Reggie Calloway Explained

Reggie Calloway
Birth Name:Reginald LeVon Calloway
Birth Date:23 January 1955
Birth Place:Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.
Education:Kentucky State University
Years Active:1970–present
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Reggie Calloway (born January 23, 1955) is a Grammy nominated American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician and record executive. His career spans 45 years in the entertainment industry. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as the founder and leader of the music group, Midnight Star whose album No Parking on the Dance Floor reached #2 on Billboard's R&B Album charts and was certified Platinum X2.[1]

Calloway later teamed up with his brother Vincent, forming the R&B duo Calloway whose single I Wanna Be Rich charted at #2 on Billboard's Pop chart.[2] Casanova, recorded by LeVert and written and produced by Calloway, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song[3] and charted at #1 on Billboard's R&B's chart.[4] He has written and produced songs for Natalie Cole, NSYNC, Klymaxx, The Whispers, and Teddy Pendergrass, among others. Love Overboard, written by Calloway and recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips, won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo with a Vocal.[5] Music written and produced by Calloway has been sampled in recordings by such artists as Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Busta Rhymes, Eric B. & Rakim, E-40, Doug E. Fresh, A Lighter Shade of Brown, Usher (musician), Young MC, Sugar Ray, and numerous others.[6]

Calloway is an avid speaker and advocate for the rights of creatives in the entertainment industry. He serves as President of the California Copyright Conference Scholarship Fund and serves on the national advisory board for the Archives of African American Music and Culture as well as serving on the board of directors at The Funk Music Hall of Fame and IAFAR.[7] [8] [9] In 2022, Calloway was inducted into the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.[10]

Early life

Reginald LeVon Calloway was born to parents Irvin and Gloria (née Gilchrist) Calloway in Cheyenne, Wyoming. His father was in the Air Force, stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. His parents divorced in 1963 and his mother (Gloria) married William Larson and they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1964.[11] His mother opened her first business, Larson's Flower Barn and Ice Cream Parlor, where Calloway and his brothers Greg and Vincent worked until its closure in 1970.[12] [13] [14] Calloway has two siblings, brothers Gregory and Vincent.

In Jr. High School Calloway played basketball, football, and trumpet and was his school's Student Council President.[15] He attended Woodward High School where he played trumpet in the high school band and was Senior Class President.[16] By the mid-1970s, the Calloway family was deeply involved in the funk and jazz scene of Cincinnati. In 1975 Reggie and brothers Vincent and Gregory, along with friends John Jones and Ruben Jordan, formed the jazz-fusion group SunChild. They released their first single on their own label, Starbound Records. During the summer of 1975, SunChild served as the back-up band for Sonny Stitt. Calloway attended Kentucky State University majoring in music theory and composition where he was Scholar of the Year, was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and was included in the, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges book in 1977.[17] [18] He formed the electro-funk band Midnight Star consisting of other music students at KSU. His brother Vincent joined the group shortly afterward.[12] To be able to focus on music full-time the band moved into Calloway's vacant grandparent's house in Louisville, Kentucky. It was during this period that the band showcased in New York and were discovered by talent scouts that would later lead to a record deal. They later moved into his mother's (Gloria) house in Cincinnati, where they lived for four years, and she became the manager of the group.[19] [20]

Career

Reggie Calloway is a singer, songwriter, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and owner of record label, Spiral Galaxy Entertainment, and publishing company, Calloco Music, Inc.

Midnight Star

Midnight Star was formed by Calloway in 1976 while attending Kentucky State University. The band, consisting of Calloway, Belinda Lipscomb, Melvin Gentry, Kenneth Gant, Bill Simmons, Bo Watson, and Jeff Cooper, were all students at the university. They later added non-KSU students Vincent Calloway (Reggie's younger brother) and Bobby Lovelace.[19] [21]

Calloway was the leader of the band, writing, arranging, and producing songs for the nine-piece ensemble. He studied hit songs on the radio, paying close attention to what DJs were spinning in the clubs and hosted listening parties for his family and friends at home. Solar Records President Dick Griffey signed the band in 1979 and helped fine-tune their sound through the first three albums.[22] Calloway honed in on production skills by shadowing songwriter/producers Leon Sylvers III and Harvey Mason in the recording studio. While speaking on the topic of the importance of mentoring, Calloway discussed an encounter he had with Quincy Jones, "The good Lord brought Quincy Jones into my life, a half hour session with Jones after his concert led to Midnight Star's breakthrough hit, “No Parking on the Dance Floor."[23]

