TKA performing Tears May Fall on Dance USA
TKA formed in the Puerto Rican neighborhoods of New York City in 1984, when Louis “Kayel” Sharpe, Ralph Cruz, and Angel Vasquez began singing together as teenagers. Tommy Boy Records signed the trio, and their run of singles helped define what freestyle sounded like from a male group: tight harmonies, street-corner romance, and drum machines built for the clubs. Read the full TKA biography.
Club version of Try Yazz by Two Without Hats About Two Without Hats Two Without Hats recorded “Try Yazz” for Micmac Records, catalog number MIC-516, and the single became one of the label’s signature club records of the late 1980s, its title playing on the era’s fascination with jazzing up freestyle’s edit culture. Read the…
The official video for Don’t Break My Heart by Safire About Sa-Fire Sa-Fire, born Wilma Cosmé on January 16, 1966, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a celebrated freestyle artist known for her powerful voice and emotive performances. Raised in East Harlem, New York City, Sa-Fire emerged as a key figure in the Latin freestyle…
The video for For Tonight by Nancy Martinez About Nancy Martinez Nancy Martinez came from Montreal, one of the few Canadian voices in a genre built in New York and Miami. “For Tonight,” released on Atlantic in 1986, reached #2 on Billboard’s dance chart and crossed onto the Hot 100, and her album Not Just…
The official video for Let Me Be The One by Safire About Sa-Fire Sa-Fire, born Wilma Cosmé on January 16, 1966, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a celebrated freestyle artist known for her powerful voice and emotive performances. Raised in East Harlem, New York City, Sa-Fire emerged as a key figure in the Latin…
The radio version of I’ll Be All You Ever Need by Trinere About Trinere Trinere was Miami freestyle’s leading voice, recording with producer Tony “Pretty Tony” Butler on his Music Specialists label from the mid-1980s. “All Night” and “I Know You Love Me” defined the Miami side of the genre: faster, brighter, and bass-heavier than…
The 12″ version of Won’t Stop Loving You by C Bank C-Bank emerged in the vibrant New York dance scene of the early 1980s, carving a distinctive path in the freestyle movement. Formed by producer John Robie, the group quickly gained acclaim with their breakout single “One More Shot,” featuring the powerhouse vocals of Jenny…