#bernadette cooper klymaxx

[greatdayradio]

All Female Band Klymaxx: Empowering Women in the Music Industry

Klymaxx, an all-female band formed in the late 1970s, emerged as a powerhouse in the music industry, breaking down barriers and empowering women along the way.

Throwback Thursday: Recognizing the Women in Music This throwback Thursday we recognize the ladies of the all female band Klymaxx that paved the way for many young women who inspires to be amazing musicians. Klymaxx, an all-female band formed in the late 1970s, emerged as a powerhouse in the music industry, breaking down barriers and empowering women along the way. With their unique blend of…

[my-pastel-paradise]

Klymaxx ‎’Meeting In The Ladies Room’  (1984)

[ultracoolray]

“Just That Type Of Girl” was the debut single by the American girl group which consisted of Iris Parker, Alisa Randolph, and Valerie Victoria. The funk/R&B group was produced by Bernadette Cooper, the drummer of Klymaxx.

“Just That Type of Girl” peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, #14 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Chart, and #4 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the survey for 17 weeks.

The song was featured in the Whoopi Goldberg film, “Fatal Beauty.”

SIDE A: Just That Type Of Girl (Vocal / Extended Remix) 7:52

SIDE B: Just That Type Of Girl (Vocal / Edit Of Remix) 4:56

Just That Type Of Girl (A Cappella Dub) 6:21

RELEASE INFORMATION: Label: Atlantic ‎– DMD 1095 Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo Country: US Released: 1987 Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul Style: RnB/Swing, Breaks, Funk

[rajibfci]

KLYMAXX : bernadette cooper klymaxx

Biography

Bernadette Cooper, Is an American recording artist, producer, composer, musician, entertainer and the original creator and founder of the Pop/R&B all-girl band 'KLYMAXX'. In a career spanning almost 36 years she remains relevant. Being the maverick that she is, Cooper sets out at an early age to conquer her dream of an all-girl band.

Bernadette Cooper the founder of Klymaxx, created the group that made history as the first all-female R&B, funk and pop band in which every female member played an instrument. Klymaxx collectively holds the distinction as being the ONLY all-female R&B/Pop band to go Platinum to this day.

Describing herself as a Diseuse. A  Diseuse is a female entertainer who performs dramatic monologs. Bernadette has made this a popular art form in the Pop/ R&B world. Like Madonna, she can be sexy and funny at the same time. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 12, She taught herself how to play the drums and began playing the drums in church.

Singer, songwriter, and producer, Bernadette Cooper has never been anything like the women the Beach Boys harmonized about on their sunshine soundtracks, she is still a California girl. Raised in Inglewood and in Compton, the “hood” that blessed us with both Barry White and N.W.A.

Whether singing Aretha Franklin songs at the show & tell in the first grade, listening to Sly Stone on the radio or admiring the drums on Isaac Hayes records, she knew early that music would be her life.

Cooper, subsequently graduated from Inglewood High school where she earned a scholarship to El Camino College.  While attending college, her  vision of forming an all-girl band remained. Bernadette majored in Law at El Camino college, but quit after one year, after surrendering to her passion.

She then began pursuing her love of music.

So...Ms Cooper came up with a name she thought would be exciting and would capture attention and then changed the spelling so it would be the groups own entity. Through magazine ads, auditions, word of mouth and interviewing many girls, the  band came into fruition.

"I know I was looking Good" with these six words, on 1984 hit single “The Men All Pause,” Bernadette Cooper and Klymaxx changed the face and sound of music. The group that the Inglewood, California native created went on to become the most successful all-female soul/pop/funk band of all time.

Bernadette Cooper is cooler than you. She's also cooler than me, but that verdict is still pending. Before Beyonce failed, tried to bring out the "Sasha Fierce", there was someone who didn't need the word in her name, her actions spoke much louder.

Bernadette is a visionary who has the rare ability to see around the corner even if  a Mack truck is obstructing her view.  Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in finding, developing and signing many artists including John B, Madame X,  and Klymaxx

Life And Career

KLYMAXX

In 1979, Bernadette Cooper formed Klymaxx. She narrowed the band down to the six girls who became the popular band. Klymaxx's uniqueness is due to the all-girl band's ability to play instruments, and their sound was influential because of its comedic, women power theme. Klymaxx's original members are (vocalist, drummer) Bernadette Cooper, (vocalist) Lorena Porter (Stewart), (guitarist) Cheryl Cooley, (keyboardists) Lynn Malsby, (keyboardists) Robbin Grider and later, after the band signed to Solar records (bassist/ vocalist) Joyce Irby, was added to the band.

