| Barbara Weathers | |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1963 |
| Origin: | Greensboro, North Carolina |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Instrument: | vocals |
| Years Active: | 1984–present |
| Label: | Reprise Weberworks |
| Associated Acts: | Atlantic Starr, Kirk Whalum |
Barbara Weathers (born December 7, 1963) is an American R&B/soul singer, and former lead singer of R&B vocal group, Atlantic Starr.
Weathers joined up at the age of 13 with an R&B band known as Covacus. This band was from her native area of Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1984, she left Covacus to join Atlantic Starr, replacing female co-lead singer Sharon Bryant, who had embarked upon a solo career.
Weathers' arrival heralded a new era of mainstream success for Atlantic Starr, beginning with her debut on the 1985 album As the Band Turns.[1] [2] A song from the album, "Secret Lovers", reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (becoming the band's first major Hot 100 hit), No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary Songs chart, and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[3] [4] [5] The album spun off four additional top-40 singles on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, including two other top tens- the debut single "Freak-A-Ristic", which shot to No. 6,[6] and "If Your Heart Isn't In It", which matched "Secret Lovers"' placement at No. 4. Another of these R&B top-40 songs, the R&B No. 12 hit "Silver Shadow" featured Weathers as the sole lead vocalist, her first such song with the group. As the Band Turns was eventually certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.[7]
Meanwhile, Weathers continued contributing to Atlantic Starr's success, singing on the band's 1987 follow-up album All In The Name Of Love. Spearheaded by the single "Always", a chart-topper on the Pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts,[8] [9] [10] this album surpassed its predecessor, earning RIAA Platinum certification in the US.[11] Follow-up singles from the album included another R&B top ten hit, "One Lover at a Time", also featuring Weathers as the sole lead vocalist.
Following the massive popularity of this album, Weathers left the group to pursue a solo career, going on to release her debut solo album in 1990 on Reprise Records.[12] The LP got to No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Hiplist chart.[13] Music & Media said "Transatlantic formula funk. A big, squeaky clean production, some decent songs and a good voice add up to the arrival of yet another crooner. The music has none of the bite of Chaka Khan but what it does have is a singer of charm and variety in Weathers".[14] Leonard Pitts Jr. of LA Weekly wrote "it's a solid piece of pop craftsmanship bright and spunky and then, when you least expect it moving and poignant (just don't look for deep reflection). Barbara Weathers is pop with few illusions and fewer pretensions; it serves up sunny, unobtrusive production alongside lyrics that manage the neattrick of sounding familiar without wallowing in cliche."[15] While the album was not as successful in America, the album cut "The Master Key" rose to no. 13 upon the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[16]
She later appeared on Big Daddy Kane's October 1990 LP Taste of Chocolate and Paul Jackson Jr.'s 1993 album A River in the Desert.[17] Weathers's 1995 sophomore LP entitled Seeing for the Very First Time, was issued solely in Japan and eventually became a smash hit.[18] [19]
During October 2011, she released Satisfaction Guaranteed, her third studio album. Weathers is also a member of jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum's band.[20]
1985
1986
1987
1988
1990