In the ever-evolving landscape of digital trends and viral moments, certain icons emerge from the past to once again claim the spotlight. Recently, it’s been the effervescent Jermaine Stewart, who has been humorously and affectionately compared to NBA dynamo, Jimmy Butler.

https://x.com/CelebRealLife/status/1709247588111647052?s=20

For those unfamiliar or simply eager to revisit, here’s an exploration into the dynamic world of Jermaine Stewart.

The Soul Train Origins

Every legend has a beginning. For Jermaine Stewart, it was the rhythmic floors of “Soul Train.” Here, his unmistakable energy and style synced perfectly with fellow future stars Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel. This synergy led to a memorable association with the iconic R&B and disco group, Shalamar, where Stewart briefly showcased his talents.

Stewart with Jody Watley on Soul Train

Branching Out: High-Profile Collaborations and Features 

While his dance moves were unmistakable, Jermaine Stewart’s vocal prowess was what set him apart. He added depth and texture to Culture Club’s hit, “Miss Me Blind,” and if you groove to Eddie Murphy’s chart-topping “Party All the Time,” you’ll hear Jermaine’s distinct harmonies enriching the background. This classic, produced by the inimitable Rick James, became a defining track of the ’80s and showcased how versatile Jermaine really was.

A Solo Career That Echoed Through Decades

Branching out solo, Stewart wasn’t shy of chartbusters. From the infectious beats of “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” to the melodious “Get Lucky,” his tracks became anthems of an era. What’s more, these tunes have transcended time. Ella Eyre’s soulful 2015 cover of “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” is a testament to its enduring appeal.

Jermaine’s Legacy and Continued Resonance 

Though the world tragically lost Jermaine Stewart in 1997, his legacy remains undimmed. His contributions to the music world, blending nostalgic ’80s vibes with universally relatable themes, ensure that his voice continues to echo in the hearts of fans across generations.

Dive Into the Jermaine Stewart Experience: Essential Tracks 

1. “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” – The song that defines an era.

2. “Get Lucky” – Feel the ’80s groove at its finest.

3. “Jody” – Stewart’s charisma, captured in melody.

4. “Say It Again” – Experience Jermaine’s softer, romantic side.

5. “Miss Me Blind” by Culture Club – A collaboration worth revisiting.

6. “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy – Relive the ’80s party scene.

7. “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” by Ella Eyre – A modern homage to a classic.

For both nostalgic fans and curious newcomers, the musical world of Jermaine Stewart offers a vibrant journey. Dive in, explore, and celebrate a legend whose rhythms and melodies remain as captivating as ever.

“Not Forgotten” – a new feature on NeoSoulCypher.com dedicated to Classic and Legacy Artists We Haven’t Heard From in a While Due to Breakup, Scandal or Other Reasons.  

Loose Ends

In our first Not Forgotten feature, we showcase the impact of one my favorite groups of all time.  Coming of age in the 1980’s, there were quite a few music movements and superstar talents that blossomed – think genres like Hip-Hop, Punk Rock, Rock, Pop, and stars like Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna and Run-DMC. R&B also had its moment, with artists and groups like Ready for the World, the Time, Guy, Bobby Brown, Sade, and Sheila E, among many others.

They Planted Neo Soul Seeds

Loose Ends was a part of this R&B moment, and they also helped initiate two tremendous currents in American music. They helped lead the Black Brit invasion of American R&B and they also planted the seeds for the Neo Soul movement of the 1990’s. (i.e., Sade, Five Star, Incognito, Brand New Heavies, Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler).  

Loose Ends had a string of smooth and bangin hits starting with “Choose Me (Rescue Me),” from the 1984 A Little Spice album and “Hangin on a String (Contemplating)” in 1985, which reached No. 13 on the UK chart and also reached No. 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart (a first for a Black UK act), from the So Where Are You album, an album that included 2 other super dope tracks – “The Sweetest Pain” and ‘You Can’t Stop the Rain.” Not to be outdone, the 1986 Zagora album gave us, “Stay A Little While Child,” “Slow Down,” “Gonna Make You Mine,” and “Nights of Pleasure” – all straight hits with the jazzy sophistication and danceable beats we had come to love. The string continued in 1987 with The Real Chuckeboo, which gave us the super dope “Watching You” and “Hungry.”

Where things went wrong

After The Real Chuckeboo, that’s when the drama began.  The group was initially composed of three very talented artists – Jane Eugene (vocalist, songwriter), Steve Nichol (keyboardist) and Carl McIntosh (vocalist, producer). According to reports, (interviews of Carl McIntosh), the group frayed after The Real Chuckeboo for a number of reasons. It appears that tension developed between Eugene and Nichol, to the point there was physical aggression by Eugene against Nichol (she punched him in the face). It also appears that another person, Nic Martinelli – a producer type from Virgin music, who had helped guide the group with its hits throughout the years, and Eugene and Nichol, wanted to continue to produce their jazzy sophisticated melodies over 808’s, while McIntosh wanted to expand their approach to incorporate elements of Hip Hop into their music.  

McIntosh actually went on to produce tracks ready for their next album Look How Long that incorporated those elements. When his bandmates heard the tracks, McIntosh believes they may have felt left out, “and like Carl did all of this without us, does he even need us?”  Carl, on the other hand, felt he was just trying to keep “current” with the music and make it easier on his bandmates by completing a lot of the elements they historically played a role in.  

Look How Long became Carl McIntosh as Loose Ends, as both Eugene and Nichol left the group.  Needless to say Look How Long is a departure from the Loose Ends sound up until then, but the thread of the smooth jazzy sophistication is still there.  I call it one of the first “smooth beat” records that I so came to love in the 90’s and 00’s. It is also clear that the prior Loose Ends formula combined with the Look How Long formula helped inform a lot what came from – Soul II Soul, Incognito in the U.K. to Zhane, Mantronix, D’Angelo in the U.S. Hits on the album included – ok let me stop here. In my estimation, the entire album is a hit.  Each single is simply dope! Carl really did his thing.  My actual favorite is Time is Ticking – an inspiration to keep on movin, and don’t stop (see what I did there), until you do your thing!

McIntosh has gone on the record to highlight additional influences he sees in the Neo Soul movement of the 90’s as well as its prime examples of today. McIntosh actually remixed “Cruisin” and “Brown Sugar” for D’Angelo and said, Syd the Kid from the Internet must have been listening to her parents’ Loose Ends records, comparing her vocals to that of Jane Eugene and the Internet sound to that of Loose Ends. 

So what’s next?

As you can tell, I am a big Loose Ends fan, but as you can also see, there’s every reason to be a big Loose Ends fan.  They set the stage for so much that has come to be – the Black Brit R&B invasion, to the Neo Soul movement of 90’s-00’s, to the Smooth R&B movement, to the new Neo Soul movement.  Let’s pay them their homage, let’s give them their flowers. Let’s see if we can get another album!!  

#LooseEnds

#CarlMcIntosh

#NeoSoul

#SmoothR&B

#ALittleSpice

#SoWhereAreYou

#Zagora

#TheReackChuckeboo

#LookHowLong