified RIAA Gold Album) and their Number One smash hit record “Call Me” (Certified RIAA Gold Single).
SKYY moved to Capital Records in 1986 and recorded the album “From the Left Side.” The video for the single of the same name was one of the first to be shot at Kaufman Astoria Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York. SKYY re-emerged in 1989 on Atlantic Records, where they recorded two albums. “Start of a Romance” contained their comeback singles “Start of a Romance” and “Real Love.” Both singles reached Number One status on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The last album recorded for Atlantic Records, “Nearer to You,” best showcased the vocal talents of the Dunning Sisters.
For twelve years, the phenomenal success of SKYY’S music afforded them the opportunity to perform on major tours across the United States, the Bahamas, Germany, Italy, Holland, England, Japan, and Africa. In 1991, the Group decided to give the road life a much-needed rest.
SKYY’s music is still being heard on old school R&B radio stations and Cable TV Smooth R&B stations across the USA and around the world. The hit record “Call Me” continues to be a favorite of old school R&B radio 25 years after its release. With the addition of the song “Call Me” to the soundtrack of the movie “Beauty Shop,” the epic tale of SKYY continues.
Now another chapter of the epic tale of SKYY is being written. With the continuous popularity of SKYY’s songs over the years and the demand to hear them perform live, the female vocalists of the group - sisters Denise, Dolores, and Bonné Dunning - have been prompted to “band” together again.
In 1998, to the delight of SKYY fans, the LADIES OF SKYY returned to the stage to bring
back the flavor of the SKYY era.
In 2007 the LADIES OF SKYY celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the certified gold
status of their number one hit album, “SKYYLINE”, and their number one hit single “CALL ME”.
