Up Next in The Top 100 Female Artists*...

A popular star that was as hot as any other female in the 80's and 90's.  You will be able to listen to all of her great music tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era!

The artists and their music is really getting amazing, something you would expect as we get inside the Top 20.  Join us all the way to #1!

TLC, The #19 Female Artist of the Rock Era

In 1990, producer Ian Burke and Crystal Jones wanted to get a hip-hop girl group going, and Tionne Watkins and Lisa Lopes joined Jones in the group, originally known as 2nd Nature.   They auditioned for singer Perri "Pebbles" Reid, who in turn arranged for Antonio "L.A." Reid (then her husband) and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds to hear them. 

There are differing accounts of when and why Jones left the group, but in 1991, Watkins and Lopes signed production, management and publishing deals with Perri Reid.  By this time, the group had become known as TLC-Skee, and Watkins and Lopes recorded backing vocals for a client of L.A. Reid and Edmonds, Damian Dame.  While in the studio, the group found a third member in Rozonda Thomas, one of Dame's part-time backup dancers.

The group shortened their name to TLC, nicknaming Watkins as "T-Boz",  Lopes became "Left Eye", while Jones was "Chilli".  In 1992, TLC released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip.  The lead single was "Ain't 2 (sic) Proud 2 (sic) Beg", a #6 song in the United States and #13 in the U.K. that was nominated for Best R&B Song at the Grammy Awards.

The album was certified quadruple Platinum within a year, and has now sold six million copies worldwide, one of the top-selling debut albums in music history.  "Baby-Baby-Baby" was the follow-up, which hit #2 in the U.S.

TLC was nominated for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist at the American Music Awards.  The single "What About Your Friends" gave TLC a third Top 10 song at #7.  

TLC opened a national tour for MC Hammer, then decided to terminate Perri Reid's management contract.  

Lopes had begun dating Andre Rison of the Atlanta Falcons and the two were living together by 1994.  After a fight between the couple in June, Lopes threw several pairs of Rison's newly-purchased shoes into a bathtub, doused them with lighter fluid, and set them on fire.  Soon, the house was on fire, and Lopes was arrested and indicted for first-degree arson.  Lopes was sentenced to five years' probation and a $10,000 fine. 

The group recorded "Get It Up" for the "Poetic Justice" Soundtrack and "Sleigh Ride" for the movie Home Alone 2:  Lost in New York.  Then in 1994, TLC released their sophomore album CrazySexyCool, which sported four Top 5 songs.  The first was "Creep", #1 in the United States and this time, the rest of the world, slow to the party, finally joined in.  The song hit #4 in New Zealand, #6 in the U.K. and #9 in Ireland.

"Creep" captured the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, and won a Billboard Music Award for R&B Single of the Year.  TLC won two other Billboard Music Awards:  Artist of the Year and R&B Artist of the Year.  "Red Light Special" was another smash, reaching #2 in the U.S. and #9 in New Zealand.

But the group came up with their biggest career hit and one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* with their next release, "Waterfalls".  The song rocketed up to #1 in the United States, where it remained for seven consecutive weeks, and it also hit #1 in New Zealand and Switzerland, #4 in the U.K., Australia and Ireland, #5 in Germany and the Netherlands and #7 in Sweden.  "Waterfalls" was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the Grammy Awards.

The accompanying video to "Waterfalls" was one of the most acknowledged of all-time, earning TLC MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Viewer's Choice and Best R&B Video.  The production also earned MTV nominations for Breakthrough Video, Best Editing, Best Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.

CrazySexyCool sold 11 million copies in the U.S. and 23 million worldwide, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.  TLC was nominated for Favorite Artist of the Year and Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group at the American Music Awards and CrazySexyCool earned a nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. The album yielded yet another smash, "Diggin' On You", #5 in the United States, #6 in Australia and #8 in New Zealand.

TLC recorded the theme song to All That on Nickelodeon, which was aired for ten seasons.

