The Evolution of Alicia Myers

Black Girls Rock Salutes The Foremother of Funk

Funk Music Foremother - Songstress Alicia Myers is an unsung musical hero of the 70s and 80s funk soul disco sound. Her rich hypnotic vocals provided the soundtrack for some of the biggest hits of the Paradise Garage Club music scene. And three decades later, Myers? hit R&B classic, ?I Want To Thank You? is still considered a timeless anthem for clubgoers around the globe. Here?s how her original sound came to be. This is the Evolution of Alicia Myers. (Photo: Dr. Billy Ingram/FilmMagic)

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Funk Music Foremother - Songstress Alicia Myers is an unsung musical hero of the 70s and 80s funk soul disco sound. Her rich hypnotic vocals provided the soundtrack for some of the biggest hits of the Paradise Garage Club music scene. And three decades later, Myers? hit R&B classic, ?I Want To Thank You? is still considered a timeless anthem for clubgoers around the globe. Here?s how her original sound came to be. This is the Evolution of Alicia Myers. (Photo: Dr. Billy Ingram/FilmMagic)

Singing Star Search - Born into a family of nine in Detroit, Michigan, Alicia had the most in common with her brother Jackie, who was also a singer. The two moved to Los Angeles in 1972, where they won a talent contest. That success sparked the beginning of Alicia?s music career.(Photo: Charles Norfleet/WireImage)

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Singing Star Search - Born into a family of nine in Detroit, Michigan, Alicia had the most in common with her brother Jackie, who was also a singer. The two moved to Los Angeles in 1972, where they won a talent contest. That success sparked the beginning of Alicia?s music career.(Photo: Charles Norfleet/WireImage)

Grooving Group Dynamic - Alicia joined forces with a group called Al Hudson & The Soul Partners in 1978. As the female voice and songwriter in the band, Myers added a new energy and lifeforce into the all male sextet. The R&B band went on to released four albums under this group moniker.(Photo: MCA Records)

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Grooving Group Dynamic - Alicia joined forces with a group called Al Hudson & The Soul Partners in 1978. As the female voice and songwriter in the band, Myers added a new energy and lifeforce into the all male sextet. The R&B band went on to released four albums under this group moniker.(Photo: MCA Records)

Photo By Photo: MCA Records

Doing It Into A Hit - The group found their hit making groove with R&B single, ?You Can Do It? in 1979. Alicia presence proved to be a star-turning one because she co-wrote and was the featured lead vocalist on the track. (Photo: MCA Records)

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Doing It Into A Hit - The group found their hit making groove with R&B single, ?You Can Do It? in 1979. Alicia presence proved to be a star-turning one because she co-wrote and was the featured lead vocalist on the track. (Photo: MCA Records)

Soulful Band Reinvention - Soon after the addition of Alicia, Al Hudson & The Soul Partners changed their name to One Way. One Way?s original members included bandleader Hudson, Myers, guitarists Dave Roberson and Cortez Harris, bassist Kevin McCord, drummer Gregory Green and keyboardist Jonathan Meadows. (Photo: Geffen Records)

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Soulful Band Reinvention - Soon after the addition of Alicia, Al Hudson & The Soul Partners changed their name to One Way. One Way?s original members included bandleader Hudson, Myers, guitarists Dave Roberson and Cortez Harris, bassist Kevin McCord, drummer Gregory Green and keyboardist Jonathan Meadows. (Photo: Geffen Records)

Photo By Photo: Geffen Records

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Soaring Solo Flight - In the early 1980s Alicia left One way to pursue a solo career. She recorded her biggest hit, the gospel/soul hybrid, ?I Want To Thank You,? which was featured on the 1981 album, Alicia. The single peaked at number five on Billboard?s R&B chart. (Photo: MCA Records)

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Soaring Solo Flight - In the early 1980s Alicia left One way to pursue a solo career. She recorded her biggest hit, the gospel/soul hybrid, ?I Want To Thank You,? which was featured on the 1981 album, Alicia. The single peaked at number five on Billboard?s R&B chart. (Photo: MCA Records)

Photo By Photo: MCA Records

Appreciating Global Love - In 1984, Alicia scored another top ten hit with the single, ?You Get the Best from Me (Say, Say, Say)." The track, featured on Myers? album Appreciation, was an international hit that charted in the U.K. Top 60. (Photo: MCA Records)

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Appreciating Global Love - In 1984, Alicia scored another top ten hit with the single, ?You Get the Best from Me (Say, Say, Say)." The track, featured on Myers? album Appreciation, was an international hit that charted in the U.K. Top 60. (Photo: MCA Records)

Musical Family Affair - Even though Alicia left her One Way for solo success, she never truly left her musical family. Myers first four albums released from 1981 through 1984 were all produced by One Way bandmembers Al Hudson and Kevin McCord. (Photo: MCA Records)

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Musical Family Affair - Even though Alicia left her One Way for solo success, she never truly left her musical family. Myers first four albums released from 1981 through 1984 were all produced by One Way bandmembers Al Hudson and Kevin McCord. (Photo: MCA Records)

The Peace Of Alicia - After a hiatus, Alicia returned to music with a fifth album in 2011. She released Peace of Mind on the Love Town Music Imprint. It featured the tracks "United We Stand", "Fancy Dancer" and "Stay." (Photo: Love Town Music)

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The Peace Of Alicia - After a hiatus, Alicia returned to music with a fifth album in 2011. She released Peace of Mind on the Love Town Music Imprint. It featured the tracks "United We Stand", "Fancy Dancer" and "Stay." (Photo: Love Town Music)

Photo By Photo: Love Town Music

The Myers Legacy - Alicia Myers? unforgettable imprint on soul music can be heard in today?s artists. Her signature track, ?I Want to Thank You? was sampled by artists E 40 and Busta Rhymes for their songs ?I Wanna Thank You? and ?Thank You.? And thanks to her timeless talents and sound, for Myers, the beat still goes on. (Photos from left: Valerie Macon/Getty Images, David Livingston/Getty Images)

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The Myers Legacy - Alicia Myers? unforgettable imprint on soul music can be heard in today?s artists. Her signature track, ?I Want to Thank You? was sampled by artists E 40 and Busta Rhymes for their songs ?I Wanna Thank You? and ?Thank You.? And thanks to her timeless talents and sound, for Myers, the beat still goes on. (Photos from left: Valerie Macon/Getty Images, David Livingston/Getty Images)

Photo By Photos from left: Valerie Macon/Getty Images