Atlanta, GA (Blue Lake label) - Long before B2k were out of pampers and even before
New Edition sang about needing a 'Candy Girl', R&B group Ready for the World set the standard for sexy male groups that boasted thousands of relentlessly adoring female fans. In the late 80's, Ready for the World with their tight pants and free-flowing curls were the epitome of the term sex symbol. With sex-driven hits 'Oh Sheila' and 'Let me love you down', the group was on the lips of young women everywhere and their hits followed suit crossing over from the soul and R&B charts to the pop charts.
The Michigan-bred funk band with slight rock leanings, parlayed frontman Melvin Riley's sensual vocals and trendy production into a pair of number one R&B hits in the mid-'80s for MCA.
Riley, Gordon Strozier, Gregory Potts, Willie Triplett, John Eaton, and Gerald Valentine began on their own Blue Lake label before signing with MCA. The label reissued the song 'Tonight', and it reached number six on the R&B charts in 1984.
Ready for the World followed up with 'Deep Inside Your Love', another top ten R&B single, then had their first of two chart-toppers with 'Oh Sheila'. The song proved to be a huge crossover smash, ultimately topping the pop lists as well. They scored their fourth consecutive Top Ten R&B record with "Digital Display," then had two flop singles before "Love You Down" put them back on top of the R&B world in 1986. It was the group's last hit and peaked at number nine on the pop charts.
R&B fans will be delighted to see Ready for the World reunited onstage at the Atlanta Civic center as one of the four groups slated to perform at the Battle of the Jamz concert. BATTLE OF THE JAMZ WILL BE THE BIGGEST EVENT OF SUMMER 2006! Battle of the Jamz New Vision Entertainment, LLC will present the BATTLE OF THE JAMZ , featuring legendary groups Mint Condition, Tony Toni Tone, Ready for the World and Troop on Friday, August 4th at 8 p.m.at the Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, GA.
