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Evelyn "Champagne" King

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"Evelyn King" redirects here. For the British MP, see Evelyn King (politician).

Evelyn "Champagne" King
King in 2008
King in 2008
Background information
Also known asEvelyn King
Born (1960-07-01) July 1, 1960 (age 64)
New York City, New York, U.S.
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • percussion
Years active1977–present
Labels
Formerly ofFirst Ladies of Disco

Evelyn "Champagne" King (born July 1, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her hit disco single "Shame", which was released in 1977 during the height of disco's popularity. King had other hits from the early through the mid–1980s including; "I'm in Love" (1981), "Love Come Down" (1982) and "Your Personal Touch" (1985).

Biography

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Life

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Evelyn King was born on July 1, 1960, in The Bronx, New York City, New York to Johnniea and Erik King. She was raised in Philadelphia. She is one of eight children. King's childhood nickname was "Bubbles".[5] Her uncle Avon Long had played the part of Sportin' Life in the first Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess and worked with Lena Horne at the Cotton Club. Her father was a back-up singer for groups at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Her mother managed a group named Quality Red.

King was discovered while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as an office cleaner. Producer Theodore T. Life overheard her singing in a washroom and began coaching her. Eventually she signed a production deal with Life's Galaxy Productions and a recording contract with RCA Records.[6]

In 1990, King married smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox. In 1997, she lost three family members to various illnesses. In 1987 her daughter Johnniea was born with brain damage and other health problems, dying two years later.[7]

Career

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At the beginning of her career the name Evelyn King sounded "too grown-up" so the name "Champagne" was added.[8] King released her debut studio album, Smooth Talk, in 1977. It included the song "Shame", which is her only top-ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 9; the song also reached No. 7 Soul and No. 8 on the dance chart. The record was eventually certified gold. Another single from that album, "I Don't Know If It's Right", peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 Soul; it would become her second certified gold single. In 1981, the single "I'm in Love" was released from the same-titled album; it reached No. 1 on the R&B singles chart and dance chart in August of that year; it also peaked at No. 40 on the pop chart.

In 1982, King released the album, Get Loose. It yielded a top-twenty pop and #1 Soul hit with the single, "Love Come Down". The song also peaked at No. 1 on the dance chart and reached the UK Singles Chart top-ten, peaking at No. 7 for three weeks.[9] The follow-up, "Betcha She Don't Love You", peaked at No. 2 on the Soul chart and No. 49 on the pop chart. From the mid- to late-1980s, King would continue to chart on the Soul chart, placing eight singles in the Soul top-twenty, with three making it to the top-ten.

On September 20, 2004, King's "Shame" became one of the first records to be inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York's Spirit club.[citation needed]

Health crisis and return to music

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In 2006, King had a uterine fibroid. She had to be resuscitated after her breathing stopped. She said that it was akin to "having a baby inside" of her.[10]

On August 14, 2007, King released her first studio album in 12 years, Open Book. It featured the single "The Dance", which peaked at No. 12 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart. In 2011, King also collaborated with deep house producer Miguel Migs, on the track "Everybody", which was included on his album Outside the Skyline. "Everybody" was released as a single on July 19, 2011.

In 2015, King formed a supergroup with disco singers Martha Wash and Linda Clifford called First Ladies of Disco. The group released its debut single "Show Some Love" in March 2015,[11] which peaked at number six on the Dance charts.[12] The group embarked on its first tour together in 2017. In December 2017, King left the group.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[13] 		US R&B
[13] 		CAN
[14] 		NZ
[15] 		UK
[9]
1977 Smooth Talk 14 8 24 — — RCA
1979 Music Box 35 12 45 — —
1980 Call on Me 124 58 — — —
1981 I'm in Love 28 6 — — —
1982 Get Loose 27 1 — 45 35
1983 Face to Face 91 24 — — —
1984 So Romantic 203 38 — — —
1985 A Long Time Coming (A Change Is Gonna Come) — 38 — — —
1988 Flirt 192 20 — — — EMI-Manhattan
1989 The Girl Next Door — — — — — EMI-USA
1995 I'll Keep a Light On — — — — — Expansion
2007 Open Book — — — — — Big Day/Jaggo
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