Calloway's use of synthesizer based beats, a fusion of R&B, funk, and pop, along with Vincent Calloway on vocoder, gave the group their signature techno-funk sound.[24] He recorded six albums with the group, releasing such Top-10 singles as Operator, Freak-A-Zoid, and Wet My Whistle. No Parking On the Dance Floor was listed on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Singles of 1984.[25] Calloway departed the group in 1986 with his brother Vincent to pursue other music ventures.[26]

Calloway

Calloway, the music duo, was formed by Calloway with his brother Vincent. They released two albums, All the Way and Let's Get Smooth. Their single, I Wanna Be Rich, charted at #2 on Billboard's Pop chart as well as certifying Gold.[27]

Calloway's self-released 2009 debut solo album, Bring Back the Love, received favorable reviews.[28] [29]

Additional singles

In 2017, Calloway and his brother Reggie released the charity single, Houston, after schools in Houston were badly flooded by Hurricane Harvey. Additional artists on the recording project were Walter and Wallace Scott of The Whispers and Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge, Kevin Toney of The Blackbyrds, Freddie Washington, Brian O'Neal of The BusBoys, and Herman Jackson. All proceeds from the song were donated to the Houston Independent School District.[30]

In 2020, the Calloways released the single, Politics, hoping to bring awareness about voting registration and voting participation. "My brother, Vincent, and I have written and recorded, “Politics,” one of the most important songs of our careers, at a time of one of the most important elections of all time," said Calloway.[31]

Calloway provided vocals on Skip Martin's 2021 charity single, People Get Ready, along with artists Stevie Wonder, Ray Parker Jr., Taylor Dayne, and Howard Hewett, among others. All proceeds were donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The single has been compared to, We Are the World, and charted at #1 the World Indie Music Charts in 2022.[32] [33] [34]

Writing and producing

Dick Griffey, the President and owner of SOLAR Records, who had signed Midnight Star, asked Calloway and the band if they knew of any other talented groups in the Ohio area. Calloway and Midnight star had signed the music group, The Deele, to their production company Mid-Star (which included band members Kenny Babyface Edmunds and LA Reid). Calloway pitched the band to Griffey which led to him signing the group. "He signed them unheard based on our reputation, but they had the music to back it up," recalled Calloway.[35] He produced their 1983 album, Street Beat, containing the #2 single Body Talk, as well as co-writing singles, Street Beat and Video Villain.[36]

While still writing, producing and performing in Midnight Star, Calloway continued producing and writing for other artists. In the early 1980s he also co-produced, Radio Activity by Royalcash and co-wrote and produced singles, Contagious and Never Too Late for The Whispers. In 1985 he co-wrote the title track for Klymaxx's album Meeting in the Ladies Room and co-produced Hello Stranger for Carrie Lucas.

By the mid-1980s, Calloway had become a prominent writer and producer for other artists.[37] In 1987 his song, Jump Start, recorded by Natalie Cole was said by the press to have literally "jump started" her music career[38] and Love Overboard, written by Calloway and recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips, won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo with a Vocal as well as being listed as one of their Top 10 Hits.[39] Atlantic Records brought him in on LeVert's album project resulting in Calloway writing and producing, Casanova, which earned Calloway a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song and LeVert a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with a Vocal.[40] [41]

In 1988, Calloway wrote and produced the #1 single, Joy, recorded by Teddy Pendergrass and in 1993, Believe in Love, both of which made the Teddy Pendergrass Top 10 Songs by Classic Rock History.[42] Pendergrass also recorded Happy Kwanzaa, Having a Christmas Party, and I Won't Have Christmas (all written and produced by Calloway), which were released on his 1998 holiday album, This Christmas (I'd Rather Have Love).[43]

Other ventures

Calloway was instrumental in developing options for artists to receive advances without giving up ownership of their creative works. He serves as the Director of Music Royalty Funding at Sound Royalties and was the co-founder and co-owner of the Royalty Exchange.[8] [44]

