Rhyze
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founder | Paul Kyser (producer/director) |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Roscoe Taylor, Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson, Vince Jackson, Charles Holmes, Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight, Kevin Barbee, Richard Menter, Kenneth Hicks, Paul Kyser |
| Products | Funk and R&B music |
Rhyze was a funk and American R&B ensemble, primarily recognized for their popular track "Just How Sweet Is Your Love." A significant portion of their songs were composed by producer Paul Kyser alongside Leon Stuckey.
Nu-Sound Express
Initially formed as Soul Unlimited during their college years, the band later took on the name The Nu-Sound Express, LTD. under the direction of Paul Kyser. They issued two singles and achieved regional popularity across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania before adopting the name Rhyze.
Rhyze
The lineup featured Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion), Kevin Barbee (keyboards), Richard Menter (trumpet), and Kenneth Hicks (saxophone). In 1981, Rhyze earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the song "Rhyze To The Top," which was produced by Kyser. The group disbanded approximately during the same period.
Their musical style combined elements of funk, disco, and soul. Their album Just How Sweet Is Your Love received acclaim for its wide-ranging appeal in a 1979 review by Record World. The album’s title single entered two Billboard charts in 1980, reaching number 16 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart and number 92 on the Black Singles chart.
The track "Rhyze To The Top" garnered a Grammy nomination in 1981 within the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category, which underscored their influence in the R&B genre prior to their breakup.
Later years
In 2011, Rhyze introduced the spiritual-themed album God Is On Call.
Band members
- Roscoe Taylor – lead vocals, trumpet
- Ellsworth 'EI-T' Anderson – bass, lead vocals
- Vince Jackson – guitar, lead vocals
- Charles Holmes – drums
- Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight – congas, percussion
- Kevin Barbee – keyboards
- Richard Menter – trumpet
- Kenneth Hicks – saxophone
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Release | Format | US | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Just How Sweet Is Your Love | SAM Records LP 703 | LP | — | — |
| 1981 | Rhyze to the Top | 20th Century Fox Records T-639 | LP | — | — |
| 2006 | Rhyze to the Top | Essential Media Group LLC 894231506826 | CD | — | — |
| 2011 | God Is on Call | GAME 52685 | CD | — | — |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. Dance | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Free / Singing and Dancing" | — | — | — | Just How Sweet Is Your Love |
| "Just How Sweet Is Your Love" / "I Found Love in You"1 | — | #92 | #16 | ||
| 1981 | "Rhyze to the Top" | — | — | — | Rhyze to the Top |
| "Tonight's Gonna Be My Night" | — | — | — | ||
| "Tonight's Gonna Be My Night / What Can I Do About This Feeling" | — | — | — |
- 1 Only the A-side charted.