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Singles

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Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[17] 		US
R&B
[17] 		US
Dan
[17] 		AUS
[18] 		CAN
[14] 		IRE
[19] 		NL
[20] 		NZ
[15] 		UK
[9][21]
1977 "Shame" 9 7 8 72 16 — 26 — 39 Smooth Talk
1978 "I Don't Know If It's Right" 23 7 25 — 17 — — 38 67
"Dancin', Dancin', Dancin'" — — — — — — — — —
1979 "Music Box" 75 14 78 — — — — — — Music Box
"Out There" — 34 — — — — — — —
1980 "Let's Get Funky Tonight" — 34 12 — — — — — — Call on Me
"I Need Your Love" — — — — — — — — —
1981 "I'm in Love" 40 1 1 — — — — — 27 I'm in Love
"If You Want My Lovin'" — — — — — — — — 43
"Don't Hide Our Love" — 28 — — — — — — —
1982 "Spirit of the Dancer" — 51 54 — — — — — —
"Love Come Down" 17 1 1 — 44 13 — 12 7 Get Loose
"Betcha She Don't Love You" 49 2 — — — — — — —
"Back to Love" — — — — — — — — 40
1983 "Get Loose" — 61 — — — — — — 45
"Action" 75 16 13 — — — — — — Face to Face
1984 "Shake Down" 107 12 34 — — — — — —
"Teenager" — 28 — — — — — — —
"Just for the Night" 107 16 45 — — — — — — So Romantic
"I'm So Romantic" — — — — — — — — 76
1985 "Out of Control" — 54 14 — — — — — —
"Give Me One Reason" — — — — — — — — 93
"Till Midnight" — 57 — — — — — — —
"Give It Up" — — — — — — — — — Fright Night
"Your Personal Touch" 86 9 5 — — — — — 37 A Long Time Coming (A Change Is Gonna Come)
1986 "High Horse" — 19 12 — — — — — 55
"Slow Down" — 81 — — — — — — —
1988 "Flirt" — 3 — — — — — — — Flirt
"Hold on to What You've Got" — 8 5 — — — 41 — 47
"Kisses Don't Lie" — 17 — — — — — — —
1989 "Day to Day" — 80 — — — — — — — The Girl Next Door
1990 "Do Right" — — — — — — — — —
1992 "Shame (Hardcore Mix)" (Altern 8 vs Evelyn King) — — — — — — — — 74 —
1995 "I Think About You" — — — — — — — — — I'll Keep a Light On
1996 "One More Time" (with Divas of Color) — — 10 — — — — — 94 —
2008 "The Dance" — — 12 — — — — — — Open Book
2011 "Everybody" (with Miguel Migs) — — — — — — — — — Outside the Skyline
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2019. R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King came to fame during the disco era.
  2. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Evelyn "Champagne" King – Love Come Down: The Best of Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  3. ^ a b George-Warren, Holly; Romanowski, Patricia, eds. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (3rd ed.). Fireside. p. 528. ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
  4. ^ Weiss, Jeff. "GEN F: Ty Dolla $ign". The Fader (89). December 2013–January 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "After 30 Years, Evelyn 'Champagne' King Still Has Her Pop". Los Angeles Sentinel. July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Unsung. Season 4. July 11, 2011. TV One.
  8. ^ Kane, Peter-Astrid (June 7, 2018). "Champagne for Everyone!". SF Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "UK Charts > Evelyn King". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "Evelyn 'Champagne' King Speaks on Health Crisis That Almost Took Her Out / WATCH". January 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "Show Some Love - Single by First Ladies of Disco". Apple Music. March 25, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  12. ^ First Ladies of Disco | Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 2, 2019
  13. ^ a b "US Albums Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  14. ^ a b "CAN Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". RPM. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "NZ Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  16. ^ a b c d e "American certifications – Evelyn King". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "US Singles Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  18. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  19. ^ "IRE Charts Search > Evelyn King". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  20. ^ "NL Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". MegaCharts. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  21. ^ "UK Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  22. ^ "Canadian certifications – Evelyn "Champagne" King". Music Canada. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  23. ^ "Evelyn King: Love Come Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
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