Singles

YearSongArtistCredit
1983Freak-A-ZoidMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
Radio Activity[45] RoyalcashCo-producer
1984No Parking On the Dance FloorMidnight StarVocals, musician, producer, music arranger
OperatorMidnight StarWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
Body TalkThe DeeleProducer, vocal and music arranger
ContagiousThe WhispersWriter, producer
Never Too LateThe WhispersWriter, producer
1985Meeting in the Ladies RoomKlymaxxWriter, co-producer, musician, music arranger
Some Kinda LoverThe WhispersProducer
Hello StrangerCarrie LucasCo-producer
Scientific LoveMidnight StarWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
1986Midas touchMidnight StarWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
HeadlinesMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
Engine No. 9Midnight StarWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
1987Jump StartNatalie ColeWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
CasanovaLeVertWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
Love OverboardGladys Knight & the PipsWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
1988JoyTeddy PendergrassWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
1989I Wanna Be RichCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
1990All the WayCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
Sir LancelotCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
1991ElevatorSweet ObsessionWriter, producer
1992Let's Get SmoothCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
1993Believe in LoveTeddy PendergrassWriter, musician, producer, music arranger
1994Let's Get Smooth (Jam's Remix)[46] Calloway ft. Pieces of a DreamWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
1998Happy Kwanzaa[47] Teddy PendergrassWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger, engineer
2000I'll Be Good For YouNSYNCWriter
2009Bring Back the LoveReggie CallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
2017HoustonReggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway (and various artists)Writer, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger
People Get ReadySkip Martin (and various artists)Vocals, engineer
2020PoliticsReggie and Vincent CallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger, engineer
2021Sabrina[48] Reggie CallowayWriter, vocals, musician, producer, music arranger

Singles Billboard Chart

YearSinglePeak chart positions
US R&B
[49] 		US Hot 100
US Dance
NLD
[50] 		UK
1983Freak-A-Zoid[51] align=center 1align=center 18align=center 15align=center —align=center ―
Radioactivity[52] align=center 39align=center —align=center —align=center —align=center —
Wet My Whistlealign=center 8align=center 61align=center 15align=center —align=center 60
1984Operatoralign=center 1align=center 18align=center 15align=center —align=center 63
No Parking On the Dance Flooralign=center 43align=center 81align=center 44align=center —align=center —
Body Talkalign=center 3align=center 77align=center —align=center —align=center —
Contagious[53] align=center 10align=center —align=center 59align=center —align=center 56
1985Meeting in the Ladies Roomalign=center 4align=center 59align=center 22align=center —align=center —
Some Kinda Loveralign=center 17align=center —align=center —align=center —align=center 91
Hello Stranger[54] align=center 24align=center —align=center —align=center —align=center —
Scientific Lovealign=center 16align=center 80align=center 19align=center —align=center —
1986Midas Touchalign=center 7align=center 42align=center ―align=center 29align=center 8
Headlinesalign=center 3align=center 69align=center 34align=center —align=center 16
Engine No. 9align=center 11align=center —align=center ―align=center 81align=center 64
1987Jump Start[55] [56] align=center 2align=center —align=center ―align=center —align=center —
Casanova[57] align=center 1align=center 5align=center 27align=center —align=center 9
Love Overboard[58] align=center 1align=center 13align=center ―align=center —align=center —
1988Joy[59] align=center 1align=center 77align=center 42align=center —align=center —
Believe in Lovealign=center 14align=center ―align=center ―align=center —align=center —
Don't Rock the Boatalign=center 3align=center ―align=center ―align=center 36align=center —
1989I Wanna Be Richalign=center 5align=center 2align=center ―align=center —align=center 100
1990All the Wayalign=center 39align=center 63align=center ―align=center —align=center —
Sir Lancelotalign=center 19align=center —align=center ―align=center —align=center —
1991Elevatoralign=center 74align=center align=center ―align=center —align=center —
1992Let's Get Smoothalign=center 33align=center —align=center ―align=center —align=center —
2000"I'll Be Good For You"align=center —align=center —align=center ―align=center —align=center —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Discography

YearAlbumArtistCredit
1980The BeginningMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1981Standing TogetherMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1982VictoryMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1983No Parking on the Dance FloorMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1984Planetary InvasionMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
Street BeatThe DeeleWriter, musician, producer, music and vocal arrangement
1986HeadlinesMidnight StarWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1989All the WayCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
1992Let's Get SmoothCallowayWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer
2009Bring Back the LoveReggie CallowayWriter, vocals, musician, music arranger, producer

