Imagination (Band)
Imagination was a British band.
Career
The band was formed in 1981 by three musicians Leee John (vocals), Ashley Ingram (guitar, bass) and founded Errol Kennedy (drums). At the beginning of the 80s, the band had several Top Ten hits such as Body Talk, Just an Illusion, Music ' n Lights and New Dimension.
Leee John and Ashley Ingram had previously been backing vocalist for soul bands like the Velvelettes, Chairman of the Board, The Elgins and The Delfonics. About the band Midnight Express, they learned the drummer Errol Kennedy know. Shortly thereafter, Midnight Express disbanded and the way was open for a collaboration of three musicians. They went out of the band name "Imagination" in reference to John Lennon hit " Imagine".
In April 1981, they released their first single, Body Talk, which was a great success. The single was in the top ten and stayed for 18 weeks in the top 50 The success of the single is all the more surprising when you consider that this was initially ignored by the radio stations. For this she was often placed in the clubs and spread in this way. Four months later she was in the Top 50 and sold over 250,000 times.
In the same year two more hit singles from the debut album Body Talk yet decoupled: In and Out of Love ( in September ) and Flashback ( in November ), both reached number 16 in the UK charts.
Her biggest hit Just an illusion achieved in April 1982 2nd place followed by Music and Lights (5th July), In the Heat of the Night ( number 22 in October, this was also the title of their second album ) and Changes ( place 31 in January 1983).
In parallel, a sold-out concert tour of Europe took place, it took 22 appearances in the UK instead. The trio appeared repeatedly in the BBC's Top of the Pops and other popular music programs. It was characterized by an exotic costume style, reminiscent of Roman senators, harem guards and slaves. Leee John made a detour into acting and had several guest appearances in the series Doctor Who.
In 1983, the band was in the charts again with two more hit singles: Looking at Midnight and New Dimensions. With their fourth album Scandalous they reached again a gold record. This was followed by two other chart entries, State of Love and Thank You My Love ( from the album Trilogy ).
Mid-1984 Imagination played at the Royal Albert Hall. This was followed by an appearance at a stadium in Algeria with more than 100,000 viewers and a month long tour of Spain. In 1985, the band toured through the UK, Europe and the Far East. 1986 celebrated the band its fifth anniversary. This event was celebrated on 15 May at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 1987, Imagination at RCA under contract. They produced and recorded the album Closer in the United States, together with the producer Arthur Baker, Preston Glass, Nick Martinelli, Ron Kersey and Robert Kraft.
1988 the band spent some time in the USA where he performed on television and radio. In the summer they had a No1 hit in the Billboard Dance Charts with the single from the album Closer instinctual.
The last album the group released in August 1989 and was titled Like It Is and reached number 4 in the UK Album Charts. It has been awarded within 12 weeks with double gold status and was 38 weeks long in the UK Top 100 album charts.
The album Like It Is went into the charts in several European countries. The Megamix single was first released in France, in June 1989, where she remained for four months in the French top ten. On September 2, 1989, a six-month world tour began.
The opening concert took place in front of 42,000 spectators in the French city of Dunkirk. Followed by appearances in Germany, Switzerland and other performances in France. In December the band played seven times in the UK, including a sold-out Christmas show at the Hammersmith Odeon.
Due to the immense popularity of the imagination tour over the initial six months, it has been extended. Within six weeks, 31 concerts were held, in Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Angola and Réunion.
With the release of the long awaited new album Fascination Of The Physical found new gigs taking place in Europe, Japan and America.
1991 Ashley decided to leave imagination and work as a composer and producer on. Errol Kennedy was replaced by vocalist Peter Royer in the summer of 1987, and Ashley Ingram was replaced by Segun.
Further success came on, however, that the band broke up in 1992.
Band Members
Leee John was born John Lesley McGregor in Hackney, London, on 23 June 1957. He went to school in New York and later studied drama at the Anna Scher Theatre School.
Ashley Ingram, guitarist / bassist was born on 27 November 1960 in Northampton.
Errol Kennedy was born on June 9, 1953 Montego Bay, Jamaica. After school, he trained as a drummer.