The Brand New Heavies

In 1985, Simon Bartholomew, Jan Kincaid, and Andrew Levy formed a band originally called Brother International.{{cite web|url=http://www.nuvo.net/hammer/int/bnheavies.html |title=Interview: Simon Bartholomew |author=Hammer, Steve |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210174329/http://www.nuvo.net/hammer/int/bnheavies.html |archive-date=10 December 2006 }} The band recorded a demo which was played at a nightclub called The Cat in the Hat.[https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/02/the-brand-new-heavies-interview-there-are-all-of-these-grooves-we-havent-got-out-of-our-systems-yet/ The Brand New Heavies Interview: ‘There are all of these grooves we haven’t got out of our systems yet’]. Classic Pop Magazine. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 After the demo received positive feedback in the club, the band was booked to perform at the club.[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-brand-new-heavies-mn0000628684#biography The Brand New Heavies Biography (AllMusic)]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 In 1987, Brother International opened for James Brown at a concert at Wembley Arena. Shortly after their brief stint with Brown, the group changed their name to The Brand New Heavies, inspired by one of Brown's honorific titles "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk".Interview with Jon Scragg, Jazz FM 102.2 (London), 22 October 2004. In June 1988, The Brand New Heavies released a single titled "Got to Give" on Cooltempo Records. In 1989, the group moved to Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records and developed a new genre of music called acid jazz.

In mid-1989, The Brand New Heavies released their second single "People Get Ready". The group added female vocalist Jaye Ella Ruth to the lineup and began recording their first album.{{cite web|url=http://www.soultalk.rhythmflow.net/shows_ndea_davenport.html |title=N'Dea Davenport Interview |publisher=SoulTalk |access-date=2014-04-25 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211085519/http://www.soultalk.rhythmflow.net/shows_ndea_davenport.html |archive-date=11 February 2009 }} On 1 June 1990, The Brand New Heavies released their debut self-titled album.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brand-new-heavies-mw0000262738 The Brand New Heavies - The Brand New Heavies (Overview)]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 The album's lead single "Dream Come True" peaked at number sixty-three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Ruth departed from the group shortly after the release of single.

File:N'Dea Davenport 2014.jpg

At the recommendation of their record label, American singer N'Dea Davenport was added to the lineup in 1990. The group re-recorded and released their first album on Delicious Vinyl with lead vocals by Davenport in 1991. The album peaked at number twenty-four on the UK Albums Chart and earned a silver-certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27209/brand-new-heavies/ Brand New Heavies Official Chart History]. Official Charts. Retrieved on 20 July 2024[https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/6803-1590-2 The Brand New Heavies - Brand New Heavies Silver Certification]. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 The group reissued their singles; "Dream Come True", "Stay This Way", and "Don't Let It Go to Your Head", all of which peaked in the top forty on the UK Singles Chart. The success of the album invited the group to perform on Soul Train, Showtime at the Apollo, and Top of the Pops. Their follow-up album Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1 was released in 1992.

In March 1994, they released their third album Brother Sister. Brother Sister peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart and earned platinum-certification by the BPI.[https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/1109-1590-2 The Brand New Heavies - Brother Sister (Platinum Certificate)]. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 The album spawned the single "Dream On Dreamer" which became crossover hit, peaking within the top twenty on several international music charts. The music video of "Dream On Dreamer" also received a MTV Video Music Award nomination for "Best R&B Video". The album's follow-up singles "Back to Love" and a cover version of "Midnight at the Oasis" peaked in the top thirty on the UK Singles chart. At the Brit Awards in 1995, the group received a nomination for "British Dance Act". Davenport left the group due to irreconcilable differences in 1996 and was replaced with American singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett.

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In April 1997, the group's third Shelter was released. Like its predecessor, the album peaked in the top five on the UK Albums Chart and platinum-certification by the BPI.[https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/5822-1590-2 The Brand New Heavies - Shelter (Platinum Certificate)]. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 The album's lead single "Sometimes" peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and earned silver-certification by the BPI.[https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/6088-1590-1 The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes (Silver Certificate)]. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 The album's follow-up singles "You Are the Universe" and "You've Got a Friend" charted in the top twenty-five; with the latter peaking at number nine.

