What Happened to 70s/80s Funk Band Cameo?

Cameo, a pioneering funk band formed in New York City in 1974, carved a unique niche in the music world with their outlandish stage presence, quirky humor, and hard-driving sound that blended various musical boundaries.

Initially compared to other funk giants, they transcended accusations of being derivative by outlasting most of their peers and becoming influences for younger R&B and hip-hop artists. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Cameo stayed ahead of trends, shaping the sound of funk with a distinctive flair.

The creative force behind Cameo, Larry Blackmon, grew up in Harlem near the iconic Apollo Theater, where he absorbed influences from legends like Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. Inspired by the Ohio Players, he originally named his group the New York City Players.

With a background in classical music from Juilliard and a love for horn-heavy funk, Blackmon assembled a large ensemble, at times over a dozen members, with a core trio including himself, Tommy Jenkins, and Nathan Leftenant. After gaining traction in New York clubs, they signed with Chocolate City, a Casablanca subsidiary, in 1976.

Their debut album, *Cardiac Arrest* (1977), yielded the modest R&B hit “Rigor Mortis,” marking the moment Blackmon quit his day job as a tailor to pursue music full-time. Due to naming conflicts with the Ohio Players, the band rebranded as Cameo.

Their early albums, *We All Know Who We Are* (1977) and *Ugly Ego* (1978), showed emerging uniqueness, with singles like “It’s Serious” and “Insane” charting on the R&B lists.

Between 1979 and 1982, Cameo achieved consistent success with gold albums such as *Secret Omen* and *Cameosis*, and top 10 R&B hits like “I Just Want to Be” and “Sparkle.”

Their stage antics, inspired by funk icons like Bootsy Collins, became legendary, with Blackmon’s signature red codpiece a fan-favorite fixture. In 1982, the band relocated to Atlanta, slimming down to a quintet and establishing a stronger presence. Blackmon founded Atlanta Artists, releasing *Style* (1983), followed by their breakthrough *She’s Strange* (1984), whose title track topped the R&B chart.

The mid-80s marked Cameo’s peak with *Single Life* (1985) and *Word Up!* (1986), producing chart-topping singles like “Word Up,” which also hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a timeless party anthem.

Blackmon insisted Cameo played “Black rock and roll,” blending funk with rock, pop, and jazz influences, setting them apart from traditional funk bands.

However, their momentum waned with less successful albums like *Machismo* (1988) and *Real Men Wear Black* (1990). After *Emotional Violence* (1992), their profile diminished, though they toured sporadically. Their last original album, *Sexy Sweet Thing*, dropped in 2000. Despite hiatuses, their legacy endured through samples in hits like Mariah Carey’s “Loverboy” (2001).

Legal disputes arose in 2018 when former members sued Blackmon over royalties and trademark use during a Las Vegas residency. Blackmon countersued, winning in 2019 as the sole owner of the Cameo trademark. With over 30 million records sold, Cameo continues to define funk across five decades, influencing generations with groundbreaking hits and unforgettable performances.