Evelyn "Champagne" King

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For other person, see Evelyn King (politician).
Evelyn "Champagne" King
King in Honolulu, 2008.
King in Honolulu, 2008.
Background information
Also known asEvelyn King
Born (1960-07-01) July 1, 1960 (age 61)
The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsVocals, percussion
Years active1977–present
LabelsRCA Victor (US, Canada, UK)
EMI America
Expansion
RNB Entertainment Group
Associated actsThelma Houston, Cheryl Lynn, Kashif, The System, First Ladies of Disco

Evelyn "Champagne" King (born July 1, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her hit disco single "Shame", which was released in 1977 during the height of disco's popularity. King had other hits from the early through the mid–1980s including; "I'm in Love" (1981), "Love Come Down" (1982) and "Your Personal Touch" (1985).

Biography[]

Evelyn King was born on July 1, 1960, in New York, New York, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is one of eight children. Growing up King's childhood nickname was 'Bubbles'.[5] Her uncle Avon Long had played the part of Sportin' Life in the first Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess and worked with Lena Horne at the Cotton Club. Her father sang back-up for groups at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Her mother managed a group called Quality Red.

King was discovered as a young woman while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as an office cleaner. Producer Theodore T. Life overheard her singing in a washroom and began coaching her. She was eventually signed to a production deal with Life's Galaxy Productions and a recording contract with RCA Records.[6]

In 1990, King married smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox. In 1997, she lost three family members to various illnesses. In 1987 her daughter Johnniea was born with brain damage and other health problems, dying two years later.[7]

Career[]

At the beginning of her career the name Evelyn King sounded "too grown-up" so the name 'Champagne' was added.[8] King released her debut album, Smooth Talk, in 1977. It included the song "Shame", which is her only top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9; the song also reached #7 Soul and #8 on the dance chart. The record was eventually certified gold. Another single from that album, "I Don't Know If It's Right", peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 Soul; it would become her second certified gold single. In 1981, the single "I'm in Love" was released from the same-titled album; it reached #1 on the R&B singles chart and dance chart in August of that year; it also peaked at #40 on the pop chart.

In 1982, King released the album, Get Loose. It yielded a top twenty pop and #1 Soul hit with the single, "Love Come Down". The song also peaked at #1 on the dance chart and reached the UK Singles Chart top ten, peaking at #7 for three weeks. The follow-up, "Betcha She Don't Love You", peaked at #2 on the Soul chart and #49 on the pop chart. From the mid- to late-1980s, King would continue to chart on the Soul chart, placing eight singles in the Soul top twenty, with three making it to the top ten.

On September 20, 2004, King's "Shame" became one of the first records to be inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York's Spirit club.[citation needed]

Return to music[]

On August 14, 2007, King released her first studio album in 12 years, Open Book. It featured the single "The Dance", which peaked at #12 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart. In 2011, King also collaborated with deep house producer Miguel Migs, on the track "Everybody", which was included on his album Outside the Skyline. The single for "Everybody" was released on July 19, 2011.

In 2015, King formed a group with disco vocalists Martha Wash and Linda Clifford called First Ladies of Disco. The group released its debut single "Show Some Love" in March 2015,[9] which peaked at number six on the Dance charts.[10] The group embarked on its first tour together in 2017. In December 2017, King left the group.

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[11] 		US
R&B
[11] 		CAN
[12] 		NZ
[13] 		UK
[14]
1977 Smooth Talk 14 8 24 — — RCA
1979 Music Box 35 12 45 — —
1980 Call on Me 124 58 — — —
1981 I'm in Love 28 6 — — —
1982 Get Loose 27 1 — 45 35
1983 Face to Face 91 24 — — —
1984 So Romantic 203 38 — — —
1985 A Long Time Coming (A Change Is Gonna Come) — 38 — — —
1988 Flirt 192 20 — — — EMI-Manhattan
1989 The Girl Next Door — — — — — EMI-USA
1995 I'll Keep a Light On — — — — — Expansion
2007 Open Book — — — — — Big Day/Jaggo
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums[]

Singles[]

