Sly Fox (band) explained

Sly Fox
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Cincinnati, Ohio
New York City, U.S.
Label:Capitol (1985–1988)
Past Members:
  • Gary "Mudbone" Cooper
  • Michael Camacho

Sly Fox was an American dance pop duo, consisting of P-funk vocalist Gary "Mudbone" Cooper and Michael Camacho. The duo came to prominence in the mid-1980s with their UK/U.S. top 10 hit single "Let's Go All the Way". They released one studio album of the same name which charted within the U.S. Top 40, and a couple of subsequent singles before breaking up.[1]

History

The duo was assembled by record producer Ted Currier, and presented as wholesome, clean-living teen idols. Cooper, a funk session musician, had previously been a vocalist with Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy's Rubber Band. Camacho was a protégé of David Bowie. The group's touring band included Cooper's former Rubber Band bandmates Frank "Kash" Waddy (drums), Joel "Razor Sharp" Johnson (keyboards), and Flip Cornett (guitar/bass), along with "Bad Boy Troy" Tipton (guitar),[2] Greg Seay, and current Zapp keyboardist, Greg Jackson.[3]

Their sole album, Let's Go All the Way, was released on Capitol Records in December 1985. The title track became a top 10 hit in both the U.S. and UK in 1986.[4] The follow-up singles "Como Tu Te Llama", "Stay True" and "Don't Play with Fire" did not perform as well and sold poorly.[1] The group disbanded in 1988.

In 1989, Sly Fox reformed briefly in Cincinnati, Ohio. With a demo budget from Bill Laswell, the duo recorded four songs, including Cooper’s “There's No Place Like Home”. The recording sessions included musicians James Ibold (guitar), Chris Sherman (bass), Casey McKeown (keyboard) and Johnny Miracle (drums). Previously unsettled artistic differences arose between the duo, and they abruptly separated again. Cooper returned to tour with George Clinton, while Camacho headed to Los Angeles to focus on a film career.

Since the dissolution of the group, Cooper has remained involved in the music industry. His most recent album, 2006's Fresh Mud, was a collaboration with Dave Stewart that combined blues and rap. Camacho has concentrated on acting, directing, and singing. He released the solo album Just for You in 2007.[1] He is also a proprietor of a well-known jazz lounge and bar in New York City and has started a funk band named The Funky Foxes.

Discography

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
US Pop
US R&B
US Dance
[6]
UK
[7]
1985"Let's Go All the Way"align=center 7align=center 57align=center align=center 3
1986"Como Tu Te Llama" align=center align=center align=center 13align=center
"Stay True"align=center 94align=center align=center align=center
"Don't Play with Fire"align=center align=center align=center align=center
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sutton. Michael. Artist Biography. AllMusic. 25 February 2021.
  2. Web site: Troy Tipton - Bad Boy Troy. dirtyriverband.com. January 29, 2017.
  3. Web site: Greg Jackson entry. soundclick.com. January 29, 2017.
  4. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 508.
  5. Web site: Sly Fox - Awards. AllMusic. 23 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20141106111940/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sly-fox-mn0000026738/awards. November 6, 2014.
  6. Web site: Sly Fox Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography. Music VF. 25 February 2021.
  7. Web site: SLY FOX - full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 25 February 2021.