UB Anniversary ReVisit: Legendary Force MDs Talk Legacy & Loss

This year, we’ve been spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.

UB has also been blessed to speak with some of black cultures, biggest icons, in film, television and literature.

Today marks the 40th Anniversary of the Force M.D.’s debut album “Love Letters,” originally released September 14th, 1984.

UB was honored to speak with the fellas in 2011, this feature celebrates a group who literally, changed the sound of urban music!

Influenced by the Jackson 5, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Sam Cook & The Manhattans.

Force M.D.’s started out singing on street corners, stoops and Staten Island Ferry. “The fondest memory is the idea of actually singing on the Staten Island Ferry.” Steven shared with UB; “We also use to sing on the streets of Times Square and that was a really good experience. But singing on the Staten Island Ferry was great, just being from the hood and we was broke (laughs).”

The Force M.D.’s (M.D.=Musical Diversity) were among the first R&B vocal groups to intermix doo-wop-affected consonances with hip-hop beats.

When the group began performing as the L.D.s on the Staten Island ferry singing and doing impersonations, the group was composed of brothers Steven” Stevie D” Lundy, Antoine “T.C.D.” Lundy, Rodney “Khalil” Lundy their uncle Jesse Lee Daniels and later friends Trisco Pearson and Charles “Mercury” Nelson. After the L.D.s connected with DJ Dr. Rock (Roger Daniels) they also performed as Dr. Rock & the Force MCs.

Force M.D.’s spoke to UB in 2011 and Steven told us about the M.D.’s early hip hop influence, “The Hip-Hop influence came from myself and Mercury and we had a DJ named Dr. Rock. We were like one of the first like Staten Island rappers. We had to test ourselves and go all the way up to Harlem, Staten Island has always been the forgotten barrow. First people use to laugh, like they’re from Staten Island. So when they heard us, that was a whole other story.”

After signing with Tommy Boy Records in 1984, the group had already developed into a quiet storm/contemporary R&B group; with its Top 5 R&B hit “Tears” from the debut “Love Letters” album. Released today 40 years ago.

“Love Letters” also included the singles “Let Me Love You” and “Forgive Me Girl” both of which peaked at #49 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #93 on the UK chart.

“The Force M.D.’s was the first to marry the Hip-Hop/Soul and Hip-Hop/Doo Wop. Also Jesse D was instrumental in being one of the first guys doing the human beat box. Like Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie and them got the human beat box off of Jesse D.

Force M.D.’s is the first Hip-Hop/R&B group to have a DJ on the stage with them apart of the set. Also Jesse D was one of the first freestyle rappers, it wasn’t that many people doing that.”

The “Love Letters” album also produced the 1985 hit single “Itchin’ for a Scratch” which peaked at #13 on the R&B chart.

With the exception of their first album, Force M.D.’s was the first act on Tommy Boy to have major-label distribution through its then parent Warner Bros. Records. In which the deal happened due to the success of Force M.D.’s.

The classic single “Tender Love” was released for their sophomore album release “Chillin.’”

The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #4 on the R&B chart. It also reached #23 on the UK chart and became their biggest hit, selling more than 500,000 records.

They group received overwhelming commercial success from the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis penned ballad and it was featured in the 1985 feature film and soundtrack “Krush Groove.” The single proved to be a huge success, becoming an instant R&B classic after it stayed on the charts for 19 weeks.

The fellas later appeared in the 1985 film “Rappin,’” singing and performing.

The Force M.D.’s finally scored their first R&B #1 hit 35 years ago in 1987 with “Love is a House.” The song was the lead single for the group’s third album and classic, “Touch and Go.”

The album also included the singles “Would You Love Me,” “Take Your Love Back” and the slept on ballad “Couldn’t Care Less,” which reached #23 on the R&B Billboard chart.

“Love Is A House” was the groups third Top 10 song and it peaked at #1 for 2 weeks. In 2011 Steven shared with UB the song wasn’t a favorite of the group at first; “Two dudes from London wrote that song and they had a girl singing on it at first on the demo. And we didn’t like it when we first heard it.” Steven went on to say; “So they asked us to listen to it for a whole week and tell us what you think. It grew on us and we recorded it. It was really a nice relaxed atmosphere doing that album. We was on tour with Madonna when that album came out, that’s why Love is A House was #1. We was overseas with Madonna.”