In 1998, Garrett departed from the group to continue her songwriting career. She was replaced by American singer Carleen Anderson. Anderson recorded a few songs with the group, most notably "Saturday Nite" and a re-recorded version of her song "Apparently Nothin'", which appeared on the group's compilation album Trunk Funk – The Best of The Brand New Heavies in September 1999. The album received silver-certification from the BPI.[https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/7784-1590-2 The Brand New Heavies - Trunk Funk - The Best Of (Silver Certificate)]. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 20 July 2024 In 2000, Anderson departed from the group to record her third solo album.[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carleen-anderson-mn0000167880#biography Carleen Anderson Biography]. AllMusic. Retrieved on July 24, 2024

In 2000, the group experienced a decline in mainstream popularity. They were dropped from their record deal with FFRR Records and Delicious Vinyl. In 2003, they released their fifth studio album titled We Won't Stop on Canyon International.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/we-wont-stop-mw0000457670 The Brand New Heavies - We Won't Stop]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 24 July 2024 The album failed to reach the success of their previous albums. The group returned to the studio to record another album. During the recording of their upcoming album, they were introduced to Nicole Russo by their management.[https://www.higher-frequency.com/e_interview/brand_new_heavies/index.htm Brand New Heavies interview]. Higher Frequency. Retrieved on 25 July 2024 Russo was invited to write and record on the album and soon became their featured vocalist. Their follow-up album Allabouthefunk was independently released in October 2004. The album yielded two singles; "Boogie" and "Surrender" which failed to reach the top forty on UK Singles Chart.

In 2005, Davenport accepted the group's invitation to rejoin the group. The group also reunited with Delicious Vinyl and began recording their forthcoming album in London. In June 2006, the group released their seventh album Get Used to It. The album's lead single was a cover version of Stevie Wonder's song "I Don't Know Why (I Love You)", which peaked at number twelve on the UK R&B Singles chart. The group headlined their concert tour from 2006 to 2008. They released two remix albums titled Elephantitis: The Funk + House Remixes (2007)[https://www.allmusic.com/album/elephantitis-the-funk-house-remixes-mw0001501508 The Brand New Heavies - Elephantitis: The Funk House Remixes, Vol. 1]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 24 July 2024 and Elephantitis: The Funk + House Remixes 2 (2009).[https://www.allmusic.com/album/elephantitis-the-funk-house-remixes-vol-2-mw0001379552 The Brand New Heavies - Elephantitis: The Funk House Remixes, Vol. 2]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 24 July 2024 In October 2009, they released a live album titled Live in London, which features their concert performance at The O2 Arena on 16 October 2008, in London.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-london-mw0000829619 The Brand New Heavies - Live in London]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 24 July 2024

In November 2011, The Brand New Heavies released a instrumental album called Dunk Your Trunk.{{cite web|url=http://blog.pedigreecuts.com/?p=1740 |title=PEDF043 – The Brand New Heavies – Dunk Your Trunk | Pedigree CutsPedigree Cuts |publisher=Blog.pedigreecuts.com |access-date=2014-04-25 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426205338/http://blog.pedigreecuts.com/?p=1740 |archive-date=26 April 2014 }} In April 2013, The Brand New Heavies released their album Forward. The album featured lead vocals by Davenport and new addition Dawn Joseph.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/835/the_brand_new_heavies_call_in_the_heavi |title=The Brand New Heavies: Call in the Heavies |publisher=Bluesandsoul.com |access-date=2014-04-25}} Davenport however was not invited back to finish recording on the album and when the group released "Sunlight" as the album's lead single, Davenport was not featured in the music video. The group toured during the latter part of 2013, often using concert flyers with Davenport's image to market the tour. In a statement issued from Davenport's Facebook, she announced that she was not invited to rejoin the group on their concert tours and any shows marketed with her likeness would not include her.[https://www.facebook.com/NDeaDavenport/posts/pfbid02p284ZEZ7MM4vPhojhfrTPywADNHBC4rMffBDorsf835j8yBjRm13mDseg9pZcphl N'Dea Davenport April 3, 2013 Facebook statement]. Facebook. Retrieved on 24 July 2024[https://www.facebook.com/NDeaDavenport/posts/pfbid02eMUAQtiFaoAd122dP49c2bDZEwev5tcZYUftSESbiG5WP7PyK9AYMeBc5F7pYiLDl N'Dea Davenport June 23, 2013 Facebook statement]. Facebook. Retrieved on 24 July 2024 On 10 October 2013, The Brand New Heavies released a statement on their website stating that Dawn Joseph had officially joined the band as full-time lead vocalist.{{cite web |url=http://www.thebrandnewheavies.net/dawn-joseph-announced-as-full-time-lead-vocalist/ |title=Dawn Joseph announced as full-time lead vocalist |publisher=thebrandnewheavies.net |date=2013-10-10 |access-date=2014-04-25 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011212216/http://www.thebrandnewheavies.net/dawn-joseph-announced-as-full-time-lead-vocalist/ |archive-date=11 October 2014}}

