Lehman’s Forever Freestyle

The freestyle phenomenon, a fusion of hip-hop and disco which originated in New York City’s club scene in 1983, was a dominant force in the early days of hip-hop and quickly became THE sound of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

 
The New York City club scene of the ‘80s comes back to life at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, February 10, 2007, at 8pm as Forever Freestyle presents some the hottest artists who defined that era of music – a now-classic genre that symbolized a coming-of-age for many Americans now in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Legendary freestyle artists Judy Torres, TKA, `, The Cover Girls, Coro, and Lisette Melendez will perform some of their best-loved, chart-topping dance hits, such as “Show Me,� “Come Into My Arms,� “A Day in My Life,� “Without You� and “Where Are You Tonight.�  

This show is presented by Bank of America as part of the Latin Sounds/NY – Sonidos Latinos/NY Series at Lehman Center. The freestyle phenomenon, a fusion of hip-hop and disco which originated in New York City’s club scene in 1983, was a dominant force in the early days of hip-hop and quickly became THE sound of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
 
Freestyle was born out of New York’s Latino musical community, but soon became a crossover phenomenon with strong radio support, famous clubs like 1018 and The Devil’s Nest presenting three or four acts each night, bringing in crowds of 4,000 people every week. 

Freestyle filled the major airwaves into the early ‘90s, and remains a staple on dance radio format stations across the US, such as New York’s WKTU. Beloved dance-pop singer Judy Torres established herself as a prominent figure in dance circles at age seventeen with the freestyle classic “No Reason to Cry� from the album Love Story, followed by My Soul and Love You for All Seasons. Torres’ career includes musical theatre and a feature show on New York radio station WKTU. She continues to perform on the club circuit and is recording a new project.

TKA an acronym derived from the names of group members Tony, K7 and Angel rose to prominence during the first wave of freestyle success, with 1986’s “One Way Love.” And through 1992’s “Maria,” a single lifted from their Greatest Hits collection, they scored hit after hit on both the club and pop charts, including the enduring smash hits “Louder Than Love” and “Come Get My Love.â€?

Singer George Lamond began singing back-up for his cousin Joey Kid, teaming up later as Loose Touch. Lamond’s solo debut was “Bad of the Heartâ€? for the Ligosa label, and its success on club playlists earned him a deal with Columbia. The LP Bad of the Heart yielded two more freestyle hits, “Without Youâ€? and “Look Into My Eyes.â€? After 1992’s In My Life and 1995’s It’s Always You, Lamond resurfaced in 1999 with Entrega.

New York female dance/pop trio The Cover Girls, whose revolving lineup of vocalists scored several R&B and pop hits including “Show Me,� “Inside Outside,� “Because of You� and an upbeat cover of “Wishing on a Star.�

Miami-raised Coro, who began singing at age eight, had roles in national TV commercials and guest spots on “Miami Vice� before working as a background vocalist for dance artist Stevie B.’s first tour. Moving to New York after the tour, Coro went solo with the 1988 hit “Where Are You Tonight,� which reached the Top 25 on Billboard’s Club Chart and #1 on DMA’s Dance Chart. He continues to perform and record on Cutting Records.

East Harlem native Lisette Melendez dedicated herself to singing at age 12 and formed her own group in high school. After singing on club hits by producer Carlos Berrios, her Fever Records debut, “A Day in My Life,� made Hot 100 album and had two Hot 100 singles. Her second album, 1993’s True to Life, earned her a Japanese Grammy for Best New Artist. 1998’sUn Poco de Mi was followed by a greatest hits album in 2000.


Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for Forever Freestyle on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 8pm, are: $35, $30, $25 and $20 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718.960.8833 (Mon. through Fri., 10 AM – 5 PM, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through 24-hour online access at
www.LehmanCenter.org. 

Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.  Free attended parking is available.

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