A Taste Of Honey

A Taste Of Honey

Real Name:
Janice Mary Johnson, Hazel Payne

Profile:

Popular disco/R&B group of the late '70s and early '80s, A Taste Of Honey was formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 1972 when an earlier band featuring Janice Marie Johnson (vocals/guitar/bass) and Perry Kimble (keyboards) disbanded. After numerous personnel changes the group solidified as a quartet featuring Johnson, Kimble, Hazel Payne (guitar/vocals) and Donald Johnson (drums). The group was signed to Capitol Records and in 1978 recorded the US number 1 and UK number 3 dance single, Boogie Oogie Oogie. The self-titled album from which the single was drawn reached the US Top 10 and was certified platinum. They became the first black group to win a Best New Artist Grammy at the 1979 awards. In 1980 they were reduced to a duo of Johnson and Payne. A remake of the 1963 Kyu Sakamoto hit Sukiyaki, with new English words completely unrelated to the original Japanese lyric, became their only other major US chart hit, reaching number 3 in 1981. The pair split up in 1984, although they did briefly revisit the UK charts in 1985 with a remix version of their initial hit.

Members:

Donald R. Johnson, Hazel P. Payne, Janice M. Johnson, Perry Kibble