Legal battles with their record company ensued, with TLC's members filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and demanding more money.  They renegotiated their contract with LaFace (Reid and Edmonds), and terminated all their deals with Perri Reid.  TLC recorded "This Is How It Works" for the "Waiting to Exhale" Soundtrack.

But work on the group's third album was delayed when producer Dallas Austin wanted $4.2 million and creative control.  Lopes started her own production company, Lopes Productions, and signed the group Blaque to a contract.  She also joined Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Lil' Kim, Da Brat and Angie Martinez on the remix of "Not Tonight", which received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

In 1999, TLC finally released the album FanMail, four years after their last album.  But the group was able to pick up right where they left off, with the album debuting at #1 on the Album chart.  "No Scrubs" was a huge hit, landing at #1 in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, reaching #3 in the U.K. and the Netherlands and hitting #4 in Germany and #5 in Switzerland and France.  TLC won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and "No Scrubs" was nominated for Record of the Year.

The video for "No Scrubs" won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video, and was nominated for Viewer's Choice and Best Hip Hop Video.

The single "Unpretty" gave the group their fourth career #1, also reaching #3 in Australia and New Zealand, #4 in Ireland, #6 in the U.K., #8 in the Netherlands and Sweden and #9 in Switzerland.  It earned three Grammy nominations:  Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Short Form Music Video.

FanMail won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, was nominated for Album of the Year, and sold over 11 million copies worldwide.  A tour grossed more than $72.8 million, the highest-grossing tour by a female group.  

But Lopes wasn't happy, feeling she wasn't being used enough to rap.  She even went so far as challenging the other two members of TLC to each record a solo album, making for a 3-CD set, and let the fans decide which of the three was the most talented.

The members settled the feud, but Lopes still recorded a solo album, Supernova.  The album failed, and before she could complete work on a second try, Lopes died in a car crash while filming a documentary in Honduras.  

The surviving members of TLC completed the fourth album, 3D.  Lopes had already recorded her vocals for five of the songs, and the remaining work was done by Watkins and Thomas.  3D was released in 2002.  None of the singles caught on, however, with "Girl Talk" doing the best at #28, although the album did manage to sell two million copies in the U.S.

Although Watkins and Thomas have reunited for concert appearances, TLC has not enjoyed another Top 10 hit since Lopes' death.  

TLC has sold over 23 million albums in the United States alone and 65 million worldwide.  They enjoyed 11 Top 40 hits, with an incredible nine reaching the Top 10 and four #1 songs.

This Date in Rock Music History: February 10

1958:  Frank Sinatra moved to #1 on the Album chart with Come Fly With Me.

1962:  Henry Mancini owned the top album with the Soundtrack to "Breakfast At Tiffany's".
1962:  Elvis Presley achieved a fifth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Can't Help Falling In Love".
1962:  Joey Dee & the Starliters enjoyed a third week at #1 with "Peppermint Twist".  Gene Chandler moved to challenge with "Duke Of Earl" while "The Twist" by Chubby Checker, having already become the only song in the history of the Rock Era to reach #1--twice--was at #3 in its 31st week on the chart.








1964:  After their incredible appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show which was seen by a record 73 million people, the Beatles were overnight sensations.  Elvis Presley sent them a telegram of congratulations (pretty classy) and the group held a press conference in the Terrace Room at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
1965:  Chad & Jeremy ("A Summer Song") were guests on The Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS-TV.
1966:  Bob Marley married Rita Anderson.
1967:  The Beatles continued to work on "A Day In The Life" in Studio One of the EMI Recording Studios on Abbey Road in London.  At the group's request, the orchestra members arrived in full evening dress along with a novelty item.  A violinist wore a red clown's nose, another had a fake gorilla's paw on his bow hand.   Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Richards, Mike Nesmith and Donovan dropped by to watch.
1968:  The Beatles transferred all their business affairs to Apple Record Company.
1968:  Two great acts of the Rock Era debuted on the chart on the same date in history.  Sly & the Family Stone debuted with their first single "Dance To The Music" while Kenny Rogers & the First Edition debuted with "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)".
1968:  The Four Tops Greatest Hits was the #1 album in the U.K.

                Cream was back with their follow-up album...