Billboard Album Chart

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)		Record label
US Pop
[60] 		US
R&B
NLD
NZ
[61] 		UK
[62]
1980"The Beginning"—————SOLAR
1981Standing Together—54———
1982Victory20558———
1983No Parking on the Dance Floor272—30—
1984Planetary Invasion327—4485
  • RIAA: Gold
Street Beat789———
1986Headlines567———
  • RIAA: Gold
1989All the Way63————Epic
1992Let's Get Smooth4289———SOLAR
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: No Parking on the Dance Floor Album Platinum Certification. RIAA. February 5, 1985. September 1, 2022.
  2. Web site: Calloway - Billboard Top 100 - I Wanna Be Rich #2 . Billboard. May 5, 1990 . August 31, 2022.
  3. Web site: Grammy Nomination - Reggie Calloway . Grammy. August 31, 2022.
  4. Web site: African American History - LeVert (1983 - 2006) by Sonya Morris. Black Past. April 10, 1986. August 31, 2022.
  5. Web site: Love Overboard - Grammy Win. Grammy. February 22, 1989. September 1, 2022.
  6. Web site: Reggie Calloway. Who Sampled. September 18, 2022.
  7. Web site: CLOSE UP: THE ROYALTY EXCHANGE by Jonathan Widran. Music Connection. June 21, 2013. August 31, 2022.
  8. Web site: Grammy Nominee Reggie Calloway Joins Archives of African American Music & Culture Advisory Board by Fisher Jack. Lee Bailey's eurweb. August 27, 2022. September 1, 2022.
  9. Web site: Reggie Calloway. Sync Summit. August 31, 2022.
  10. Web site: SOUND ROYALTIES' REGGIE CALLOWAY ADDED TO BLACK MUSIC WALK OF FAME. Music Connection Magazine. July 22, 2022 . August 31, 2022.
  11. "Statistics for City and County", The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Page 11, January 26, 1963
  12. Web site: Archives of African American Music and Culture - Calloway Collection, 1966-2014. Indiana University Bloomington . August 31, 2022.
  13. Web site: Irvin Calloway Obituary. Legacy. July 3, 2013 . September 8, 2022.
  14. Web site: Gloria Larson was mother of the Calloway Brothers. Funk'n Stuff. January 20, 2020. September 6, 2022.
  15. "Reggie Calloway, Midnight Star Shoot for the Skies of Success by Cliff Radel", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Page 19, July 27, 1994
  16. "Reggie Calloway Hits it Big by Cliff Radel", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Page 65, October 21, 1987
  17. Book: Randall, H. Pettus. 1977 . Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Randall Publishing Company. 1332.
  18. Web site: Kentucky State University 1976 Yearbook, page 51. Archive. September 13, 2022.
  19. "Midnight Star and How it Rose by Dick Richman", St. Louis Post Dispatch, Page 25, March 7, 1985
  20. "What's a Freak-A-Zoid? Only Midnight Star Knows, Richard Haag", The Charlotte News, Page 32, August 11, 1983
  21. "A Band That Stands Together by James Chute", The Cincinnati Post, Page 20, June 27, 1981
  22. Web site: TIR 6: How Reggie Calloway Gave Midnight Star Its 'Midas Touch'. Funk'n Stuff. June 26, 2022. September 1, 2022.
  23. Web site: Midnight Star's 2021 Reggie Calloway regaled Kentucky State University students, faculty and alumni. Kentucky State University . July 22, 2022 . August 31, 2022.
  24. Web site: How to Wreck a Nice Beach: The Vocoder from World War II to Hip-Hop, The Machine Speaks, page 146 . Penguin Random House. September 3, 2022.
  25. Web site: 100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year. Rolling Stone. September 14, 2014. September 1, 2022.
  26. "Midnight Star Shines Bright on the Horizon, by Cliff Radel", Reno Gazette-Journal, Page 26, August 23, 1987
  27. Web site: Calloway - I Wanna Be Rich Gold Certification. RIAA. April 13, 1990. August 31, 2022.
  28. Web site: Reggie Calloway - Bring Back the Love Review . May 31, 2009 . Soul Tracks. August 31, 2022.
  29. Web site: Reggie Calloway - Bring Back The Love Review By Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck. Enjoy the Music Magazine. September 4, 2022.
