GQ

A Bronx group that effectively mixed East Coast disco and Chicago soul covers with originals during the late '70s and early '80s, [wimpLink artistId="28513927"]GQ[/wimpLink] began as [wimpLink artistId="28513927"]Sabu & the Survivors[/wimpLink] in 1968. Lead vocalist Emmanuel Rahiem LeBlanc, Keith Crier, [wimpLink artistId="8338647"]Herb Lane[/wimpLink], and [wimpLink artistId="13940387"]Paul Service[/wimpLink] were original members, but by 1980 [wimpLink artistId="28513927"]GQ[/wimpLink] were a trio following [wimpLink artistId="13940387"]Service[/wimpLink]'s departure. They had two Top Ten R&B and Top 20 pop hits, as well as a number one R&B single in 1979, with "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" also peaking at number 12 pop; the single also won [wimpLink artistId="28513927"]GQ[/wimpLink] an American Music Award. Their remakes of the [wimpLink artistId="16489644"]Billy Stewart[/wimpLink] classics "I Do Love You" and "Sitting in the Park" were number five and number nine R&B singles in 1979 and 1980, respectively, with "I Do Love You" also reaching number 20 pop. They enjoyed one other Top 30 R&B single in 1981, "Shake." All their hits were on Arista from 1979 to 1982. The group briefly reconvened for [wimpLink albumId="26541273"]A Tribute to Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart[/wimpLink], issued independently in 1999. Crier died in 2013. ~ Ron Wynn