Sly Fox (band)
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Michael Camacho |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Dance-pop music |
Sly Fox was a dance-pop duo from the United States, consisting of vocalist Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, known for his work with P-Funk, and Michael Camacho. They achieved notable success during the mid-1980s with their hit single "Let's Go All the Way", which reached the top 10 in both the UK and US charts. Their only studio album, sharing the same title, made it into the US Top 40, followed by several singles before the group eventually disbanded.
History
The group Sly Fox was created under the guidance of producer Ted Currier and was promoted as polished teen idols. Cooper brought extensive experience as a funk session musician, having collaborated with Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy's Rubber Band, whereas Camacho was mentored by David Bowie. Their live performances featured accomplished musicians such as drummer Frank "Kash" Waddy, keyboardist Joel "Razor Sharp" Johnson, and Gregory Jackson from Zapp.
Their album Let's Go All the Way, released in December 1985 through Capitol Records, included the eponymous track that became a top 10 hit in both the United States and United Kingdom during 1986. Following singles comprised "Como Tu Te Llama," which climbed to number 13 on Dance Music/Club Play charts, "Stay True," which peaked at number 94 on the Hot 100, and "Don't Play with Fire," which did not achieve commercial success. Despite these efforts, "Let's Go All The Way" remained their sole major international hit, categorizing them as one-hit wonders. The band parted ways in 1988.
In 1989, Sly Fox briefly reunited in Cincinnati, Ohio, recording four tracks financed by Bill Laswell. Among these was Cooper’s composition "There's No Place Like Home". The recording sessions included guitarist James Ibold, bassist Chris Sherman, keyboardist Casey McKeown, and drummer Johnny Miracle. However, creative disagreements prevented further collaboration. Subsequently, Cooper resumed touring with George Clinton while Camacho shifted towards a film career based in Los Angeles.
After disbandment, Cooper continued his musical pursuits, releasing the album Fresh Mud in 2006 alongside Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame, merging blues and rap influences. Camacho transitioned to acting and music endeavors; he launched his solo album Just for You in 2007, operates a jazz lounge in New York City, and formed the funk ensemble Funky Foxes. The track "Let's Go All The Way" retains enduring appeal through retro radio programming and 1980s-themed dance events.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1985 | Let's Go All the Way | 31 | 34 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Let's Go All the Way | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop | US R&B | US Dance | UK | |||
| 1985 | "Let's Go All the Way" | 7 | 57 | — | 3 | |
| 1986 | "Como Tu Te Llama" | ― | ― | 13 | 86 | |
| "Stay True" | 94 | — | ― | ― | ||
| "Don't Play with Fire" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1987 | "Merry-Go-Round" | 127 | 157 | — | 83 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||