For being known for their acapella harmonizing, that’s how the group caught the attention of Madonna and she invited them on the European leg of her 1987 tour.

Their fourth album, “Step to Me” was released in 1990. Featuring production by Full Force, Marley Marl, Monte Moir and others. The lead single “Are You Really Real,” reached the Top 20 R&B with the follow-up ballad “Somebody’s Crying” reaching #36.

Mercury and Trisco exited the group shortly after and were replaced by Rodney “Khalil” Lundy and Shawn Waters.

The group then released the album “Moments in Time” in 1994, with the single release of “Last to Know.”

Tragedy struck the group in the 90s when three members passed away; Charles ‘Mercury’ Nelson died from a heart attack in 1995. DJ Dr. Rock died suddenly of natural causes in 1996 and original lead singer Antoine “TCD” Lundy, battled Lou Gehrig’s disease before passing away in 1998.

“At one point we was slowing down, but we had to keep the legacy alive so we kept going.” The late Jesse Lee Daniels shared with UB in 2011; “We’re doing it for ourselves, but we’re also doing it for the brothers who have passed.”

The remaining MDs returned with a comeback album entitled “The Reunion” in 2000. President Obama highlighted the Force M.D.s among other artists included in his Air Force One iPod playlist. In 2010 Force M.D.‘ performned on BET’s Monique Show.

A feature film documentary was released on the group in 2011 entitled “The Force M.D.s Relived.”

In 2014 Force M.D.’s appeared on “Full Force: With Love From Our Friends.” The next year, the group was spotlighted on an episode of the TV One hit series “Unsung.”

The group later loss two more members when Trisco Smith-Pearson passed away in 2016 from cancer and on January 4th, 2022 Jesse Lee Daniels passed away.

In recent years, the group appeared on BET‘s popular “DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic.”

Just this summer, the remaining members released the single “3 Good Lovers.”

The group continues to perform on stages all over the world.

Aries from UB spoke with the legendary Force M.D.’s in 2011, in support of their documentary.

The Force MD’s talked to Aries about the documentary, creating the whole Hip-Hop/Soul merge as well as the human beat box, continuing on after their losses and much more!

Educate yourself on the influence and talents of the Force M.D.’s!

UrbanBridgez.com: Like the Tender Love video, many people don’t know you guys really did start out singing on street corners, stoops and Staten Island Ferry, what are some of you guys most fondest memories of those days?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): The fondest memory to me is the idea of actually singing on the Staten Island Ferry. We also use to sing on the streets of Times Square and that was a really good experience. But singing on the Staten Island Ferry was great, just being from the hood and we was broke (laughs). We were first called the Fantastic L.D.’s. So being on there and witnessing a guy sing country on the boat and he use to win all the talent shows in our hometown. So we was like let’s do what he’s doing and see if we can make some money. We’re broke right now let’s see if we can make some money (laughs). We got on there and started singing songs by like the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, we would have the crowd in a frenzy. It was all races and creeds, so that was a new experience for us, to really test yourself you know. They really enjoyed it, we was like the hottest act on the Ferry.

UrbanBridgez.com: You guys always had a major Hip-Hop influence in your music, what inspired that?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): The Hip-Hop influence came from myself and Mercury and we had a DJ named Dr. Rock. We were like one of the first like Staten Island rappers. We had to test ourselves and go all the way up to Harlem, Staten Island has always been the forgotten barrow. First people use to laugh, like they’re from Staten Island. So when they heard us, that was a whole other story. They were like wow, these guys are really good. So that blew up and left a big mark. Me and Mercury and we had a cousin who joined us later. We were the Force MC’s at that time, DJ Rock & The Force MC’s. We left a real big underground following on the Hip-Hop circuit.

UrbanBridgez.com: You guys were in the film “Rappin” one of my favorite old school films…
Steve (Force M.D.’s): (laughs) You should be on Def Comedy Jam (laughs). I’m just kidding. Oh that was an experience right there. Can I feel you in on something real quick.. They asked alot of people to audition for Rappin. We was like we’re gonna be in Rappin, we’re gonna be like it! (laughs) As you can see it was just scraps, we did one of our R&B songs. We performed that and I mean we was sweating and everything to get in this movie. So they were like alright guys you got it! We was so happy, we were telling people yo we’re gonna be in a movie called Rappin. So we’re like who’s in it and they started to tell us. We didn’t know any of them names then (laughs). No offense to Mario Van Peebles or anybody, but we didn’t know it was actors. We thought it was going to be a bunch of real rappers in it. So we did our little part and was like okay (laughs). We’ll take this as something to add to our resume.’ It was fun doing it and we appreciate them giving us that part.

