H-Town (band)

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H-Town
Also known asThe Gents
OriginHouston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active1991–present
Labels
MembersSolomon "Shazam" Conner
Darryl "G.I." Jackson
Past membersKeven "Dino" Conner

H-Town is an American R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, United States. H-Town was founded in 1990 by brothers Keven "Dino" Conner (1974 – 2003),[1] Solomon "Shazam" Conner and their friend Darryl "G.I." Jackson. H-Town recorded three hits during the early to mid–1990s.

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The group grew up together in Houston's Yellowstone neighborhood located on the south side of the city. While attending Jack Yates High School, in 1991, Keven and Solomon Conner formed a band with Darryl Jackson. They were known as "The Gents" and recorded their first album, It's No Dream, with producer Phil Blackmon. Shazam was chosen as lead singer at the time of recording this album, which featured the ballad "A Time for Us". The album was released locally and was not a huge commercial success. The group continued recording and performed at talent shows and plays when a local producer sent their demo tape to 2 Live Crew rapper and record label executive Luther "Luke" Campbell. After an impromptu audition, Campbell signed the group to his label, Luke Records. Producer Bishop "Stick" Burrell became their producer and positioned Dino as lead singer, seeing his potential and rare voice as the formula for success in the group and built his sound around him.[2] They took the name of the group, "H-Town", from the local nickname for the city of Houston, Texas, in which they grew up.[3]

Early career[edit]

Fever for Da Flavor (1993)[edit]

H-Town's debut album Fever for Da Flavor was released on April 15, 1993.[4] The group achieved hit status in the United States with "Knockin' Da Boots", which became H-Town's biggest hit and also their signature song. "Boots" was a #1 hit on the R&B charts,[5] and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] "Lick U Up", the band's follow-up single, peaked at #21. They signed on as a part of the 1993 Coca-Cola Summer Fest tour, which included fellow R&B hit groups Shai, SWV, Jade, Naughty by Nature, Silk and also included multi-platinum rap artist LL Cool J.[7] In 1994, H-Town won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. They also appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack with their single "Part Time Lover", which was produced by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. It peaked at #9 on the R&B Charts. Also in 1994, the trio appeared in the group Black Men United, which appeared and alongside Silk, Portrait, Boyz II Men and others recording hit the single "U Will Know" for the Jason's Lyric soundtrack.

Beggin' After Dark (1994), Ladies Edition, Woman's World (1997)[edit]

In late 1993, H-Town returned to the studio to record their second album Beggin' After Dark . It was released on November 8, 1994.[8] The most popular single from this album was "Emotions". It became a #11 hit on the Billboard R&B chart and reached #51 on the Hot 100.[6] Other tracks from the album included "Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)", "Full Time", "One Night Gigolo", "Tumble & Rumble", "Buss One", featuring reggae singer Papa Reu, and "Baby I Love Ya" featuring Roger Troutman. By the time H-Town returned to the studio to record Ladies Edition, they had undergone some changes. They recorded a cover version of The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" featuring Shirley Murdock for the 1996 film of the same name. The song became H-Town's first Top 40 pop hit in three years, peaking at #37.[6] They then cut ties with Luther Campbell, underwent a spiritual awakening of sorts, and became more aware of women's issues on their third album Ladies Edition, Woman's World.[9] It was released on October 28, 1997.[10] The album's general theme centers on a man's penitence for his past transgressions with his woman, a theme conveyed in songs such as "Don't Sleep on the Female", "Julie Rain" (an account of spousal abuse), and "Jezebel". According to the liner notes, the album was dedicated to Nicole Brown Simpson and "all the women of the world." Twenty national women's telephone helplines were also listed on the back cover. Their one and only single from the album, "They Like It Slow" was released on September 23, 1997, and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Later career[edit]

Dino Conner, age 28, was killed along with his girlfriend in an automobile accident on January 28, 2003.[1][11][4] In 2004, the band self-released Imitations of Life. The surviving members continued to record and tour into the 2010s, collaborating with Pretty Ricky and Jodeci on a 2010 single "Knockin' Your Heels".[citation needed]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[12] 		US
R&B
[13]
Fever for da Flavor 16 1
Beggin' After Dark 98 21
Ladies Edition, Woman's World 53 12
Imitations of Life
  • Released: September 27, 2004
  • Label: BCD Music
  • Format: CD
 — —
Child Support
  • Released: December 9, 2015
  • Label: H-Town Music
  • Format: CD, DD
 — —
Date Night
  • Released: March 5, 2021
  • Label: H-Town Music
  • Format: DD
 — —

Mixtapes[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details
Call Me Mr. Pac Man
  • Released: June 2, 2017
  • Label: H-Town Music
  • Format: DD

Compilation albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details
The Best of H-Town
  • Released: December 2, 2015
  • Label: H-Town Music
  • Format: DD

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[15] 		US
Dan
[15] 		US
Rhy
[15] 		AUS
[16]
"Knockin' Da Boots" 1993 3 1 14 2 95 Fever for da Flavor
"Lick U Up" 67 21 — 34 —
"Keepin' My Composure" — 46 — — —
"Baby I Wanna" 1994 — 87 — — —
"Part Time Lover"
(b/w "I'm Still in Love with You" by Al B. Sure)[A] 		57 9 17 — — Above the Rim
"Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)" — 58 — — — Beggin' After Dark
"Emotions" 51 11 — — —
"A Thin Line Between Love & Hate"
(featuring Shirley Murdock) 		1996 37 6 — 31 — A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
"They Like It Slow" 1997 35 12 — — — Ladies Edition, Woman's World
"Nothing In Common" 2004 — — — — — Imitations of Life
"Knockin' Your Heels"
(featuring Jodeci and Pretty Ricky) 		2009 — — — — — