FIVE STAR   80's pop group

The British Jacksons who hailed from Romford, Essex

Before all the Girl and Boy bands of the 90's and today were entertaining us, a black British pop group called 5 Star had dominated the pop charts of the mid 80's. This is the story of 3 sisters and 2 brothers who hailed from Romford, Essex, to take the pop charts by storm.........

5 Star were bigger than oxygen in their day. They were very similar to the Jacksons, in appearance and vocal ability. Father Buster Pearson who had already been working in the music industry for many years, let his three teenage daughters Doris, Lorraine and Denise plus his two sons Stedman and Delroy release their first single 'Problematic' in 1983. Two years later they released a stream of hit singles including 'All Fall Down', 'Let Me Be The One' and 'System Addict' from the debut album entitled 'Luxury Of Life'. Youngest sister Denise Pearson graced lead vocals as all five very pretty members of this band danced and sang their way into the hearts of the British public.

Each single released had it’s own video complete with it's own dance routine which kept children all over the country entertained . The first album had a very disco soul feel credible with the bands youthful but soulful never the less sound. The second album 'Silk & Steel' released 1986 featured rock pop oriented hit singles like 'Cant Wait Another Minute', 'The Slightest Touch' and the dub influenced 'Rain Or Shine'. Each member worked hard to create a super group, with Doris choreographing the dances, Stedman designing the groups fantastic sequinned jump suits, Lorraine being chief spokes person with the press, and Denise obviously taking on board the role of lead singer. Youngest Delroy who at the time was under 18 contributed more in their later years as a very competent writer and producer. Hit after hit, award after award, 5 Star just got bigger and bigger. They were labelled as a goody-goody group, as many of the members were still too young to act in a rock and roll fashion and they now lived as a family in a huge mansion in Berkshire surrounded by cars they couldn’t even drive.

“5 Star were bigger than oxygen in their day!”

Successful tours kept the money coming in, but the 1987 album 'Between The Lines' and it's singles 'Somewhere Somebody' and 'Whenever You're Ready' did not sell as well as their previous releases but that did not stop the Pearson family. A radical style makeover from pop beauty's to rock chic complete with black leather, studs and knee pads helped promote the new face of 5 Star for their forth studio album 'Rock The World' in 1988 releasing hit's 'Another Weekend' and 'Someone's In Love' (US only). Still, their popularity had seemed to have out grown it's self and the British press famed for it's ability to break down what it creates did just that. Stories of bankruptcies and controlling parenting blazed across the newspapers when indeed all that the family had done was move to America for the peace that they could no longer have in the UK having been so exposed. They also had just finished their contract with their record company RCA to which a Greatest Hits package was released including new track 'With Every Heartbeat'. The next year 5 Star released their first album which was solely written and produced by themselves simply entitled 'Five Star' featuring the dance track 'Treat Me Like A Lady' and the sassy 'Hot Love' both lead vocals now showing the talents of Doris. This was to mark the end of their reign in the UK for the time being as sales did not reach any credible mark despite being now signed to Sony and releasing another album 'Shine' in 1991.

5 Star continued to work as a group in the US, next releasing the album 'Heart & Soul' in 1994 with the fantastic cover track 'I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons)'. It featured a much more grown up and pregnant Denise in the video beautifully directed by none other than ‘The Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The latest offering from 5 Star is a collection of songs under the title of 'Eclipse' now with a smooth R'N'B flavour and as ever the soulful vocals of the group once likened to the Jackson's. They sing write and produce their way through 10 excellent tracks, one of which is the US hit single 'Funktified'. Yet still, their early stuff rings in our hearts like childhood memories so sweet and what with the recent 80's revival, 5 Star are back on top form to relight our love for them and no doubt achieve a new younger audience too. Heading at the second 'Here & Now' 1980's tour in December, 5 Star are now down to three existing members, Stedman, Lorraine & Denise, leaving Doris & Delroy to remain on individual projects.

They will most probably be rememberd for the earlier work in the eighties. I can remember being about 10 when I first heard the electrifying groove of System Addict which is probably my favourite. five star now have a huge fan base and have recently appeared in a tv documentary about their success.

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