Before Shalamar became one of the most exciting dance groups of the late ’70s and early ’80s, they weren’t even a real band — just a clever studio creation. In 1977, Soul Train producer Dick Griffey needed a name for a disco medley called Uptown Festival. The record took off, and suddenly the world wanted to see the faces behind the hit. So Griffey did something bold: he built a group from the dancers on Soul Train itself.
Enter Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, two charismatic dancers with style, attitude, and moves sharp enough to cut glass. They were joined by singer Gary Mumford, though he left quickly, replaced by Gerald Brown, who also didn’t stay long. Shalamar was still searching for its voice — until one night in Los Angeles, Jeffrey Daniel remembered a singer he’d met at a club called Maverick Flat: Howard Hewett. Hewett joined in 1979, and everything changed.
With Hewett’s smooth vocals, Watley’s cool confidence, and Daniel’s futuristic dance skills, Shalamar exploded. Their first smash with the new lineup, “The Second Time Around,” sold a million copies and hit #1 on the U.S. R&B chart. Suddenly, Shalamar wasn’t just a dance act — they were a global phenomenon blending funk, disco, R&B, and pop into a sound that felt fresh and joyful.
In the UK, Jeffrey Daniel became a sensation when he performed on Top of the Pops, introducing body‑popping and even early forms of the moonwalk to British audiences. Michael Jackson himself watched Daniel closely, later working with him on choreography for videos like Bad and Smooth Criminal.
By 1982, Shalamar were unstoppable. Their album Friends delivered hits like I Can Make You Feel Good, There It Is, and the timeless party anthem “A Night to Remember.” Clubs from Los Angeles to London lit up when their songs came on, and their fashion sense — bold, colorful, and futuristic — made them trendsetters worldwide.
But fame comes with friction. In 1983, at the height of their success, Watley and Daniel left the group, ending the classic era. Hewett carried on with new members, scoring more hits, but the magic of the original trio remained legendary.
Years later, Hewett and Daniel reunited Shalamar, proving that the spark never truly faded. Their legacy lives on in dance culture, R&B history, and every DJ set that still drops A Night to Remember — because Shalamar didn’t just make hits. They made moments.
