Skyy (band)

Skyy

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1977 in Brooklyn, New York, United States
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Funk, disco, and R&B music

Skyy—also referred to as New York Skyy—was a funk, disco, and R&B ensemble originating from New York City. The band gained prominence with the 1981 hit "Call Me" and experienced a resurgence in 1989 with the singles "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love".

Career

Established in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, Skyy's founding members featured vocalists sisters Denise, Delores, and Bonny Dunning, alongside guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon, and drummer Tommy McConnell. The group secured a contract with Salsoul Records in 1978 and launched their first album the following year.

Following several releases that achieved moderate success on R&B charts, Skyy broke into the mainstream pop scene with their 1981 album Skyy Line. The track "Call Me" climbed to number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B charts for the first time. This album earned Gold certification from the RIAA. The band maintained their relationship with Salsoul through to their 1984 record Inner City.

In the mid-1980s, Skyy transitioned to Capitol Records, releasing From the Left Side in 1986. Although it featured the top ten R&B hit "Givin' It (to You)", overall album performance was modest, leading to their exit from Capitol.

The band's 1989 deal with Atlantic Records signaled a comeback via the album Start of a Romance, which yielded two number-one R&B hits: "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love". Notably, "Real Love" also reached number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1990. Later projects such as the 1992 album Nearer to You experienced diminished commercial traction, and no further studio albums have been released since.

The Dunning sisters have remained active performers, including a 2007 effort to set a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo ensemble during Harlem's Summerstage Concert Series. They have also appeared at significant events like the Salsoul Reunion Concert alongside fellow label artists including Carol Williams and Double Exposure in New York City.

Studio albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions				Certifications	Record label
		US Billboard 200	US R&B	NZ	UK
1979	Skyy	117	40	—	—		Salsoul
1980	Skyway	61	17	—	—
	Skyyport	85	16	40	—
1981	Skyy Line	18	1	—	—	Gold (RIAA)
1982	Skyyjammer	81	22	—	—
1983	Skyylight	183	44	—	—
1984	Inner City	—	—	—	—
1986	From the Left Side	—	33	—	85		Capitol
1989	Start of a Romance	155	16	—	—		rowspan="2"| Atlantic
1992	Nearer to You	—	52	—	—

Compilation albums

• Skyy Flyy (1982, Salsoul)
• Greatest Hits (1996, The Right Stuff)
• The Anthology (2006, Suss'd)
• Skyyhigh: The Skyy Anthology 1979–1992 (2014, Big Break)

Singles

Year	Title	Highest chart rankings						Album
		US	US R&B	US Dan	CAN	NLD	UK
1979	"First Time Around"	—	20	50	49	—	—	Skyy
	"Let's Turn It Out"	—	65	—	—	—	—
	"This Groove Is Bad"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1980	"High"	102	13	26	—	—	—	Skyway
	"Skyyzoo"	—	32	41	—	—	—
	"Here's to You"	—	23	24	—	—	—	Skyyport
1981	"Superlove"	—	31	—	—	—	—
	"For the First Time"	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Call Me"	26	1	3	—	34	—	Skyy Line
1982	"Let's Celebrate"	—	16	—	—	—	67
	"When You Touch Me"	—	43	—	—	—	—
	"Movin' Violation"	—	26	—	—	—	—	Skyyjammer
1983	"Let Love Shine"	—	39	41	—	—	—
	"Bad Boy"	—	33	—	—	—	—	Skyylight
	"Show Me the Way"	—	35	10	—	—	97
	1984	"Dancin' to Be Dancin'"	—	49	—	—	—		—	style="text-align:left;"|'Inner City'
"Givin' It (To You)"	—	8	42	—	—	83	style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3|'From the Left Side'
"Non-Stop"	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Love Illogical"	—	—	—	—	—	—
"[Start of a Romance (song)|Start of a Romance]"	—	1	41	—	—	—	style='text-align:left;' rowspan=3|'Start of a Romance'
"Love All the Way"	—	47	—	—	—	—
"[Real Love (Skyy song)|Real Love]"	47	1	—	—	—	—
"Up and Over (Stronger and Better)"	—	16	—	—	—	—	style='text-align:left;' rowspan=2|'Nearer to You'
"Nearer to You"	—	73	—	—	—	—
"2014"	"Top of the World" (Solidisco featuring Skyy)	—	—	—	—	—	—