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Pieces of a Dream (band)

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Pieces of a Dream
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres
Years active1976–present
LabelsElektra, Heads Up
MembersJames Lloyd
Curtis Harmon
David Dyson
Tony Watson Jr.
Chris Harris
Elec Simon
Past membersCedric Napoleon
Gerald Veasley
Lance Webb
Vince Evans
Federico Pena
Tracy Hamlin
Ramona Dunlop
Ron Kerber
Eddie Baccus Jr.
Michael Antonio Thornton
Norwood Young
Benjie Porecki
Cherie Mitchell
Bennie Sims
Leroy "Scooter" Taylor
Cliff Starkey
Rohn Lawrence
George Granville
Websitepiecesofadream.net

Pieces of a Dream is an American R&B and jazz fusion group.[1][2]

Overview

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The group was formed in Philadelphia during 1976 by bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd who were all teenagers at the time. The group based their name on "Pieces of Dreams", a Michel Legrand tune recorded by Stanley Turrentine that they regularly performed. In 1981 Pieces of a Dream had a minor soul hit with "Warm Weather" with vocals by singer Barbara Walker and synthesizer by Dexter Wansel, which was recorded on Elektra Records and co-produced by Dexter Wansel. In late 1983, the group had their most successful single, "Fo-Fi-Fo", which peaked at No. 13 on the US soul chart.[1][2] During their time with Elektra Records from 1981 to 1983, the group's first three albums were produced by saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.

The single "What Can I Do", from the album 'Bout Dat Time, with Norwood on the lead vocals, peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart in February 1990.[3]

Tracy Hamlin was the group's lead vocalist from 2002 to 2005 and sings on two of their albums, Love Silhouette and No Assembly Required.[4]

David Dyson has been the core bassist with the group from 2001 to the present and has also been a composer on No Assembly Required, Soul Intent, In The Moment, Just Funkin' Around, and Fired Up. Gerald Veasley and Scott Ambush have shared the bass chair intermittently as well.

Bassist Cedric A. Napoleon died in June 2024.[5]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title[2] Peak chart positions Record label
US
[6]
US R&B
[7]
US Jazz
[8]
US Con. Jazz
[9]
US Tra. Jazz
[10]
1981 Pieces of a Dream 170 37 15[11] Elektra Records
1982 We Are One 114 22 4[12] Elektra Records
1983 Imagine This 90 16 4 Elektra Records
1986 Joyride 102 18 3 Manhattan Records
1988 Makes You Wanna 60 24 Manhattan Records
1989 Bout Dat Time 57 EMI USA
1993 In Flight 81 44 7 Manhattan Records
1995 Goodbye Manhattan 9 8 Blue Note Contemporary
1997 Pieces 13 9 Blue Note Contemporary
1999 Ahead To The Past 11 9 Blue Note
2001 Acquainted With The Night 20 12 Heads Up International
2002 Love's Silhouette 16 8 Heads Up International
2004 No Assembly Required 11 6 Heads Up International
2006 Pillow Talk 8 4 Heads Up International
2009 Soul Intent 11 5 Heads Up International
2013 In The Moment 6 3 Shanachie
2015 All In 10 3 Shanachie
2017 Just Funkin' Around 6 2 Shanachie
2019 On Another Note 1 Shanachie
2021 Fired Up Shanachie

Compilation albums

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Year Title[2] Peak chart positions Record label
US Pop
[6]
US R&B
[7]
US Jazz
[8]
US Con. Jazz
[13]
1995 The Best Of.. 31 19 Blue Note
2002 Sensual Embrace - The Soul Ballads 30 18 Blue Note
2004 Sensual Embrace 2: More Soul Ballads 16 11 Blue Note
2005 Blue Note Trip: Jazzanova

References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 462.
  2. ^ a b c d "Pieces of a Dream". Allmusic.com.
  3. ^ "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  4. ^ No Assembly Required
  5. ^ "Pieces of a Dream co-founder, "Fo Fi Fo" singer Cedric Napoleon dies". Soul Tracks. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Billboard 200". billboard.com.
  7. ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". billboard.com.
  8. ^ a b "Pieces of a Dream: Top Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
  9. ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Contemporary Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
  10. ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Traditional Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
  11. ^ Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs. Vol. 93. Billboard Magazine. December 19, 1981. p. 27.
  12. ^ Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs. Vol. 94. Billboard Magazine. October 23, 1982. p. 36.
  13. ^ "Pieces of a Dream: Top Contemporary Jazz Albums". billboard.com.
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