Melvin Riley

Melvin Riley Jr. sang lead on hits by Ready For The World ("Oh Sheila," "Love You Down") and had his own solo sides as well as writing and producing a Top Ten R&B hit for 4 By Four ("Come Over," number ten R&B, summer 1987). Besides bandleader/singer/guitarist/principal songwriter Riley, the Flint, MI, band that started in 1982 included his schoolmates, drummer Gerald Valentine, keyboardist Gregory Potts, bassist John Eaton, percussionist Willie Triplett, and lead guitarist Gordon Strozier.



Recording at Bernard Terry's Silver Sun studio, the band sent their demos out to the major labels and received back rejection notices. Co-produced with Terry, the band's first single, the languid ballad "Tonight," was released on their own Blue Lake Records label in the Flint area. The band got the single to WJLB radio DJ The Electrifying Mojo who began playing it. "Tonight" became a local then regional hit spreading to Detroit and Chicago. MCA Records who initially took a pass on the band picked up "Tonight" which went to number six R&B in late 1984. Its follow-up, the similarly toned "Deep Inside Your Love," reached number six R&B in spring 1985.

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