The Force M.D.s are an American R&B vocal group that was formed in 1981 in Staten Island, New York. Although the group has old school hip hop roots, it is perhaps best known for their soulful R&B tunes such as "Tender Love," "Love Is a House," "Tears," and "Here I Go Again." They are considered major forerunners of the new jack swing movement.
History
Origins
The band was originally named The L.D.s, and then became the Force MCs. Though the group was not quite always as recognizable as other New York R&B acts when it first started, they were among the first R&B vocal groups to intermix doo-wop-affected singing with and sometimes over hip-hop beats. Later, friends Trisco Pearson (October 23, 1962 – September 16, 2016) and Charles "Mercury" Nelson (December 19, 1964 – March 9, 1995) from the Mariners Harbor housing projects joined the group.
Performing and signing with a record label
The group began performing on Times Square, New York City street corners and during trips on the Staten Island ferry. "Tender Love" was also one of the tracks that helped Jam & Lewis garner a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. The song "Itchin' for a Scratch" was performed by the group in the 1985 feature film Rappin, and was also part of the soundtrack.
In 1987 they scored their first R&B number one hit, "Love Is a House," from their third album, Touch and Go.
Waning popularity and member changes
By the late 1980s the group's popularity began to wane. A fourth album, Step to Me, was released in 1990, which featured record production by Full Force, Marley Marl, Monte Moir (of the band The Time), and others. Members Pearson and Nelson left soon afterward, replaced by original member Rodney "Khalil" Lundy (who had initially left the band early in their career) and new member Shawn Waters. The group then released the album Moments in Time in 1994, but failed to chart or produce any hits. In 1996 the group appeared on several tracks on the Ghostface Killah album Ironman.
Deaths in the group and a last reunion
Three of the group's members died during the latter half of the 1990s: Nelson suffered a fatal heart attack in 1995; former collaborator DJ Dr. Rock died suddenly of AIDS in 1996; and in 1998, Antoine Lundy died of Lou Gehrig's disease.
Surviving members of the group's classic lineup - Daniels, Pearson, and Stevie D. Lundy - along with Rodney Lundy returned with a comeback album, The Reunion, in 2000, but it failed to chart or register any hits. Damen Heyward, a native of The Bronx and formerly of the mid-/late-1980s group 4 By Four, later joined the group. After leaving the group, Heyward went on to tour with artists such as Joe.
Trisco Pearson died on September 16, 2016, at age 53, after a battle with stage 4 cancer. His death was announced by Bow Legged Lou of Full Force. Jessie Daniels died on January 4, 2022, at the age of 58.
Legacy
- On September 9, 2015, they were featured on an episode of TV One's Unsung.
- The members of Force MD's were referenced in the song "Okkervil River R.I.P." by indie-folk band Okkervil River on their 2016 album Away.
Members
- Zieme Capers
- Stevie D. (Stevie D. Lundy)
- Khalil (Rodney Lundy)
Former members
- T.C.D. (Antoine Lundy) <small>-</small>
- Mercury (Charles Nelson) <small>-</small>
- DJ Dr. Rock <small>-</small>
- Shawn Waters
- Trisco (Trisco Pearson) <small>-</small>
- Jessie D. (Jessie Lee Daniels) <small>-</small>
- Damen Heyward
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| US<br>
! width="35"| US R&B<br>
|-
| 1984
| style="text-align:left;"| Love Letters
- Formats: LP, cassette
| 185
| 28
| —
|-
| 1985
| style="text-align:left;"| Chillin
- Formats: CD, LP, cassette
| 69
| 14
| 80
|-
| 1987
| style="text-align:left;"| Touch and Go
- Formats: CD, LP, cassette
| 67
| 12
| —
|-
| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| Step to Me
- Formats: CD, LP, cassette
| —
| 74
| —
|-
| 1994
| style="text-align:left;"| Moments in Time
- Formats: CD, cassette
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"| The Reunion
- Formats: CD, cassette
| —
| —
| —
|-
|}
Compilation albums
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Year
!Album details
|-
| 1992
| style="text-align:left;"| For Lovers and Others: Force M.D.'s Greatest Hits
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:left;"| Let Me Love You: The Greatest Hits
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="5"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| US<br>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984
| style="text-align:left;"| "Let Me Love You"
| —
| 49
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| Love Letters
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Tears"
| 102
| 5
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1985
| style="text-align:left;"| "Forgive Me Girl"
| —
| 49
| —
| —
| 93
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Itchin' for a Scratch"
| 105
| 13
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Tender Love"
| 10
| 4
| 2
| 9
| 23
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| Chillin
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1986
| style="text-align:left;"| "Here I Go Again"
| —
| 18
| —
| —
| 98
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "One Plus One"
| —
| 29
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Wanna Know Your Name"
| —
| 21
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Non-album single
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1987
| style="text-align:left;"| "Love Is a House"
| 78
| 1
| 38
| —
| 97
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| Touch and Go
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Touch and Go"
| —
| 10
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1988
| style="text-align:left;"| "Couldn't Care Less"
| —
| 23
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Deep Check"
| —
| 66
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Non-album single
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1989
| style="text-align:left;"| "Float On" <small>(with Stetsasonic)</small>
| —
| 56
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| In Full Gear
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| "Are You Really Real?
| —
| 23
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Step to Me
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Somebody's Crying"
| —
| 34
| —
| —
| —
|-
|| 1992
| style="text-align:left;"| "Your Love Drives Me Crazy"
| —
| 78
| —
| —
| —
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"| Touch and Go
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"| <small>"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released</small>
|}
Filmography
- 1985: Rappin
- 1989: Limit Up
Cover versions
One of its songs, “Tender Love,” was covered by Jordan Knight, Kenny Thomas, Usher, Uncle Sam, Alicia Keys, and Meshell Ndegeocello.
References
Further reading
- Ebony
- Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide
- Staten Island Advance
- Blues & Soul
External links
- [ The Force M.D.'s] at AllMusic
- The Force M.D.'s at Discogs