Known for their energy-filled "live" performances and distinctive brand of funk and R&B, the nine-member team known as Lakeside enjoyed a run of sixteen chart singles on Solar Records from 1978 to 1987.
Formed in Dayton, Ohio, the original group consisted of keyboardist Norman Beavers, vocalists Mark Adam Wood , jr. and Tiemeyer McCain, and guitarist Stephen Shockley. By 1969, known as The Lakeside Ohio Express, the band had expanded to nine members with the addition of vocalists Thomas Shelby & Otis Stokes, percussionist Fred Lewis, drummer Fred Alexander Jr., and bassist Marvin Craig.
The group played in and around Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan & Kentucky finally heading out to Los Angeles in 1972 in pursuit of a recording contract. After establishing themselves locally as a strong "live" act, Lakeside met producer Frank Wilson, then a hitman for MoTown (thanks to success with Eddie Kendricks, and the Four Tops, among others.) The group recorded two songs for the label which were never released and when Wilson moved to ABC Records, the group followed and cut an album but once again, the label kept the material in the can.
L.A.- based industry entrepeneur Dick Griffey had been managing the group since 1975 and after Lakeside left ABC Records, he signed the group to his then-newly formed Solar Records operation.
Released in 1979, Lakeside's debut LP, Shot of Love spawned the Top 5 R&B hit "It's All The Way Live." A second album, Rough Riders kept the momentum going in '79 while group hit the orad with Solar labelmates THe Whispers, Shalamar and Dynasty.
But it was Lakeside's third Solar LP that catapulted the group to a new level of success. Issued towards the end of the 1980, Fantastic Voyage was not only Lakeside's first gold album: the title track became the team's biggest pop hit and an R&B chartopper, and was revived successfully by rap star Coolio in 1995.
Earning great reviews for their exciting shows, Lakeside continued recording for Solar, enjoyingn Top 10 R&B hits with a cover of the The Beatles' classic "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in 1982, with "Raid" in 1983, and with "Outrageous" in 1984, cutting a total of five more albums for the label.
Go Lakeside!!!!
Fred Alexander Jr.
Marvin Craig
Fred "Timbales" Lewis
Johhny Rogers
Thomas Shelby
Stephen Shockley
Mark Adam Wood Jr.
Donald Tavie
William Shelby
Lakeside will also be
Indianapolis Indiana (Naptown) December 7th, 2007
Shreveport Louisiana December 21st, 2007
Portland Oregan December 31st, 2007
San Diego California December 31st, 2008
