H-Town (band)

H-Town is an American R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, United States. H-Town was founded in 1990 by twin brothers Keven "Dino" Conner (November 18, 1974 - January 28, 2003[1]), Solomon “Shazam" Conner (November 18, 1974) and their longtime friend Darryl "GI" Jackson (April 10, 1974), H-Town is best known for their hits during the early to mid–1990s.

H-Town
Also known asThe Gents
OriginHouston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active1990–present
Labels
Associated acts
MembersSolomon "Shazam" Conner
Darryl "G.I." Jackson
Past membersKeven "Dino" Conner

History

Formation

The group grew up together in Houston's Yellowstone neighborhood located on the south side of the city. While attending Jack Yates High School, in 1991, Keven and Solomon Conner formed a band with Darryl Jackson. They were known as "The Gents" and recorded their first album, "It's No Dream," with producer Phil Blackmon. Shazam was chosen as lead singer at the time of recording this album, which featured the ballad "A Time for Us". The album was released locally and was not a huge commercial success. The group continued recording and performed at talent shows and plays when a local producer sent their demo tape to 2 Live Crew rapper and record label executive Luther "Luke" Campbell. After an impromptu audition, Campbell signed the group to his label, Luke Records. Producer Bishop "Stick" Burrell became their producer and positioned Dino as lead singer, seeing his potential and rare voice as the formula for success in the group and built his sound around him. [2] They took the name of the group, "H-Town", from the local nickname for the city of Houston, Texas, in which they grew up.[3]

Early career

Fever for Da Flavor (1993)

H-Town's debut album Fever for Da Flavor was released on April 15, 1993.[4] The group achieved hit status in the United States with "Knockin' Da Boots", which became H-Town's biggest hit and also their signature song. "Boots" was a #1 hit on the R&B charts,[5] and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] "Lick U Up", the band's follow-up single, peaked at #21. They signed on as a part of the 1993 Coca-Cola Summer Fest tour, which included fellow R&B hit groups Shai, SWV, Jade, Naughty by Nature, Silk and also included multi-platinum rap artist LL Cool J.[7] In 1994, H-Town won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. They also appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack with their single "Part Time Lover", which was produced by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. It peaked at #9 on the R&B Charts.

Beggin' After Dark (1994), Ladies Edition, Woman's World (1997)

In late 1993, H-Town returned to the studio to record their second album Beggin' After Dark . It was released on November 8, 1994.[8] The most popular single from this album was "Emotions". It became a #11 hit on the Billboard R&B chart and reached #51 on the Hot 100.[6] Other tracks from the album included "Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)", "Full Time", "One Night Gigolo", "Tumble & Rumble", "Buss One", featuring reggae singer Papa Reu, and "Baby I Love Ya" featuring Roger Troutman. By the time H-Town returned to the studio to record Ladies Edition, they had undergone some changes. They recorded a cover version of The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" featuring Shirley Murdock for the 1996 film of the same name. The song became H-Town's first Top 40 pop hit in three years, peaking at #37.[6] They then cut ties with Luther Campbell, underwent a spiritual awakening of sorts, and became more aware of women's issues on their third album Ladies Edition, Woman's World.[9] It was released on October 28, 1997.[10] The album's general theme centers on a man's penitence for his past transgressions with his woman, a theme conveyed in songs such as "Don't Sleep on the Female," "Julie Rain" (a sobering account of spousal abuse), and "Jezebel." According to the liner notes, the album was dedicated to Nicole Brown Simpson and "all the women of the world." Twenty national women's telephone helplines were also listed on the back cover. Their one and only single from the album, "They Like It Slow" was released on September 23, 1997, and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Later career

Founding member Dino Conner was killed along with his girlfriend in an automobile accident in 2003.[4] In 2004, the band self-released Imitations of Life. The surviving members continued to record and tour into the 2010s, collaborating with Pretty Ricky and Jodeci on a 2010 single "Knockin' Your Heels."

Discography

Albums
Fever for da Flavor
Beggin' After Dark
Ladies Edition, Woman's World
Imitation of Life
  • Released: October 12, 2004
Child Support
  • Released: September 9th, 2014 [14]

Singles

[15]

Year Song Peak chart positions[16] Album
U.S.
Hot 100		 U.S.
R&B		 U.S.
Dance		 U.S.
Rhythmic
1993 "Knockin' Da Boots"[upper-alpha 1] 3 1 14 2 Fever for da Flavor
"Lick U Up" 67 21 — 34
"Keepin' My Composure" — 46 — —
1994 "Baby I Wanna" — 87 — —
"Part Time Lover" (b/w "I'm Still in Love with You" by Al B. Sure)[upper-alpha 2] 57 9 17 — Above the Rim (soundtrack)
"Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)" — 58 — — Beggin' After Dark
"Emotions" 51 11 — —
1996 "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate" (featuring Shirley Murdock) 37 6 — 31 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (soundtrack)
1997 "They Like It Slow" 35 12 — — Ladies Edition, Woman's World
2004 "Nothing In Common" — — — — Imitations of Life
2009 "Knockin' Your Heels"[17] — — — — data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single
Year Song Peak chart
positions		 Album
U.S.
R&B
1992 "You and Me"[18]
(Luke featuring Angee Griffin and H-Town)		 94 I Got Shit on My Mind
(Luke album)

Notes
  1. "Knockin' Da Boots" also peaked at #34 on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart.[16]
  2. In an effort to promote the Above the Rim soundtrack, "Part Time Lover" was released as a double single with Al B. Sure's cover of the hit Al Green song, "I'm Still in Love with You."


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References
  1. "H-Town's Dino Conner, R&B artist, dies at 28". Houston Chronicle. 2003. Retrieved 2019-01-03. Houston police report that a sports utility vehicle struck a car driven by Teshya Rae Weisent, 22, in which Conner was a passenger. Conner's older brother and bandmate, Shazam Conner, said Weisent had just picked Dino Conner up from his recording studio. The SUV allegedly ran a red light and struck the vehicle, throwing Conner and Weisent from the car. Conner died en route to the hospital; Weisent was dead at the scene.
  2. Joseph, Stanley (2001-03-22). "H-Town: Learning the Lessons of Fame". youthoutlook.org. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  3. "Bio". htown4ever.com. H-Town Music. 2011. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  4. "H-Town - Fever for da Flavor ". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  5. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Chart Listing For The Week Of June 12, 1993". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  6. "H-Town Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  7. Joseph, Stanley (2001-03-22). "H-Town: Learning the Lessons of Fame". youthoutlook.org. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  8. "H-Town - Beggin' After Dark". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  9. "H-Town Give Shout Out To "Women Of The World"". mtv.com. 1997-10-15. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  10. "H-Town - Ladies Edition". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  11. "Fever for Da Flavor". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  12. "Beggin' After Dark". billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  13. "Ladies Edition". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  14. "NEW MUSIC: H-Town – Green Light". KMJQ Majic 102.1. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  15. "H-Town Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  16. "H-Town | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  17. "H-Town - Knockin Your Heels Radio Edit - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  18. "Luke | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
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