Inspired by the past generation of mack divas (Lynn Collins, LaBelle, Brides of Funkenstein, and Chaka Khan) as well as Prince’s computer blue funk, Klymaxx was on a mission to kick ass.

“The forming of Klymaxx felt more like it was an out of body experience. It was guided by a force that I can’t explain,” Cooper says. “I remember the struggles and the sacrifice, but I also remember the camaraderie of six girls focusing on one goal. We sent out a few demos and immediately came to the attention of SOLAR (Sound of Los Angeles Records) through an executive named Margaret Nash; she urged her boss Dick Griffey to check us out. He came to our rehearsal, watched us play and immediately offered us a record deal.

On the West Coast during the 1980s, SOLAR represented the new music of young Black America. Sometimes called “the new Motown,” the label was owned and operated by Dick Griffey. As the home of chart-topping artists Shalamar, Midnight Star, Bobby Womack, Lakeside, the Whispers, Carrie Lucas and The Deele, they were thriving in a time when hip-hop was creeping-up from the underground

With Griffey’s empire located on 1635 N. Cahuenga in a building SOLAR owned, there was also a recording studio on the premises where his artists worked.

A complicated man, Griffey was a mentor to both Babyface and Death Row founder Suge Knight. Although Griffey was seen as a gangster by some, to Cooper he was always a gentleman. “Dick was a friend and a wonderful man,” she says. “He took a girl from Compton, and not only taught me the music business, but he also introduced me to fine dining, escargot and instructed me on great wines. I owe him my career.  If Dick hadn’t been around, I wouldn’t be pursuing my dreams.”

While Klymaxx might’ve collaborated with a few male producers, they realized that they weren’t looking for anyone to control their sound, style or swag.

This was the general consensus amongst the girls after releasing their underwhelming debut, "Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman," in 1981, which was controlled and conceptualized by their male counterpart.

It wasn’t until Klymaxx’s new wave electro third album Meeting in the Ladies Room (1984) that they became a femme force in the industry With the catchy “The Men All Pause,” “Meeting in the Ladies Room” and the mushy ballad “I Miss You,” their most successful single.

Klymaxx had become more self-contained, writing tracks and directing the sessions (“The Men All Pause” was co-produced by Steve Shockley, Bernadette Cooper and Joyce “Fenderella” Irby. “We started writing for ourselves, because we were tired of men writing us lines like, ‘When you get home baby, I want you to rub my feet,'  Cooper said, “We complained to Dick and he said, ‘Fine, do your own album.’ With that, Klymaxx became real. We had freedom, and that’s a beautiful thing.” As seen in “The Men All Pause” video, with Cooper clad in fuzzy leopard-skinned top, it wasn’t uncommon for her to step from behind her drums to sing and talk smack on the mic.

At the same time, she was also making creative strides as a songwriter. As Klymaxx producers, Jimmy and Terry gravitated towards her style and her songs.  Griffey, a former drummer himself, had a knack for grooming producers, including Leon Sylvers III, Reggie and Vincent Calloway, LA and Babyface and Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam. Klymaxx was the first band Jam and Lewis recorded back in 1982 when the emerging duo produced the group’s second album Girls Will Be Girls. In the studio, Cooper closely observed the duo at work. “I was completely inspired by them and their methods and approach to music,” she says. “I watched, listened and I learned.” While women are often excluded from the production process, Griffey took a chance. “He instinctively was able to recognize my raw talent,” Cooper says. “There aren’t many men in this industry who respect the vision of a woman, but Mr. Griffey wasn’t afraid.”

Cooper’s sound became a mixture of Minneapolis styled synthesizers, George Clinton’s cosmic slop, James Brown eternal funk and the majestic pop of Quincy Jones, that was distinctively her own.

In 1987, due to the band's internal conflicts, Cooper left the band to pursue outside projects. "With all great bands, people outgrow situations," Cooper said of the break-up. "It's plain and simple. I think we were all equal in poverty in the beginning. We were all hungry, reaching for the same goal, going towards that light together.  But as time [went] on - people wanted to have babies and get married - everyone began to separate and do their own thing. "And of course, within a group you have your friction, especially when there are one or two members that people focus on more," she continued, "Our vision, as a unit, simply changed.  It's like a marriage, She continues, "Do you want to get back with your ex? I think not!"

