January 25, 1981 – Lakeside hits #1 with “Fantastic Voyage”
Another in the long line of talented funk acts to come out of Dayton, Ohio, Lakeside was formed around 1970 by members of two local groups, the Nomads and the Young Undergrounds. The group, consisting of members Otis Stokes, Thomas Shelby, Steve Shockley, Mark Wood, Tierneyer McCain, Norman Beavers, Marvin Craig and Fred Lewis was truly unique in that it essentially consisted of two groups: a stand up 4-man vocal group, and a full-on four person (later five person) funk band.
The mega-sized group won a contest that sent the members to Chicago to record a session for Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label. The recording never materialized, and the group made the decision to move to California to jumpstart the act. There, Lakeside Express picked up new member, drummer Fred Alexander, and became one of the most popular club acts in L.A. Their popularity attracted music empresario Dick Griffey, who became their manager and, after shortening the group’s name to Lakeside, negotiated for them an ill-fated contract with Motown…