Eugene Wilde
Eugene Wilde (born Ronald Eugene Broomfield, December 6, 1961)[1] is an American R&B singer who had two #1 hits on the US R&B charts in the 1980s, and a songwriter with over 60 million in record sales.
Eugene Wilde | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ronald Eugene Broomfield |
Born | December 6, 1961 |
Origin | North Miami Beach, Florida |
Genres | R&B, soul |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1979–Present |
Labels | 4th & B'way Records (UK), Philly World, Atlantic (US) MCA (US) |
Career
Broomfield was born in North Miami Beach, Florida and raised in Miami. He grew up as part of a family group, La Voyage, playing in local clubs. In the 1970s, the group became Tight Connection, and was later known as Simplicious. Broomfield also recorded an album with Curtom Records in 1979 as a member of Today, Tomorrow, Forever.
On learning Broomfield's middle name was Eugene, his manager insisted that he go by that name professionally; the last name was inspired by Broomfield seeing an advertisement for a New York club named Wildflower's.[2]
In 1984, Eugene Wilde joined Philly World Records, and wrote and recorded his first hit, "Gotta Get You Home Tonight." It rose to #1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and also made #18 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] After a couple of less successful follow-ups, he hit #1 again a year later with "Don't Say No Tonight." He also had some lesser hits, including "Diana" (1986). His track "Personality" peaked at #34 in the UK.[3] Subsequent releases on the MCA label, solo and with the group Cabo Frio, ("I'll Get Back To You," 1987) were less successful.
In 1985, Wilde appeared in the film Rappin' with Joanna Gardner, where they performed the song, "First Love Never Dies," a duet that also appeared on the film's soundtrack.[4]
In 1987, he recorded a duet with Sheena Easton, "What If We Fall in Love," which appeared on Easton's album, No Sound But a Heart.
He later ran the independent label Wilde City Records in Florida.
Starting in the 1990s, Wilde found success behind the scenes as a songwriter, having penned "I'll Never Break Your Heart" with Albert Manno for the Backstreet Boys.[5] He co-wrote album track "Dear Diary" with Jason Blume and Britney Spears for Spears's 2000 album, Oops!... I Did It Again.[6] He co-wrote the song "I Wish" with Peter Biker, and Kenneth Karlin and Carsten Schack (who are better known as the Danish production/songwriting duo Soulshock & Karlin)[7] for Victoria Beckham for her 2001 album, Victoria Beckham - which was planned as Beckham's third single, a duet with Robbie Craig, but the release was canceled. The song was in the film Bend It Like Beckham, whose title referenced Victoria's husband, David Beckham.[8]
In 2010, the Danish production duo of Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle, known as Cool Million, released the title song of their new CD, "Back for More," with Wilde providing the lead vocal, announced with a teaser video via their YouTube account, rylehardtmillion. "Back for More" was written by Wilde with Hardt, Ryle, and his son Du Juan.[9] This same group, along with Felix Luis Collazo II and Diane Williams, co-wrote another track, "Loose",[10] which featured Wilde singing a duet with his sister Dee Dee Wilde and also had a teaser YouTube video.
In 2018 Wilde launched a new record label; 50ish Music Group.
Discography
Studio albums
- Eugene Wilde (1984)
- Serenade (1985)
- I Choose You (Tonight) (1989)
- How About Tonight (1992)[11]
- Get Comfortable (2011)
Singles
Year | Song | U.S. R&B | U.S. Pop | UK |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | "Gotta Get You Home Tonight" | 1 | 83 | 18 |
"Rainbow" | 22 | ― | ― | |
"Personality" | ― | ― | 34 | |
"Chey Chey Kulé" | 69 | ― | 83 | |
1985 | "Don't Say No Tonight" | 1 | 76 | 80 |
"Diana" | 10 | ― | ― | |
1986 | "30 Mins. To Talk" | 79 | ― | ― |
1989 | "Ain't Nobody's Business" | 50 | ― | ― |
"I Can't Stop (This Feeling)" | 35 | ― | ― | |
"I Choose You (Tonight)" | 56 | ― | ― | |
1992 | "How About Tonight" | 17 | ― | ― |
Compilations
- The Best Of Eugene Wilde - Got To Get You Home Tonight (1996)
- Eugene Wilde - The Greatest Hits (2004)
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
- R&B number-one hits of 1985 (USA)
- R&B number-one hits of 1986 (USA)
References
- "Onthisdayinhistory.co.uk". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- "Soulmusic.com". Archived from the original on 2010-07-03. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 602. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- IMDb.com
- I'll Never Break Your Heart at BMI Repertoire database
- Dear Diary at BMI Repertoire database
- I Wish at BMI Repertoire database
- IMDb.com
- Back for More at BMI Repertoire database
- Loose at BMI Repertoire database
- Eugene Wilde @SoulandFunkMusic.com Retrieved April 3, 2010.
- Eugene Wilde Discography. Discogs.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017