1. Biography
    Beginnings  Superstardom  After Starpoint 

2. Tragedies
    Ernesto Phillips's death  Renée Diggs's death 

3. Band members

4. Discography
    Albums  Singles  Compilations 

5. References

6. External links

Starpoint was an American R&B sextet from Maryland that began recording in the 1980s, releasing a string of solid albums first on the Casablanca sub-label Chocolate City, and later on Elektra. While the band's earlier albums, especially 1980's Keep on It were more funk than R&B, vocalist Renée Diggs brought the R&B elements to the forefront with her powerful vocals which had both presence and sophistication, coupled with near perfect pitch and very pleasing tone.

Starpoint's producers over the years included Lionel Job, Keith Diamond, Bernard Edwards, Teddy Riley, Ernesto Phillips, George Phillips, and Starpoint

Biography

Beginnings

Starpoint was originally formed in 1969. The principal members of members of Starpoint are Ernesto Phillips, George Phillips , Orlando Phillips, Gregory Phillips, Renee Diggs and Kayode Adeyemo. Kayode Adeyemo, whose parents had been immigrants from Nigeria and Barbados, was born and grew up in Crownsville, Maryland. His father, a doctor, worked with Dr. George Phillips at Crownsville Hospital. As a result, a young Kayode Adeyemo was introduced to Dr. Phillips's five sons: Ernesto, Orlando, Lloyd, Greg, and George, Jr. Soon thereafter, Adeyemo began jamming with four of the Phillips brothers, each of whom were multi-instrumentalists. After this foundation had stabilized, Renée Diggs came on board as the lead singer.

With so much musical/instrumental talent between them, the Phillips brothers each came to specialize in particular instruments within the band, with Ernesto Phillips handling lead guitar, lead and background vocals and trumpet; Orlando Phillips on bass guitar and keyboards, background vocals, and saxophone; Gregory Phillips on drums, percussion, background vocals; and George Phillips, Jr. on lead and background vocals, keyboards. Renee Diggs lead and background vocals. By the end of the 1970s, the band had scored a recording contract with Chocolate City Records.

The group released their self-titled debut album in 1980. One of the singles from this album, "I Just Wanna Dance with You," became their first top 20 hit on the R&B chart. They would continue to release at least one album every year throughout the first half of the 80s, scoring several more minor hits on the R&B chart. When Chocolate City Records went out of business, they signed with Casablanca 's founder Neil Bogart's new label Boardwalk Records until Bogart died and the label folded, then they were picked up by Elektra Records which reissued their sole Boardwalk album, 1983's It's So Delicious.

Superstardom

Major success in the R&B/soul market was elusive until 1985, when the band released their Restless album. This album not only made them superstars in the R&B world, but it also brought them significant crossover success onto the pop charts with the Top 30 single "Object of My Desire." Co-written by band members Kayode Adeyemo and Ernesto Phillips (along with noted R&B musician/producer Keith Diamond), the tune also became Starpoint's first of several R&B top-ten hits. The follow-up single "What You've Been Missin'" followed "Object..." into the R&B top ten. The title track "Restless" was also released as a single and did decently on both the pop and R&B charts. The band embarked on a lengthy tour in support of the album, during which Renée Diggs became well respected for her explosive vocal abilities, with Greg Phillips also earning a reputation for his dynamic drumming skills^[1] which garnered many standing ovations.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

Later in 1985, the band was on tour with Morris Day directly after his big screen success in the motion picture Purple Rain. The second half of the "Restless Tour" had the group touring with Luther Vandross, Isley Jasper Isley, and Atlantic Starr. At the peak of their success, Renée Diggs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While touring became more of a challenge for the band at this point, Diggs was determined to continue touring and recording with the band and living up to her potential. She remained with the band and persevered without sacrificing any of her exuberant stage presence.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

In 1987, the band released their next album, Sensational. While the single "He Wants My Body" became the band's third top-ten hit on the R&B chart, it barely made a dent on the pop charts, and the overall success of the album paled in comparison to its predecessor.

After Starpoint

In 1990, Renée Diggs recorded a solo album titled Oasis that was not initially released in the U.S., although it did see a release in Europe. Several of the tracks on this album were co-written by Diggs and Starpoint guitarist Ernesto Phillips. She created the Renée Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, to help bring attention to the disease.

Other band members became involved with songwriting and session work for various other R&B artists. In 1988, Adeyemo was credited with co-writing Milli Vanilli's hit "Girl You Know It's True." Milli Vanilli's accompanying American album, titled after the hit single, also featured a song composed by Ernesto Phillips, entitled "More Than You'll Ever Know."

Orlando Phillips and Greg Phillips launched international projects which still are successful to date and have been witnessed and enjoyed by fans all over the world.

In 2000, Ernesto began working with singer-songwriter Terry Cole (Sly Boots) and signed him to his label, Longevity Records. The pair would collaborate on many tracks from 2000-2001.

Tragedies

Ernesto Phillips's death

On March 25, 2004, Ernesto Phillips died as the result of a stroke. The Ernesto Phillips Scholarship for Talented Youth was established in his memory and as a tribute to his efforts in helping younger children to realize their ambitions of becoming musicians.

Renée Diggs's death

Just a week shy of the one-year anniversary of the death of longtime companion Ernesto Phillips, Renée Diggs also died (March 18, 2005) at the age of 50, due to a heart condition. Her album Oasis was finally released in the U.S., posthumously.

Band members

• Renée Diggs: Lead Vocals
• Kayode Adeyemo: Vocals, Keyboards (also occasional bass guitar during live performances)
• Ernesto Phillips: Guitars
• Orlando Phillips: Bass guitar, Keyboard bass, Saxophone
• George Phillips, Jr.: Keyboards
• Greg Phillips: Drums, Percussion

Discography

Albums

• 1980: Starpoint (#62, U.S.) (Chocolate City)
• 1981: Keep on It (#31 R&B, #138 U.S.) (Chocolate City)
• 1981: Wanting You (Chocolate City)
• 1982: All Night Long (#52 R&B) (Chocolate City)
• 1983: It's So Delicious (#32 R&B) (Boardwalk, reissued by Elektra)
• 1984: It's All Yours (Elektra)
• 1985: Restless (#14 R&B, #60 U.S.) (Elektra)
• 1987: Sensational (#29 R&B, #95 U.S.) (Elektra)
• 1988: Hot to the Touch (#75 R&B) (Elektra)
• 1990: Have You Got What it Takes? (Elektra)

Singles

Compilations

• 2005: Object of My Desire and Other Hits (includes singles released between 1983 and 1987)

References

External links

• Official website
• Soulwalking Page
• Ernesto Phillips's obituary
• [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4558899 NPR Report of Renee Diggs's death]

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