1968:  The "Magical Mystery Tour" Soundtrack by the Beatles dominated the Album chart for a sixth week.  The Rolling Stones would have to settle for peaking at #2 with Their Satanic Majesties Request.  Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits was next with Herb Alpert's Ninth by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the #4 spot.  Bob Dylan moved from 48-5 with the album John Wesley Harding, but would never be able to top the Beatles.  The rest of the Top 10:  Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. from the Monkees, The Turtles!  Golden Hits was #7, Cream's Disraeli Gears, the Mamas and the  Papas had the #9 album--Farewell to the First Golden Era and Engelbert Humperdinck closed the list with The Last Waltz.
1968:  "Chain Of Fools" by Aretha Franklin led the way on the R&B chart for a fourth week.

1968:  "Love Is Blue", The #1 Instrumental of the Rock Era*, moved from 7 to 1 on this date.  That shook off "Green Tambourine" by the Lemon Pipers while "Spooky" from the Classics IV was third.  John Fred & His Playboy Band dropped to #4 with their former #1--"Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)".  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools", which peaked at #2, the Temptations and "I Wish It Would Rain", the Lettermen with the medley "Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You", the Human Beinz were still at 8 with "Nobody But Me", Gary Puckett from Twin Falls, Idaho with the Union Gap on "Woman, Woman" and the American Breed slipped with their smash "Bend Me, Shape Me".





1971:  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King released the epic album Tapestry.













1973:  British Rail, which was set to demolish the Cavern Club in Liverpool to build a new subway station, gave the famous venue a stay.  Now people 200 years from now can visit the place where the Beatles got their start.
1973:  Elton John owned the top album in the U.K. with Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player.
1973:  The Spinners took a turn at #1 on the R&B chart with "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love".







      Steely Dan was a hot new group with a dynamite first single...

1973:  Elton John prevailed at #1 for a second week with "Crocodile Rock" while former #1 "You're So Vain" from Carly Simon hung in there at #2 for a third week.  Timmy Thomas snuck in at 3 with "Why Can't We Live Together".  Hurricane Smith had the #4 song--"Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?" and Stevie Wonder's former #1 "Superstition" was right behind him.  The rest of the Top 10:  newcomers Steely Dan with "Do It Again", War moved "The World Is A Ghetto" to #7, Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man", Lobo flew in to #9 with "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend" and the Spinners touched down at #10 with "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love".
1976:  The Memphis, Tennessee Police Department made Elvis Presley an honorary reserve officer.
1977:  The Clash began recording their debut album at CBS Studios in London.





1978:  Van Halen released their debut album on Columbia Records.
1979:  "Aqua Boogie" by Parliament, one of The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 1970's*, achieved a fourth week at #1 on the R&B chart.
1979:  Anne Murray had her fifth #1 on the Adult chart with "I Just Fall In Love Again".








1979:  We first heard of this group on this date, as Dire Straits debuted on the chart with their first single--"Sultans of Swing".
1979:  The red-hot Bee Gees had by far the week's highest debut with "Tragedy", debuting at #29.










1979:  Rod Stewart set up camp at #1 with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?".  Nicolette Larson had the only new Top 10 song with "Lotta Love".

 

1987:  Atlantic Starr released the single "Always". 

1990:  Eric Clapton finished a record 18 nights at Royal Albert Hall in London. 
1990:  Phil Collins had one of the hottest songs out as "I Wish It Would Rain Down" moved from 71 to 46.  









   
                                    Sweden's Roxette...

1990:  Paula Abdul scored her third #1 song and fifth consecutive Top 10 with "Opposites Attract".  Seduction tried to challenge with "Two To Make It Right" while "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart was #1 in many markets.  Aerosmith reached #4 with "Janie's Got A Gun".  The rest of the Top 10:  Michael Bolton fell with his former #1 "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You", Chicago moved into the Top 10 for the 21st and final time of their career with their latest--"What Kind Of Man Would I Be?", Roxette jumped from 13 to 7 with "Dangerous", Skid Row had song #8 with "I Remember You", Janet Jackson jumped from 17-9 with "Escapade" and Milli Vanilli fooled listeners again with "All Or Nothing".
1990:  Gloria Estefan posted her fifth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Here We Are".

