The Weather Girls are a band from San Francisco. The duo began their creative activity back in 1977. The vocalists did not look like Hollywood beauties. The soloists of The Weather Girls were distinguished by their fullness, average appearance and human simplicity.
Martha Wash and Isora Armstead were at the origins of the group. Black performers gained popularity immediately after they performed the musical composition It's Raining Men in 1982.
At first, the singers performed under the pseudonym Two Tons O' Fun. Interestingly, under this name, Marta and Isora recorded good tracks.
The following compositions deserved considerable attention: Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven (1980), Just Us (1980; 29th position in the British R&B chart) and I Got The Feeling (1981).
In the early 1980s, the duo presented Bakatcha's debut album to fans. The main "trump card" of this disc was the track I Got The Feeling. The affairs of black singers began to gradually improve. A new star has “lit up” in the music world.
The creative path of The Weather Girls
The duo morphed into The Weather Girls by 1982. Under the guidance of a sensitive producer, the performers presented a video clip. And in 1983, unexpectedly for many, a new album, SUCCESS, was released.
This album was certified platinum. The group managed to sell over 6 million copies of the collection worldwide. With the track It's Raining Men, the band was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.
The duo did not get tired of replenishing their musical piggy bank with new super hits. Soon the "fans" enjoyed the songs: Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas) and No One Can Love You More Than Me.
In the mid-1980s, the band's discography was replenished with another studio album, Big Girls Don't Cry. A little later, the duo presented a video clip for the track Wella Wiggy. The music video was directed by Jim Canty and Jake Sebastian. The main role in the video was entrusted to play the charming actor and dancer Jen Anthony Ray.
Departure from The Weather Girls by Martha Wash
At the beginning of the team's activities, Martha Wash was listed as a vocalist not only in The Weather Girls, but also in the Black Box group. Work in the new team gave fans such compositions as: Everybody Everybody, Strike It Up, I Don't Know Anybody Else and Fantasy.
In 1988, the group's discography was replenished with a new album, Super Hits, which included the best tracks of The Weather Girls.
This work was the last collection recorded in the original composition. In 1990, Martha Wash finally left The Weather Girls. In the same year, the singer presented the composition Carry On, which in the literal sense of the word became a real "musical bomb".
Martha topped the charts with C+C Music Factory with Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now). To date, Martha Wash rightfully has the title of queen of R&B.
The start of the solo career of Isora Armstead
After Martha Wash left the band, Isora was forced to start as a solo artist. Already in the early 1990s, together with the Snap! the song The Power was released, where the performer sang the main vocals, and the rap was read by the American rapper Turbo B.
Soon a video clip was filmed for the track, in which the singer Penny Ford appeared under the voice of Izora (later Penny wrote many compositions for the band with her own voice).
This track hit the top ten. The song became a major hit in 1990. The composition topped the music charts in the United States of America, Great Britain and Germany (#1 US Billbord Hot 100, #1 UK Hot Dance Club Play, #2 Germany Hot Chart). In Europe, the popularity of the track was so huge that it contributed to the development of the Eurodance musical style.
In 1991, Izora presented her solo debut album Miss Izora to fans. The hit of the album was the track Don't Let Love Slip Away. The record was released in a limited edition in the United States of America. The collection cannot be called popular, since it did not find commercial success. This album was Isora's only solo work.
The Weather Girls and Isora Armstead
In 1991, Isora decided to reunite The Weather Girls, as working alone did not give the desired result. The place of the former soloist Martha Wash was taken by Isora's daughter Daynell Rhodes.
But not only the composition has changed. From now on, the team performed as The Weather Girls feat. Isora Armstead. During this period of time, the duo released two albums and one compilation.
In 1993, the band's discography was replenished with the album Double Tons of Fun. The top tracks of the album were the tracks: Can You Feel It and Oh What a Night.
In 1995, the presentation of the second album Think Big took place. The songs We're Gonna Party and Sounds of Sex became the "musical decorations" of the new collection. A music video was filmed for the track We Shall All Be Free.
In 1998, the performers presented the Puttin' on the Hits collection to fans, which included cover versions of popular tracks. The songs I'm So Excited by The Pointer Sisters, We are Family by Sister Sledge deserved considerable attention.
In the early 2000s, with the participation of the Disco Brothers, the group took part in the selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the musical composition Get Up from Germany. Despite the efforts of the duo, they failed to win. In the same year, a video clip was released for the track. The song was included in the album Big Brown Girl, which music lovers saw in 2004.
Departure from the Dynell Rhodes team
At the end of 2003, Dinell Rhodes announced to fans that she was going to go into "free swimming". Ingrid Arthur took the place of the vocalist. Interestingly, Ingrid is another daughter of Isora Armstead.
In December 2004, with a renewed line-up, the band presented the album Big Brown Girl. The line-up change attracted the attention of the press and music lovers. The fans liked the new album. Flattering reviews of the tracks were left by both fans and music critics.
This year there was a loss for the group. Isora, who stood at the origins of the creation of the group, passed away. The woman died at 62. She was buried at Cypress Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park. From now on, the group passed into the possession of the daughter.
In 2005, the band's discography was replenished with a new collection, Totally Wild. In addition, this year the band also presented a video clip for the track Wild Thang.
The following year it became known that Ingrid Arthur decided to leave the group for a solo career. Soon she became a recognized star of world jazz. On account of the performer there were three nominations for the Grammy Award.
Ingrid's place was taken by the charming Joan Faulkner, who was previously a member of the New-York City Voices team. Soon the group was led by the daughters of the deceased Izora. In 2006, in this composition, the team first came to the territory of the Russian Federation to visit the International Festival "Autoradio" "Disco of the 80s".
At this music festival, the duo performed their main calling card - the song It's Raining Men. After a brilliant performance, the Russian public for a long time could not let the singers go backstage.
The band's discography was replenished with the album The Woman I Am in 2009. The top song of the collection was the track Break you. The track features Mark and Fanky Green Dogs.
The musical composition took the 1st position in the US Dance-chat. This event happened in 2008. In May 2012, Joan Faulkner's contract with the band ended, she did not want to renew it, because her plans were to build a solo career. Already in 2013, the singer presented her solo album Together.
In June 2012, a new member joined the team. The place of the new soloist was taken by Dorrey Lyn Liles, who has long been established as a soul performer.
2013, the team began with the fact that in the updated line-up went on a big tour. As part of the tour, the singers visited North America, Europe and Australia.
The Weather Girls today
In 2015, the band presented a new musical composition Star. The band recorded it with former Bronski Beat frontman Jimmy Somerville. In 2018, the singers released another musical masterpiece - the song We Need Be. The song was produced by Torsten Abrolat.
Musical novelties were also released in 2019. The team gave fans a new musical composition Cheek to Cheek. The song was recorded at the recording studio Carrillo Music (USA).
In addition, it became known that the singers are recording material for a new LP, which will be released in 2020. Daynell is working on an autobiography about her mother's legacy. She also presents a cookbook, which contains traditional recipes for home cooking of the star family.
