R&B Male Groups Returning | ‘Day 26’ Reunite + ‘RSVP’ Emerging
In recent years, R&B Male Groups have seemingly become a thing of the past. With most of the groups either on hiatus or no longer together.
Jagged Edge released the double album “A Jagged Love Story” in 2020 and the legendary Temptations released “Temptations 60,” last year celebrating the band’s 60th anniversary.
Since then After 7, Ruff Endz and just recently Men at Large have reunited for new album releases.
Some other male groups have been touring, such as Next, 112 and Dru Hill, but they haven’t released new music.
This week Day 26 announced being reunited for their 15th Anniversary and promising new music. Original members Robert Curry, Brian Angel, Willie Taylor, Anthony “Que” Mosley, and Michael McCluney. The group released two albums and in 2014 they released an EP entitled “The Return.”
In 2009 they won the BET Award for Best Group. They made history in 2008 by becoming the biggest selling debut album from a male R&B group in the 17 year history of SoundScan.
UB has been with the fellas of Day 26 since the beginning. Originally contestants of Diddy‘s reality show, “Making the Band 4.” Each of them auditioned in the hope of becoming Diddy‘s picture of an ideal band.
In 2009, UB asked Day 26 what was the best advice Diddy gave them? “There’s always somebody tryin’ to take your spot!,” Will stated. Brian went on to say; “That is the best advice. That stays with us. At the end of the day, when you’re sleeping, there’s another group out there doing everything that you supposed to be doing while you sleeping, so why sleep? You sleep when you dead and that’s what we do!”
Will ended by saying; “And that’s not even just in music, that’s in radio, and TV–it’s always somebody in life trying to take your spot, so you really gotta stay on you’re A-game. If you think like that you will never lose. Even if there isn’t anybody working to take your spot, just that thought will keep you moving.”
In 2012 Day 26 disbanded. The group signed off in an official statement by saying “…And as the saying goes, this is not a goodbye, but a simply see you later.”
Willie Taylor told UB in 2012 when the group disbanded; “Well the one thing that I will say about Day 26, they will always be one of the most talented groups that I’ve ever listened to. I’m not just saying that because I was apart of it, take me away and I would still say that about the guys it was created with. The thing is in business things changed and I’m not out here pointing fingers but we’re going to wait…that’s going to be a whole other interview where we get all the way down to the nitty gritty of it. But I got love for all of the brothers, but as of now there is no more Day 26. However who knows what the future will hold, maybe we’ll come back and do a reunion thing, who knows.”
Brian Angel told UB in 2012; “To be honest with you, I’m not going to sit up here and lie to you. I never wanted Day 26 to end, that was never in my mind, that was never anything that has come out of my mouth. I’m still reppin Day 26 till the day I die. I got a tattoo on my skin. But I think it was something the rest of the group members decided on their own. There is this thing we have as far as majority rules, as far as voting is concerned. I guess they kind of did that without consulting with me. So it is what it is.”
Well it’s a new day (no pun intended) and the guys are all back together, recording new music and rehearsing for new shows.
Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V and Pleasure P have announced the creation of the new R&B group RSVP, a name Bobby came up with.
The group is currently recording their first project in Atlanta, to be released later this year.
As an independent artist, Ray J earned his first #1 single on the R&B charts with “One Wish.”
In recent years, the multitalented business shifted his focus from music, to the tech world. He secured a $31 million deal securing the launch of his electronics transportation brand Raycon.
Ray J stars in the VH1 smash #1 hit TV series “Love & Hip Hop – Hollywood.”
In 1998, Sammie visited the Apollo Theater where he made it all the way to the final round. Joyce Irby, of the 1980s all-girl group Klymaxx heard Sammie’s undeniable talent and became his manager. It was then that she introduced him to Grammy-award winning producer/songwriter Dallas Austin in the summer of 1999.
Dallas and Sammie had an instant connection and went right to work. That summer, Dallas signed 12-year-old Sammie to Freeworld Entertainment label under Capitol Records. Within three months, Sammie recorded and released Gold-selling album entitled “From the Bottom to the Top,” which included two Top 10 hits, “I Like It” and “Crazy Things I Do.”
After a successful debut, Sammie took a break from music to continue his education at West Orange High School. Sammie was featured on “Hardball,” a single from the 2001 So So Def soundtrack. With his consistent efforts, he graduated in 2005.
Once completed, a more focused and educated Sammie went back to his first love – music. In 2006, he signed to Austin’s reactive independent label, Rowdy Records. The new deal birthed Sammie’s self-titled sophomore album, “Sammie.” The successful album featured the Top 30 R&B single, “You Should Be My Girl” produced by Jazze Pha featuring Sean Paul of Youngbloodz. The song peaked at the #2 spot on BET’s 106 & Park, solidifying Sammie as a staple teen heartthrob. His second single, “Come with Me,” peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles, premiered on 106 & Park and was inspired by Michael Jackson’s music video “Stranger in Moscow.”
Through trials and tribulations, Bobby V has navigated through rough waters of the music industry. At age 13, he was one of the artists in Organized Noize’s teen vocal group MISTA, whose debut single, “Blackberry Molasses,” remains a classic to this day.
Always impressed by Bobby V’s vocal ability, when the timing was right Ludacris and late great Chaka Zulu, the President of Disturbing Tha Peace Records, offered him a deal.
Bobby’s first single, “Slow Down,” proved to be a wise choice for his foray as an adult vocalist, picking up hundreds of radio spins nearly from the first week of its release. As listeners hone in on Bobby’s extraordinary vocal ability, also teased by such tunes as “Love Dream,” in which he uses his falsetto in a manner reminiscent of classic singers from the 70’s. The poignant “My Angel,” focuses on the magical chemistry between a man and his true love.
Pleasure P first attracted international attention as a member of the recording group Pretty Ricky. His debut album, “The Introduction of Marcus Cooper,” featured the hit singles “Boyfriend #2” and “Did You Wrong.”