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[16] 		US
R&B
[16] 		US
Dan
[16] 		AUS
[17] 		CAN
[12] 		IRE
[18] 		NL
[19] 		NZ
[13] 		UK
[14][20]
1977 "Shame" 9 7 8 72 16 — 26 — 39 Smooth Talk
1978 "I Don't Know If It's Right" 23 7 25 — 17 — — 38 67
"Dancin', Dancin', Dancin'" — — — — — — — — —
1979 "Music Box" 75 14 78 — — — — — — Music Box
"Out There" — 34 — — — — — — —
1980 "Let's Get Funky Tonight" — 34 12 — — — — — — Call on Me
"I Need Your Love" — — — — — — — — —
1981 "I'm in Love" 40 1 1 — — — — — 27 I'm in Love
"If You Want My Lovin'" — — — — — — — — 43
"Don't Hide Our Love" — 28 — — — — — — —
1982 "Spirit of the Dancer" — 51 54 — — — — — —
"Love Come Down" 17 1 1 — 44 13 — 12 7 Get Loose
"Betcha She Don't Love You" 49 2 — — — — — — —
"Back to Love" — — — — — — — — 40
1983 "Get Loose" — 61 — — — — — — 45
"Action" 75 16 13 — — — — — — Face to Face
1984 "Shake Down" 107 12 34 — — — — — —
"Teenager" — 28 — — — — — — —
"Just for the Night" 107 16 45 — — — — — — So Romantic
"I'm So Romantic" — — — — — — — — 76
1985 "Out of Control" — 54 14 — — — — — —
"Give Me One Reason" — — — — — — — — 93
"Till Midnight" — 57 — — — — — — —
"Give It Up" — — — — — — — — — Fright Night
"Your Personal Touch" 86 9 5 — — — — — 37 A Long Time Coming (A Change Is Gonna Come)
1986 "High Horse" — 19 12 — — — — — 55
"Slow Down" — 81 — — — — — — —
1988 "Flirt" — 3 — — — — — — — Flirt
"Hold on to What You've Got" — 8 5 — — — 41 — 47
"Kisses Don't Lie" — 17 — — — — — — —
1989 "Day to Day" — 80 — — — — — — — The Girl Next Door
1990 "Do Right" — — — — — — — — —
1992 "Shame (Hardcore Mix)" (Altern 8 vs Evelyn King) — — — — — — — — 74 N/A
1995 "I Think About You" — — — — — — — — — I'll Keep a Light On
1996 "One More Time" (with Divas of Color) — — 10 — — — — — 94 N/A
2008 "The Dance" — — 12 — — — — — — Open Book
2011 "Everybody" (with Miguel Migs) — — — — — — — — — Outside the Skyline
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also[]

  • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References[]

  1. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2019. R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King came to fame during the disco era.
  2. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Evelyn "Champagne" King – Love Come Down: The Best of Evelyn "Champagne" King". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b George-Warren, Holly; Romanowski, Patricia, eds. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (3rd ed.). Fireside. p. 528. ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
  4. ^ Weiss, Jeff. "GEN F: Ty Dolla $ign". The Fader (89). December 2013–January 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "After 30 Years, Evelyn 'Champagne' King Still Has Her Pop". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  6. ^ Hogan, Ed. ""champagne"-king Biography". Billboard.
  7. ^ Unsung on TV One. Season 4, Episode 6. Airdate 7/11/11
  8. ^ Kane, Peter-Astrid (2018-06-07). "Champagne for Everyone!". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  9. ^ Show Some Love - Single by First Ladies of Disco on Apple Music. iTunes. Retrieved on February 2, 2019
  10. ^ First Ladies of Disco | Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 2, 2019
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "US Albums Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "CAN Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". RPM. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "NZ Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "UK Charts > Evelyn King". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "American certifications – Evelyn King". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c "US Singles Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  17. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. ^ "IRE Charts Search > Evelyn King". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  19. ^ "NL Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  20. ^ "UK Charts > Evelyn "Champagne" King". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  21. ^ "Canadian certifications – Evelyn "Champagne" King". Music Canada. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  22. ^ "Evelyn King: Love Come Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 30, 2021.

External links[]

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