Freeez
Freeez were a dance music group from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet (keyboards), Peter Maas (bass guitar) and Paul Morgan or Everton Mcalla (drums). They had an international hit with "IOU", and a UK Top 10 with "Southern Freeez".
Career
Freeez's first single, "Keep In Touch" (1980), included guitarist Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, the initiator of the musical band Incognito. Freeez is perhaps remembered best for its UK Top 10 song "Southern Freeez", from the album of the same name,which included guest vocals by Ingrid Mansfield Allman. In the UK, the band was contracted with the recording company Beggars Banquet Records.
The song "IOU", written, produced and mixed by Arthur Baker (known then for his work with Afrika Bambaataa), was also used for the 1980s breakdance movie, Beat Street. It scored two weeks at number one in the Billboard Dance chart, scoring among songs by such people as Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, and was number 2 in the UK Singles Chart during the summer of 1983. It was followed by other releases from the album such as "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub", which scored the U.S. Top 5. During 1987 a remix of "I.O.U." scored number 18 on the U.S. dance chart, plus number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.