1990:  Paula Abdul achieved an amazing feat on this date.  She'd had the #1 album with Forever Your Girl back in September.  On this date, a full five months later, the album amazingly returned to #1, in its 81st week of release!
1993:  Michael Jackson said in an interview with Oprah Winfey that he had a disorder that destroyed the pigmentation of his skin.
1996:  The week's biggest mover belonged to Mary J. Blige, who jumped from 21 to 6 with "Not Gon' Cry".
1996:  Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men remained at #1 for the 11th week with "One Sweet Day".  That moved them into a tie for 4th at the time with "I Swear" from All-4-One for the most weeks at #1 in the Rock Era.  The only songs ahead of "One Sweet Day" on this date were "I'll Make Love To You" from Boyz II Men and "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston with 14 each and "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men with 13 weeks.  Counting "Fantasy", Mariah Carey had now been in the #1 position for 20 out of 21 weeks.  No one has ever achieved that in history.

1997:  Brian Connolly, singer of Sweet, died of kidney and liver failure in Slough, England at age 52.
1998:  Axl Rose, lead singer of Guns N' Roses, was charged with disorderly conduct when his ego got in the way and he got into a scrap with a baggage handler at an airport in Phoenix, Arizona.  Entertainment stars sometimes forget they're no better than anyone else.
2002:  Elton John performed at the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.







2002:  Enrique Iglesias moved to #1 on the U.K. Album chart with Escape.

2003:  Anastacia underwent a seven-hour breast cancer operation.

2005:  Prince was named the top concert act of 2004 after bringing in $90 million.  Madonna was second with just under $55m and Metallica third with $43m.
2006:  Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, married Jaclyn Nesheiwat in Miami, Florida.

                                                 The Boss captured three Grammys...

2008:  Amy Winehouse won five Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year for "Rehab" and Best New Artist.  Kanye West took home four awards, Bruce Springsteen won three, while the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood and Mary J. Blige each received two awards.
2008:  Jack Johnson prevailed on the U.K. Album chart with Sleep Through the Static.
2009:  It's never too late to right a wrong.  On this date, the San Diego (California) School Board apologized to Pete Seeger for the School Board of 1960 asking him to sign a loyalty oath before performing at a high school there.
2013:  Mumford & Sons captured the Grammy for Album of the Year.







2013:  Gotye won Record of the Year for "Somebody That I Used To Know".
2013.  The group Fun was awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist.

Born This Day:
1914:  Larry Adler, mouth organist, who was a soloist with many symphony orchestras around the world and played with artists as diverse as Fred Astaire, George Gershwin, Elton John and Sting, was born in Baltimore, Maryland; died August 7, 2001 in London.  (Note:  some websites report that Adler died on August 6, but the correct date is August 7, according to the newspaper 'The Los Angeles Times'.)

1937:  Roberta Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

1937:  Don Wilson, guitarist of the Ventures, was born in Tacoma, Washington
1940:  Jimmy Merchant of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers was born in the Bronx, New York.
1943:  Ral Donner ("You Don't Know What You've Got Until You Lose It" from 1961) was born in Chicago, Illinois; died of lung cancer in Chicago on April 6, 1984.

1949:  Nigel Olsson, esteemed drummer for Elton John and a solo artist ("Dancin' Shoes" and "Little Bit Of Soap"), was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, England.  (Note:  some websites report that Olsson was born in Wallasey, Merseyside.  While Wallasey is now considered part of Merseysite, at the time of Nigel's birth (which is the only time that matters when official birth records are concerned), Wallasey was part of Cheshire.)

1962:  Cliff Burton, bassist of Metallica, was born in Castro Valley, California; died September 27, 1986 in Ljungby, Sweden when the band's tour bus crashed as it was traveling from Stockholm, Sweden to Copenhagen, Denmark.

1977:  Rosanna Tavarez of Eden's Crush ("Get Over Yourself" from 2001) was born in New York City.