Post by David Hunter on Sept 22, 2004 22:19:48 GMT
Did anyone hear this? Sad news indeed:
Former Weather Girl dies of heart failure.
Izora Rhodes Armstead, one-half of the
Weather Girls and Two Tons O' Fun, died
Thursday of heart failure at San Leandro
Hospital, near Oakland, CA. Her age is not
known.
ArmsteadÕs career in music began as
backup singer for disco legend Sylvester,
along with her future music partner Martha
Wash. The pair contributed to SylvesterÕs 1978
Fantasy Records LP "Step II," which had two
No. 1 Billboard club hits: "Dance (Disco Heat)"
and "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real."
In 1979, Armstead and Wash left
Sylvester to record as Two Tons O' Fun. Honey/
Fantasy released two albums by the duo, "Two
Tons O' Fun" (1980) and "Backatcha."
In the early '80s, no longer on a label,
Armstead and Wash began calling themselves the
Weather Girls and signed with Columbia Records.
In 1982, they dropped the instant disco classic
ÒItÕs Raining Men,Ó which spent two weeks at
No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.
A follow-up single, "No One Can Love You More
Than Me," was a hit on the underground club
circuit.
After three albums, the Weather Girls
were dropped by Columbia, and the singing
partners, while remaining friends, embarked
on their own musical paths.
Armstead moved to Frankfurt, Germany
15 years ago and formed a new version of the
Weather Girls with her daughter Dynell Rhodes.
They recorded a handful of albums for WEA
Germany, including "Double Tons of Fun" in 1994.
They produced many international dance hits.
Last month, Armstead returned to the Bay
Area to undergo treatment for heart-related
problems. According to Reuters/ÓBillboard,Ó
she is survived by a sister, Laversa, seven
children and several grandchildren.
Former Weather Girl dies of heart failure.
Izora Rhodes Armstead, one-half of the
Weather Girls and Two Tons O' Fun, died
Thursday of heart failure at San Leandro
Hospital, near Oakland, CA. Her age is not
known.
ArmsteadÕs career in music began as
backup singer for disco legend Sylvester,
along with her future music partner Martha
Wash. The pair contributed to SylvesterÕs 1978
Fantasy Records LP "Step II," which had two
No. 1 Billboard club hits: "Dance (Disco Heat)"
and "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real."
In 1979, Armstead and Wash left
Sylvester to record as Two Tons O' Fun. Honey/
Fantasy released two albums by the duo, "Two
Tons O' Fun" (1980) and "Backatcha."
In the early '80s, no longer on a label,
Armstead and Wash began calling themselves the
Weather Girls and signed with Columbia Records.
In 1982, they dropped the instant disco classic
ÒItÕs Raining Men,Ó which spent two weeks at
No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.
A follow-up single, "No One Can Love You More
Than Me," was a hit on the underground club
circuit.
After three albums, the Weather Girls
were dropped by Columbia, and the singing
partners, while remaining friends, embarked
on their own musical paths.
Armstead moved to Frankfurt, Germany
15 years ago and formed a new version of the
Weather Girls with her daughter Dynell Rhodes.
They recorded a handful of albums for WEA
Germany, including "Double Tons of Fun" in 1994.
They produced many international dance hits.
Last month, Armstead returned to the Bay
Area to undergo treatment for heart-related
problems. According to Reuters/ÓBillboard,Ó
she is survived by a sister, Laversa, seven
children and several grandchildren.