Ten City

Ten City
(left to right): Burke, Stingily, Lawson (1994)
(left to right): Burke, Stingily, Lawson
(1994)
Background information
Also known asRagtyme
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresHouse, R&B
Years active1987–1996; 2021–present
LabelsAtlantic, EastWest Records America, Columbia, Ultra Music[1]
MembersByron Stingily
Marshall Jefferson
Past membersByron Burke
Herb Lawson

Ten City (derived from intensity) is an American, Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house music act, that enjoyed a number of club hits and Urban radio hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was one of the first exponents of deep house.[2]

Biography

Formerly known as Ragtyme, the group comprised vocalist Byron Stingily, guitarist Herb Lawson and keyboardist Byron Burke and were augmented by producer Marshall Jefferson.[3] The group was signed by Atlantic Records and released the album Foundation[3] in 1989, which became the group's only album to cross over, peaking at No. 49 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[4]

Ten City is best known for the singles "Devotion", "Right Back to You" and "That's the Way Love Is,"[2] which hit No. 1 on the US dance chart and No. 8 on the UK Top 40 in 1989.[5] Stingily, who left the group and became a successful solo artist, re-recorded the song and brought it back to No. 1 on the US dance chart in 1999.

In 2021, Stingily teamed up with producer Marshall Jefferson to release "Be Free" on Ultra Music,[6] the first single in 25 years to be credited to Ten City.[7][8][9][10] Its parent album, Judgment, was nominated for a Grammy Award that year in the category of Best Dance/Electronic Album.[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Label Peak chart positions Certifications
US R&B
[4]
UK
[5]
1989 Foundation Atlantic Records 49 22
1990 State of Mind — —
1992 No House Big Enough EastWest Records America — —
1994 That Was Then, This Is Now Columbia Records — —
2021 Judgment Ultra Records — —
2023 Love Is Love Helix Records — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

  • The Best of Ten City (Ibadan, 2001)

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Dance
[13]
US R&B
[13]
UK
[5]
IRE
[14]
1987 "Devotion" — — — —
1988 "Right Back to You" 8 — 80 —
1989 "Funny Love" — ― — —
"That's the Way Love Is" 1 12 8 11
"Devotion" (re-release) 17 — 29 22
"Where Do We Go?" 28 34 60 —
"Suspicious" — — — —
1990 "Whatever Makes You Happy" 16 53 60 —
"Superficial People" 22 — 96 —
"I Should Learn to Love You" ― — ― —
1992 "Only Time Will Tell" / "My Peace of Heaven" 2 ― 63 —
1993 "Fantasy" 20 ― 45 —
1994 "The Way You Make Me Feel" — ― — —
"Goin' Up in Smoke" 21 ― ― —
1996 "Nothing's Changed" — ― — —
"All Loved Out" ― ― ― —
2021 "Be Free" ― ― ― —
"On It" ― ― ― —
2022 "Piece of My Heart" ― ― ― —
"A Girl Named Phil" ― ― ― —
"Love Is Love" ― ― ― —
2023 "I Love Me" ― ― ― —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

References

  1. ^ "MARSHALL JEFFERSON AND BYRON STINGILY RETURN AS TEN CITY WITH FIRST NEW MUSIC IN 25 YEARS". DJ MAG. February 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Foundation (1989): Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Wynn, Ron. "Ten City Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Ten City - Chart History: TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "TEN CITY - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Byron Stingly & Marshall Jefferson return as Ten City after 25 year hiatus". Knights of the Turntable. February 2021.
  7. ^ Middleton, Ryan (January 29, 2021). "MARSHALL JEFFERSON & STINGILY RELEASE FIRST NEW TEN CITY SONG IN 25 YEARS "BE FREE"". Magnetic Magazine.
  8. ^ Slovacek, Randy (January 29, 2021). "New Music: Ten City 'Be Free'". The Randy Report.
  9. ^ "Iconic 80s Dance Band Ten City Return after 25 years with new release 'Be Free'". FrontView Magazine. February 1, 2021.
  10. ^ VasarhelyI, Lilla (February 1, 2021). "Marshall Jefferson and Byron Stingily revived Ten City after 25 years with a new song 'Be Free': Listen".
  11. ^ McCarthy, Zel (April 1, 2022). "2022 Dance/Electronic Grammy Preview: Ten City on Friendship, Frankie Knuckles & Never Betting Against House". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ten City - Foundation". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Ten City Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know: Ten City". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved January 30, 2021.