Skyy (also known as New York Skyy) was an American R&B/funk/disco band based in New York City. They are perhaps best known for their 1981 hit "Call Me", as well as their 1989 "comeback" hits "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love".
Skyy was formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1977. The original line-up consisted of sisters Denise Dunning Wilkinson, Dolores Dunning Milligan, and Benita "Bonné" Dunning Williams as vocalists, with guitarists Solomon Roberts and Anibal Anthony Sierra, keyboardist Larry Greenberg, bassist Gerald Lebon, and drummer Tommy McConnell. In 1978, the band was signed to Salsoul Records, releasing their debut album the following year.
After several albums that yielded moderate hits on the R&B charts, the group crossed over to the United States pop charts with the release of the "Skyy Line" album in late 1981. Featured on this album was the single "Call Me" which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was their first number 1 on the R&B charts. The album was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band continued to record for the Salsoul Records through to the release of their 1984 "Inner City" album.
In 1989, after signing to Atlantic Records, Skyy launched a comeback with the release of their "Start of a Romance" album. This release yielded two number one R&B singles, "Start of a Romance" and "Real Love".
"Unsung" is an hour-long music documentary program that airs on the television network TV One. It uncovers the stories behind well-known R&B and hip-hop music artists, bands, or groups which were ranked on the Billboard music charts with a string of hits, only to have their career derailed by a major crisis that caused them to be essentially unappreciated by later generations of contemporary R&B and soul music listeners. The series is produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions.
On May 15, 2020, "Unsung" returned with Season 14, Episode 12, featuring the story of Skyy as the main subject. For this episode, Shefik licensed to "Unsung" video footage he captured of the legendary Ladies of Skyy, during their concert performance for Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, held on July 6, 2018, in Queens, New York at Springfield Park. Shefik was tasked to film the concert, which was then used as B-roll footage. Ladies of Skyy are the 3 sisters and vocalists of Skyy, who later formed as a trio after Skyy disbanded, to sustain the legacy of their enduring music.
The sisters have performed consistently since then. In 2007, they attempted to beat a Guinness World Record for the largest kazoo band at the SummerStage concert in Harlem, New York, singing their song "Skyyzoo". Shefik was also in attendance.
Credits
- Executive Producer: Jason B. Ryan
- Footage/Images Courtesy: Shefik
Last Updated: January 9, 2024
