From Monday 13th June

The Breakfast Show

Featured Artist of the Week

Is The Fantastic

Steven Collazo – ODYSSEY.

www.odyssey.com

BIOGRAPHY

Odyssey

THE GLORY DAYS of top vocal group Odyssey, one of the most successful soul/disco acts of their era, culminated in the early 1980’s when they topped the charts with “Use It Up And Wear It Out”, scoring several other Top Ten hits in Britain and throughout the world.

The group actually started out being billed as “The Lopez Sisters” when there were three of them – Lillian, Louise, and Carmen. An agent spotted them at a concert and booked them for a five month European tour. When they returned to the States, Carmen left the trio to marry, but Lillian and Louise resolved to continue and so recruited Tony Reynolds as a replacement.

From their debut album emerged their first smash single – “Native New Yorker”, an international hit late in 1977. Additionally, Lillian’s eldest son, Steven Collazo had become part of Odyssey behind the scenes, recording as a background vocalist, journeyman session musician and musical director for the their live performances and tours. A couple of years later, the group cut their “Hang Together” album. It contained “Use It Up And Wear It Out”, while the flipside, “Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her” received major airplay on US Black Radio. In the UK, “Use It Up” shot to the top ten, followed by “If You’re Looking For A Way Out”, “Inside Out” and the Lamont Dozier classic “Going Back To My Roots”.

Performing around the UK, Europe and The Middle East through the 80’s and into the 90’s, the journey continued, and in 1994, Steven moved up to co-front the group and produce new versions of the Odyssey classics while appearing with Lillian on television and touring the arenas, top hotels, clubs, major holiday resorts and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.

The founder and first voice of Odyssey, Lillian Lopez-Collazo Jackson, died of cancer on September 4th, 2013. Louise Lopez, as well as other former members Billy McEachern, Al Jackson, Anne and Annis Peters, have either retired or acquired new interests and directions. Tony Reynolds died February 2nd, 2010.

Steven Collazo continues his mother’s legacy, taking the “odyssey” forward and further with an array of talented singers, musicians, DJs and producers. Sharing the stage with Steven are: Romina Johnson, who’s known her own success with producer Artful Dodger on the hit single “Movin Too Fast” and Jerdene Wilson, international entertainer and song stylist, with occasional contributions from soulstress Tracy “Tee-Ray” Roma.

It’s said that “old school” is today’s “new school” and Steve’s been working to combine the best of both worlds into today’s Odyssey. Currently, Mr Collazo has teamed up with co-producer Andy Williams of YamWho? and ISM records. YamWho’s? impressively extensive track record of re-mixes and old school live recording with modern treatment have introduced Odyssey to a whole new generation of enthusiasts who grew up with their music… Yet the group remains faithful to its’ more mature, core audience. New releases are in progress.