CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s been a couple of decades since Smooth Approach made its big statement in Cleveland, but now the R&B group is back, with new tunes to celebrate its return.
A new single “Switch Up” arrives on Friday, Aug. 6, featuring Greg Williams of the Akron R&B band Switch. The music video was taped inside Williams’ house, according to Smooth Approach member Jeff Roberson.
“It has an old-school feel,” Roberson said. “We did a lot of dancing -- we don’t dance like we used to, but we can still break out a move here and there.”
Check out the video below.
It’s been a while since Smooth Approach released new music. But that’s changing this year. The band is putting out a few singles, including “Switch Up” and January’s “Everybody Wants My Girl.” The tracks lead up to a new six-song EP, set to release this October.
The new tunes harken back to the band’s ‘90s energy, and so does the EP title, “R&B” -- short for “Retro & Bonafide.”
Rewind to 1993, when Smooth Approach first formed, originally under the name “4Reel,” Roberson said. Roberson, Kerry Willis, Thlenoid “J.D.” Dismuke and Lawrence Harris all combined forces in the group, working with the band’s former manager Dennis Cash.
“We flew out to LA in ‘93 and signed our first contract, did all our first recordings. While we were there, we found out there was another group with the name 4Reel,” Roberson said. “The whole subject of being 4Reel was being serious about what we were doing. When it came time for another name, we asked, ‘What is it most guys want to be?’ Most guys want to be smooth in what they’re doing. So we took ‘Smooth Approach’ -- being smooth in everything we do.”
It took two more years for Smooth Approach to release its first single, “This Time For Love.” The track got picked up by a local radio program’s “Kiss it or Diss it” segment, where five listeners would rate a song with either a “kiss” or a “diss.”
“It got five kisses,” Roberson said.
(Photo by Sylven Lamar)
After that, Smooth Approach released more music, picking up steam on local radio and at local venues. A run of 500 CDs and 500 cassettes of the band’s first self-titled album sold out, and in 1999 the group released its 18-song album “You Got It,” which included a movie featuring dance performances by Smooth Approach band members, along with plenty of scenes around Northeast Ohio.
The album spawned some new action for Smooth Approach. Roberson remembered Cavs dancers performing to the song “Push ‘Em Up” at games, and saw “Everybody on the Floor” find an audience in the U.K.
Smooth Approach’s success led to an MTV Rock the Vote campaign, an appearance in Right On Magazine and national and worldwide tours, Roberson said.
The album even found traffic in recent years. The song “Never Enough” was featured in a 2020 episode of “Grown-Ish,” as a part of a ‘90s-themed party scene.
But, Smooth Approach didn’t stick around for much longer in the early 2000s. Several band members pursued other careers in 2001. Roberson kept Smooth Approach going a new lineup until 2003. Then, he said, he focused on producing, finding work with local artists like CA$H and Deep3.
His work extended to bigger artists -- including production work for Jermaine Jackson and Tito Jackson, brothers of Michael and Janet Jackson.
“One of my biggest accomplishments was working on a project with the Jacksons -- we completed seven songs with them that did not get released, but what sprung from that was an album from Tito Jackson,” Roberson said.
Now, Roberson is bringing his music industry success back to where it all started with Smooth Approach. He said he brought the band back together because of its fans.
“It was called from our fans to get back together,” Roberson said. “We got together during the pandemic with the project. We didn’t know where it was going to go. We came out with some great songs, and now it looks like it’s getting some legs under it.”
Ahead of its EP release, the band has a live performance scheduled at Cain Park on Sept. 4, opening for Stokley and SWV at the Multi-Music Festival event. Tickets to the show are available on Ticketmaster starting at $58.
Get a jumpstart on the weekend and sign up for cleveland.com’s weekly “In the CLE” email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to do in Greater Cleveland. It will arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings - an exclusive to-do list, focusing on the best of the weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Just click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free.
"smooth" - Google News
August 06, 2021 at 06:03PM
https://ift.tt/3Ak5Thg
Cleveland R&B band Smooth Approach reunites after 20 years, with new EP on the way - cleveland.com
"smooth" - Google News
https://ift.tt/30JhCVH
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Cleveland R&B band Smooth Approach reunites after 20 years, with new EP on the way - cleveland.com"
Post a Comment