UrbanBridgez.com: Everybody from Erik La Salle, Kadeem Hardison and Mario Van Peebles were just starting out as well.
Steve (Force M.D.’s): Right and look at them now! Now that is something I do brag about (laughs). I be pointing them out, like look he was in the movie with us, I feel good saying that (laughs). Look at Dwayne Wyane, he was in the movie with us.

UrbanBridgez.com: Your biggest hits have been Tender Love & Love is A House, two R&B classics! That I still wear out! Besides those two, what are some of you guys personal favorite songs that you’ve recorded throughout your career?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): That’s a real good question. You know one of my favorite Force MD’s songs it wasn’t like a huge hit, but like a top 20 hit, Couldn’t Care Less.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yes! That’s my favorite (laughs).
Steve (Force M.D.’s): Yeah, yeah (laughs)
Khalil (Force M.D.’s): I came in the group a little later, or should I say back in the group. So one of mine is one we did for a reunion album called Messing Around.
Jesse: Mines is Forgive Me Girl.

UrbanBridgez.com: I have to say “Touch and Go” is one of my all time favorite albums!!! I remember being a kid, getting that tape and playing it out! Even now I still play it faithfully! I can’t even choose a favorite from it because I love them all, well maybe Couldn’t Care Less or Take Your Love Back. Take me back then & when you guys were in the studio recording that album, some of the best memories you have?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): We went through that album pretty easily. Tom Silverman & Monica Lynch from Tommy Boy was always pitching songs to us. I do remember the day they pitched us Love is A House. Two dudes from London wrote that song and they had a girl singing on it at first on the demo. And we didn’t like it when we first heard it. So they asked us to listen to it for a whole week and tell us what you think. It grew on us and we recorded it. It was really a nice relaxed atmosphere doing that album. We was on tour with Madonna when that album came out, that’s why Love is A House was #1. We was overseas with Madonna (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: You guys have released music in the 90’s as well as 2000 which stayed true to that Force MD’s 80’s R&B, who were some of your influences coming up?
Jesse: Michael Jackson.
Steve (Force M.D.’s): Yeah our major influence was the Jackson 5. Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cook & The Manhattans.
Khalil (Force M.D.’s): Y’all forgot about James Brown and Smokey Robinson. I think Smokey Robinson was more of a major influence on TC.

UrbanBridgez.com: Through the years you guys have loss three of your family/group members, when did you all decide to keep the Force MD’s brand going and what was your motivation?
Jesse (Force M.D.’s): Really to keep the legacy alive, two members passed away, TC & Mercury. At one point we was slowing down, but we had to keep the legacy alive so we kept going. We’re doing it for ourselves, but we’re also doing it for the brothers who have passed.

Steve (Force M.D.’s): Like with Khalil he was in the group earlier when we were Fantastic L.D.’s, he just returned back to the group. Most of us are siblings, me, Jesse, Khalil and TC are all siblings. Jesse is our uncle and me, TC & Khalil are brothers. Trisco was a member of the group, he’s on his own right now. But there is a chance he might return to the group as well. So yeah we just kept the legacy alive and we’re pretty much all related. We got the same sound and keep it going by touring & all of the other things we got going on.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell me about the documentary you guys have put together?
Khalil (Force M.D.’s): Basically we’re wrapping it up now, it’s going to be phenomenal! It’s called The Force MD’s Relived. it’s going to bring everybody back to the moment when the Force MD’s touched down. Also pinpoint a lot of the things that we brought to the music culture. Some of the things a lot of people overlooked, but once they see the documentary they’re going to be really surprised. The Force MD’s was the first to marry the Hip-Hop/Soul and Hip-Hop/Doo Wop. Also Jesse D was instrumental in being one of the first guys doing the human beat box. Like Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie and them got the human beat box off of Jesse D. Force MD’s is the first Hip-Hop/R&B group to have a DJ on the stage with them apart of the set. Also Jesse D was one of the first freestyle rappers, it wasn’t that many people doing that. At that time everybody would have written raps, even with battle raps. Stevie was one of the first to rap off the top of his head. People like Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, Jam Master J, bless his soul all basically all labeled Steve as the first they seen freestyle rapping. Another thing, is even before LL Cool J’s record I Need Love, Steve was the first to rap to like a slow R&B track. And even before Wu Tang came with the whole Karate thing, Jesse and Steve and everybody who was on stage, we got footage of this…was doing karate and coming with that whole concept.

