CDB (group)
| Company type | Vocal harmony group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Founder | Andrew De Silva, Brad Pinto, Gary Pinto, Danny Williams |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | R&B and dance music recordings |
CDB is a vocal harmony group from Australia, specializing in R&B and dance music, formed in Melbourne in 1991 by Andrew De Silva, Brad Pinto, his sibling Gary Pinto, and Danny Williams. The acronym stands for Central Dandenong Boys. Their most successful single was a rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove," which climbed to number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and secured the top position in New Zealand. Additionally, "Hey Girl (This Is Our Time)" also reached number one on the New Zealand charts. Their inaugural album, Glide with Me (1995), achieved a peak position of number six on the ARIA Albums Chart and earned platinum certification. The group ceased activities in 1999.
Music expert Ian McFarlane characterized their musical style as a fusion of R&B, soul, and New Jack Swing enriched with intricate vocal harmonies.
Early career: 1991–1999
Originating in Melbourne's local music scene, CDB supported Peter Andre during Madonna's Australian leg of The Girlie Show World Tour. The quartet secured a contract with Sony Music Australia in 1994. Their initial single "Hook Me Up" reached number 11 on the ARIA Charts, followed by "Hey Girl (This Is Our Time)" peaking at number 14, and their standout hit "Let's Groove" attaining number two.
Released in November 1995, Glide with Me debuted at number six on the ARIA chart and number 12 in New Zealand. In 1996, both "Let's Groove" and "Hey Girl" topped the New Zealand singles chart. Another release, "Don't Stop," entered the top 30 rankings in both Australia and New Zealand. At the 1996 ARIA Music Awards, "Let's Groove" received the accolade for Highest Selling Single.
Expanding their reach into Asia, CDB toured extensively across countries including South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Fiji. Notably, they performed alongside John Denver at a concert supporting South Korea's bid to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Due to health issues, Andrew De Silva was replaced by Jude Nicholas in 1997. That same year saw the release of "Good Times," which peaked at number 28 on Australian charts. Their sophomore album Lifted showcased a shift toward a more pop-centric sound and entered the ARIA top 50. Singles from this album included "Back Then," "Let It Whip," and "So Badd." Prior to disbanding in 1999, CDB collaborated with artists such as Tommy Emmanuel and Renee Geyer.
2000–present
In 2006, CDB reunited for charity performances and reportedly reformed as a group. They contributed tracks to Myer's 2006 Spirit of Christmas compilation and participated in ABC's Anthems of Australia project. In 2008, they released a cover of Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", intended as the lead single from their planned third album, The Funk Sessions, which was conceived as a tribute covers collection but ultimately was not released.
The compilation The Essential CDB, released in October 2010, featured "P.Y.T.". In April 2017, the band announced a new album titled Tailored for Now, preceded by the single "This Is How We Do It", a cover of Montell Jordan's 1995 hit.
By November 2020, CDB had plans to launch their first holiday-themed album titled Christmas Is Here: The CDB Mixtape, including collaborations with Diesel and Guy Sebastian.
Solo work
- Gary Pinto has worked extensively as a vocal coach on Australian Idol and The X Factor, alongside frequent collaborations with Guy Sebastian, co-writing hits like "Taller, Stronger, Better". He contributed to the theme song for World Youth Day 2008, "Receive the Power", as well as "Behold the Cross" for its official soundtrack. Pinto also penned "Saint Mary MacKillop" to commemorate Australia's first saint's canonisation in 2010. His touring experience includes performing with Jimmy Barnes; he has released two albums: As-U-R Volume 1 (2010) and his solo work Take Back Our World (2010).
- Brad Pinto earned an ARIA Music Awards nomination for Song of the Year in 2012 for co-writing "Boys like You", which achieved four-times platinum status performed by Australian hip hop artist 360.
- Andrew De Silva attained top 40 status with his solo single "Just Like Good Music" in 2005. He won the sixth season of Australia's Got Talent in 2012. In 2013 he supported Mariah Carey on her Australian tour and released singles such as "Miracle" (2013), "I See the Future" (2015), along with an EP titled Now That I Believe (2015). In 2016, De Silva became lead vocalist for Boom Crash Opera.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | NZ | |||
| Glide with Me |
|
6 | 12 |
|
| Lifted |
|
45 | — | |
| Tailored for Now |
|
28 | — | |
| Christmas Is Here: The CDB Mixtape |
|
— | — | |
Compilation albums
| Album Title | Release Data |
|---|---|
| The Essential CDB |
|
Singles
| Song Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Certification Status | Associated Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | New Zealand | ||||
| "Hook Me Up" | 1994 | 11 | — |
|
Glide with Me |
| "Hey Girl (This Is Our Time)" | 1995 | 14 | 1 | ||
| "Let's Groove" | 2 | 1 |
| ||
| "Don't Stop" | 1996 | 28 | 25 | ||
| "Good Times" | 1997 | 28 | — | Lifted | |
| "Back Then" | 42 | — | |||
| "Let It Whip" | 1998 | 51 | — | ||
| "After the Love Has Gone" (feat. Tommy Emmanuel and CDB) |
74 | — | Collaboration (Tommy Emmanuel album) | ||
| "So Badd" | 1999 | — | — | Lifted | |
| "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (with Renée Geyer) |
92 | — | Sweet Life (Renée Geyer album) | ||
| "P.Y.T" | 2008 | — | — | The Essential CDB | |
| "This Is How We Do It" | 2017 | — | — | Tailored for Now | |
| "—" indicates the single did not enter the charts. | |||||
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are held annually to honor outstanding achievements and innovation within the Australian music industry. |- | 1996 | "Let's Groove" | Highest Selling Single | |-