File:The Brand New Heavies By Daniel Åhs Karlsson.jpg

In October 2014, The Brand New Heavies released their ninth studio album Sweet Freaks, with Dawn Joseph on lead vocals. Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph both left The Brand New Heavies in late 2015. In July 2016, Sulene Fleming joined and toured with the group until 2018. In November 2018, the band started touring with Angela Ricci on vocals. In April 2019, The Brand New Heavies released "Getaway", a previously recorded unreleased song which featured N'Dea Davenport on vocals. The group released their studio album, TBNH, on 6 September 2019 on Acid Jazz Records. The album features unreleased songs recorded with Davenport, Siedah Garrett, Angie Stone, Beverley Knight, Angela Ricci, Jack Knight, Honey Larochelle, and Laville. In July 2024, The Brand New Heavies announced their plans to release a deluxe edition of their album Brother Sister titled Brother Sister 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.[https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/07/24/the-brand-new-heavies-announce-30th-anniversary-brother-sister-album-tour/?_sm_au_=iVVDQ5qpf5DL0tK4tMLQBK3JT2tt6]. Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved on 25 July 2024 The group also announced their upcoming Brother Sister 30 UK Tour with Ricci as their featured vocalist.

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The Brand New Heavies have been considered as one of the defining bands of the acid jazz,[https://theboar.org/2016/10/black-british-music/ Why don’t the Black-British community have the Blues?]. The Boar. Retrieved on 25 July 2024 a genre mixture of jazz, funk, and hip-hop music.[https://www.allmusic.com/style/acid-jazz-ma0000002414 Acid Jazz Music Style Overview]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 25 July 2024 The group have sold over 2.5 million records worldwide.[https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/when-you-can-see-the-brand-new-heavies-in-peterborough-3183082 When you can see The Brand New Heavies in Peterborough]. Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved on 25 July 2024 In 2020, the group was nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third annual Pop Magazine Awards.[https://pop-mag.com/2020-03-15/here-are-the-winners-of-the-pop-awards-2020-the-third-annual-pop-awards/ Here are The Winners of The POP AWARDS 2020, The Third Annual Pop Awards!]. Pop Magazine. Retrieved on 25 July 2024

In April 2021, an art exhibition called Brand New Heavies was curated by Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas.[https://pioneerworks.org/exhibitions/brand-new-heavies Brand New Heavies]. Pioneer Works. Retrieved 25 July 2024 The exhibition featured the work of artists Abigail DeVille, Xaviera Simmons, and Rosa-Johan Uddoh. The curators also chose the name as the featured artists considered themselves the "New Heavies" of the artworld. The exhibition opened at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, New York City on April 2.[https://robbreport.com/shelter/art-collectibles/brand-new-heavies-show-celebrates-three-black-female-artists-1234603071/ A Monumental New Art Exhibition in NYC Puts 3 Black Women Artists in the Spotlight]. Robb Report. Retrieved on 25 July 2024

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;Current members

• Simon Bartholomew – vocals, guitar, producer (1985–present)
• Andrew Levy – bass, keyboards, producer (1985–present)
• Angela Ricci – vocals (2018–present)

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;Former members

• Jan Kincaid – vocals, drums (1985–2015)
• Lascelles Gordon – percussion, keyboards (1985–1992)
• Ceri Evans – keyboards (1985–1992)
• Jaye Ella Ruth – lead vocals (1990)
• Rob Cremona – keyboards (1990–1991)
• Jim Wellman – saxophone (1990–1991)
• N'Dea Davenport – lead vocals, tambourine (1990–1995, 2005–2013)
• Mike Smith – saxophone (1994–1996)
• Dennis Rollins – trombone (1994–1996)
• John Thirkell – trumpet, flugelhorn (1994–1997)
• Siedah Garrett – lead vocals (1995–1998)
• Carleen Anderson – lead vocals (1999–2000)
• Sy Smith – session vocalist (2003)
• Nicole Russo – lead vocals (2003–2004)
• Dawn Joseph – lead vocals (2013–2015)
• Sulene Fleming – vocals (2016–2018)

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{{Main|The Brand New Heavies discography}}

• The Brand New Heavies (1990)
• Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1 (1992)
• Original Flava (1994)
• Brother Sister (1994)
• Shelter (1997)
• We Won't Stop (2003)
• Allabouthefunk (2004)
• Get Used to It (2006)
• Dunk Your Trunk (2011)
• Forward (2013)
• Sweet Freaks (2014)
• TBNH (2019)

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://the-brand-new-heavies.com/}}
• {{discogs artist|The Brand New Heavies}}

{{The Brand New Heavies}}

{{Siedah Garrett}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brand New Heavies}}

Category:1985 establishments in England

Category:Acid jazz ensembles

Category:Acid Jazz Records artists

Category:Delicious Vinyl artists

Category:English dance music groups

Category:English jazz ensembles

Category:English funk musical groups

Category:FFRR Records artists

Category:British jazz fusion ensembles

Category:Live Here Now artists

Category:Musical groups established in 1985

Category:Musical groups from the London Borough of Ealing