  30. Web site: Proceeds from new 'Houston' song benefit schools hit by hurricane by Ivory Hecker. Fox 26 Houston. December 22, 2017. August 31, 2022.
  31. Web site: R&B Duo Calloway (Reggie and Vincent Calloway) Releases New Single "Politics". The Urban Music Scene. October 9, 2020. August 31, 2022.
  32. Web site: People Get Ready by Skip Martin and Friends #1. World Indie Music Charts. September 8, 2022.
  33. Web site: Skip Martin "People Get Ready" (SINGLE) . Indie Shark Magazine. August 18, 2021. September 8, 2022.
  34. Web site: People Get Ready by Skip Martin by Garth Thomas. Indie Shark Magazine. August 18, 2021. September 8, 2022.
  35. Web site: INTERVIEW: Reggie Calloway Maintains the Midas Touch by Christopher A. Daniel. Albumism. May 26, 2017. August 31, 2022.
  36. Web site: The Deele: Street Beat / Material Thangz / Eyes Of A Stranger, Three Original Albums, 3CD Boxset Edition. Cherry Red UK. September 6, 2022.
  37. "Top Hitter: Reggie Calloway is the Hottest Producer at the Moment", LA Times, Page 373, October 4, 1987
  38. "Natalie Cole, Jumpstart on the Comeback Trail, by Dennis Hunt", Los Angeles Times, Page 91, September 11, 1987, 1987
  39. Web site: Top 10 Gladys Knight & the Pips Songs by Kachejian. November 21, 2020 . Classic Rock History. August 31, 2022.
  40. "Levert is Paying Price of its New-found Fame by Dennis Hunt", LA Times, Page 82, October 17, 1987
  41. "U2 Gets 4 Grammy Nominations ", The Charlotte Observer, Page 13, January 15, 1988
  42. Web site: Top 10 Teddy Pendergrass Songs. April 3, 2021 . Classic Rock History. September 6, 2022.
  43. Web site: Is Kwanzaa Still A Thing?. NPR. December 28, 2012. September 6, 2022.
  44. Web site: CLOSE UP: THE ROYALTY EXCHANGE by Jonathan Widran. Music Connection Magazine. June 21, 2013. August 31, 2022.
  45. Web site: Throwback Royalcash Radio Activity. Kick Mag. November 13, 2017. September 6, 2022.
  46. Web site: Calloway ft. Pieces of Dream - Let's Get Smooth [Jam's Rmx]]. JamersonDJ. October 21, 2021. September 6, 2022.
  47. Web site: Kwanzaa Day . The African American Lectionary. December 26, 2012. September 6, 2022.
  48. Web site: R&B Singer Reggie Calloway Releases New Single "Sabrina" . Urban Music Scene. February 25, 2021. September 6, 2022.
  49. Calloway: Complete Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS . Billboard. December 11, 2020.
  50. Web site: NLD Charts > Midnight Star. MegaCharts. August 19, 2014.
  51. Web site: Midnight Star Top Songs / US & UK hits charts. Music VF. September 5, 2022.
  52. Web site: Cash Box radio charts . Cash Box Magazine. December 17, 1983. September 1, 2022.
  53. Web site: The Whispers Complete Chart History. Music VF Charts. August 31, 2022.
  54. "Billboard Charts - Carrie Lucas - Hello Stranger", Billboard, Page 48, September 7, 1985
  55. "Billboard R&B Chart - Jump Start - Natalie Cole", Billboard 2, Page 30, August 22, 2022
  56. "Hit Parade Chart - Natalie Cole - Jump Start #2", The Californian, Page 17, August 15, 1987
  57. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - Casanova #3. Billboard 3. February 10, 1990. September 5, 2022.
  58. Web site: BRINGING '88 BACK: GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "LOVE OVERBOARD" by Ivan Orr. Grown Folks Music. January 23, 2018. September 6, 2022.
  59. Web site: Teddy Pendergrass Complete Chart History. Music VF . August 31, 2022.
  60. US Charts > Midnight Star. Billboard. August 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130911095356/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/midnight-star-mn0000891911/awards. September 11, 2013.
  61. Web site: NZ Charts > Midnight Star. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. August 19, 2014.
  62. Web site: Midnight Star - UK Full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company.
  63. United States. Midnight Star. January 31, 2022.

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