"I'm captivating and that's because I am so outrageous live. If you didn't notice me, I was going to make sure you did notice me"- "I wanted to be remarkable, the band wanted me to blend in. That was very difficult for me to do. My personality cannot be confined. I know that I am A.D.D. ( A Different Diva) or a Difficult Diva. My personal mission is not to blend in, however, to be innovative." "I love the girls for the history that we created together."

https://www.klymaxxbernadettecooper.com

[listentothecountdown-blog]

2789. Klymaxx - ‘Meeting In The Ladies Room’ (1984)

Don’t slap me ‘Cause I’m not in the mood

from the album Meeting In The Ladies Room

Klymaxx were a significant girl group for a number of reasons, not least because they played their own instruments and crafted, with help from some of the best writers and producers of the decade, an instantly identifiable sound. Klymaxx’s secret weapon, and the key to that signature vibe, was the presence of Bernadette Cooper and her often camp monologues. Anytime Cooper pops up on a Klymaxx track, you know you’re in for something stunning, and nowhere is that truer than on ‘Meeting In The Ladies Room’.

Backed by one of the funkiest instrumentals this side of Rick James and early Prince, Cooper dials the bitchiness up to eleven, delivering lines like “I’d hate to come down to their level and become a BW - a basic woman” with a fabulously straight face, while her bandmates form a support system around her that you would love to be part of, if you weren’t so terrified of them. Compared to Klymaxx, we are all BWs.

Most of Klymaxx’s hits were seemingly engineered for drag queen lip syncs, so its no surprise that ‘Meeting In The Ladies Room’ was the soundtrack to one of the most effective, underrated performances in RuPaul’s Drag Race herstory. Battling India Ferrah (who gave it a reasonable attempt, but is ultimately way out of her league), Stacy Layne Matthews embodied ‘Meeting In The Ladies Room’, effortlessly channeling a fierce bitch, capturing everything that makes the song so great. I love a good lip sync stunt, but there were none here, it was simply a back-to-basics, classic drag moment. It also, of course, had a wonderful side effect: Klymaxx were introduced to a whole new generation, and no trip to a filthy club bathroom would ever be the same again.

‘Meeting In The Ladies Room’ music video:

Chart peaks: US #59

Written by Richard Eric, 25-4-18

[christietayloronline]

Latergram: I had a blast today at @1035wrbo 2017 Ultimate Family Reunion featuring #Klymaxx with Bernadette Cooper. Great meeting and capturing the moment with our performers and listeners! Will share more on my IG Stories #ufr2017 #4thofjulyweekend (at Levitt Shell)

[christietayloronline]

The Saturday Edition of The Christie Taylor Show is live and local from 12 noon to 4 pm on 103.5 WRBO. Get your Saturday flow on with the Best Mix of R&B while getting ready for 103.5 FM WRBO's Ultimate Family Reunion at the Levitt Shell Line up: KLYMAXX ft. Bernadette Cooper, Candy Fox, Meshelle Johnson and Falisa Janaye. Free Admission .. Bring blanket, lawn chairs and the family!!! (at 103.5 WRBO)

[christietayloronline]

RepostBy @1035wrbo: "103.5's Ultimate Family Reunion is kicking off your 4th of July celebration! 😊🎉🎶🎵🎤🍗🍷🎊☄ Saturday, July 1st at 4pm, join us at the Levitt Shell for food, fun, family and entertainment. Klymaxx ft Bernadette Cooper is going close the night out with some of your favorite hits!" (via #InstaRepost @AppsKottage) (at Memphis, Tennessee)

[rajibfci]

#Klymaxx

Bernadette Cooper, Is an American recording artist, producer, composer, musician, entertainer and the original creator and founder of the Pop/R&B all-girl band 'KLYMAXX'. In a career spanning almost 36 years she remains relevant. Being the maverick that she is, Cooper sets out at an early age to conquer her dream of an all-girl band. Bernadette Cooper the founder of Klymaxx, created the group that made history as the first all-female R&B, funk and pop band in which every female member played an instrument. Klymaxx collectively holds the distinction as being the ONLY all-female R&B/Pop band to go Platinum to this day. Describing herself as a Diseuse. A  Diseuse is a female entertainer who performs dramatic monologues. Bernadette has made this a popular art form in the Pop/ R&B world. Like Madonna, she can be sexy and funny at the same time. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 12, She taught herself how to play the drums and began playing the drums in church. https://www.klymaxxbernadettecooper.com