Legendary Platinum-selling veteran male vocal quintet HI-FIVE have been in the game for two-and-a-half decades thus far despite countless setbacks - most notably the untimely passing of mega-talented lead singer Tony Thompson back in 2K7, and are back to re-ignite the fire that's missing in the current landscape of R&B/Urban Adult Contemporary music with their brand new collective release HI-FIVE: THE EP. Their sexy smooth lead single 'It's Nothing' is soulfully loaded with the vintage sound vibe that we've come to expect and love from the fellas when they achieved major success back in the early-to-mid 1990s when they were led by Thompson. 'We went into the studio to re-create the classic HI-FIVE sound and give the fans what it is that they're looking for - and that's true R&B music from a true R&B group.' said original member and 'Bronx Most Wanted Entertainment' label CEO Treston Irby during our recent phone chat. Irby - along with fellow original group brethren Marcus Sanders and talented new teammates Shannon Gill, Billy Covington and Faruq Evans will bring a substantially more mature sonic soul flavor to the masses worldwide with the EP and will undoubtedly fill the loyal, long-time fans in on the new direction of the group and where their mindset is right now. Anticipate a full-length album release from the fellas in the year of 2K15, but for right this minute, HI-FIVE: THE EP is now available on iTunes and all other retail digital outlets under the Bronx Most Wanted Entertainment label imprint.
*Sending out a big THANK YOU to the group's publicist Ra-Fael Blanco of 2R's Entertainment & Media PR (www.twitter.com/TwoRsEnt) for giving me the opportunity to interview my Bronx, New York City brethren Treston for the piece!
Best known for their R&B smash hits 'Him Or Me,' 'Girl I Got My Eyes On You' and 'Why You Gettin' Funky On Me' during the innovative 'New Jack Swing' era of the late 1980s-early 1990s, veteran Platinum-selling R&B/Contemporary Gospel male vocal quartet TODAY are returning to the music scene wiser and better than ever with their unique brand of soulfully inspirational vibes that will without a doubt touch the hearts of their loyal fan base and also gain brand new followers to their movement. The reunion of Frederick Lee 'Big Bub' Drakeford, Larry 'Love' McCain, Wesley 'Wes' Adams and 'Larry 'Chief' Singletary in 2K10 when they independently released their amazing contemporary gospel single 'Orchestrate' after nearly two decades of taking timeout to mature on all levels and work on individual projects sent a big statement to the industry that as a collective, they mean business and are more than ready at this stage of their careers to produce their finest work yet. 'There's definitely been a change from within us. We've matured a lot and the adversities that we've endured has prepared us for this time - which is RIGHT NOW.' said Adams during our recent phone chat. 'Our new music will not only be soulful, but spiritual as well. We want whatever we're conveying now in our songs to be translated into love in many of its forms.'
Bub, Chief, Love and Wes are currently spread out on the East Coast with residences in their home base of New Jersey, as well as The Carolinas and Atlanta, Georgia. Look out for the group's new inspirational single 'The Gift of Life' to be independently released during the Fall of 2K14, as well as an original Christmas song just in time for the upcoming holiday season. As far as dropping their first full-length album since 1991's 'The New Formula,' 2K15 looks to be the year that both R&B and Contemporary Gospel music fans can anticipate the newest addition of the TODAY catalog. Also check for group member Wesley Adams' enlightening debut e-book titled 'The Enemies and Allies of Your Dreams' at Amazon, Barnes & Noble Online and iBook Store.
*Big kudos to my Beantown brother and street promoter extraordinaire Kevin Gray (www.facebook.com/Kevin.Gray.5851) for allowing me the opportunity to interview Wes for the piece!