UrbanBridgez.com: As one of the first major R&B/Hip-Hop doo wop groups, do you guys ever feel underrated, like you don’t get as much credit as you deserve?
Khalil (Force M.D.’s): Oh yeah, that’s the purpose of this documentary when you got somebody who merges a new sound together, like when we say Hip-Hop. We always have the pioneers in our minds like at all the award shows and even magazines and things like that. Force MD’s don’t get that credit. I think after this documentary and people see all the pioneers and everybody cosigning and basically saying these guys were the ones to bring this whole sound and these other different elements that make up this culture together. It’s going to really wake up a lot of people. You doing this interview with these points I’m making is going to shake a lot of people but a lot of people are going to bare witness to it.

Steve (Force M.D.’s): Also, us and New Edition were two of the groups out of the 80s to really set a big trend. For like Jodeci, Boyz II Men and everything. They get all the credit and homage and leave us out of it. It’s going to take this documentary to wake these people up! Once we get on these BET award shows and perform, people gonna look at us like wow. We’ve been missing this all this time.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s something you guys would like to see change with the current state that R&B music is in?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): It’s funny you ask that because it’s kind of like evolving & everything evolves different. Sometimes the trends come back, they don’t be totally the same trend. You see a lot of bands coming back, even with the rappers doing it with a band. Like the real blunt language of the current R&B, in our time it was more of the romantic, suspense, more so. It wasn’t as raunchy as it is now. It’s slowly taking it’s course, but it’s never going to be where we had it. They got a whole new era of technology now and generations that’s going to bring it where it currently is. They only thing we wanted to do was to stay true to the skills of singing. Like when they had real singers, real music and real songs. Songs that can touch people and be classics, there’s not a lot of classic music of R&B out right now. Like Force MD’s songs you can play forever, we get calls every few days from people across the country, saying they’re playing your record. That’s because they’re classic songs and they were well written and well sung. In the documentary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis say, these guys are strong vocalist they came in and knocked this out in two hours.

Jesse: (Force M.D.’s): Also a lot of R&B singers today, not all but some of them they’re not really singing. They’re using computers and all this different technology to make their voice sound really good. People like The Force MD’s because we’re natural singers, we can sing anywhere! Some use that special technology in the studio, then you see them live they don’t sound like the record.

Steve (Force M.D.’s): Right now with R&B, you can’t tell who’s who anymore. Everybody sounds the same, everybody is trying to sound like R. Kelly or Trey Songz and they all sound alike! We give big respect to R. Kelly we think he is a genius. But with these records today a lot of them sound alike, that’s why I’m not sure which ones are going to last for years to come & they’re all saying same thing. Shawty this and shawty that, I don’t know man (laughs). Even though we sing old school, we can do anything. You got to follow in that stage and know the true you & do true music! I’m not saying their music isn’t true, but timeless music stands on it’s own! Some songs are timeless and last forever.

UrbanBridgez.com: Outside of the documentary, Tell us about what’s going on with you guys these days?
Steve (Force M.D.’s): We’re doing an album to drop with the documentary. We’re working on something with Big Daddy Kane for his album right now. We just did something with Melly Mel, Melly Mel got a single coming out from his album. We did some hooks. We’re in the process of going in the studio now working on songs, to go with the documentary as well as for the album right now. We’ve been lining up producers, it’s looking good! Because they way we work, once we have all the dates and the producers are confirmed we should have an album out within two months.

Jesse (Force M.D.’s): We also want to let everybody know that the Force MD’s are still out here performing! People think like the Force MD’s died, there’s all these misconceptions out there.

UrbanBridgez.com: Expected release of documentary and album?
Jesse (Force M.D.’s): Hopefully we have everything done by first quarter of next year.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Jesse (Force M.D.’s): We love them and thanks for supporting us and we won’t let you down!
Steve (Force M.D.’s): When we come to your city, come see us we won’t let you down!
Khalil (Force M.D.’s): Put positive energy in everything you do & everything will be beautiful for you!

Stream “Love Letters” + Watch Classic Force M.D.’s Video Hits!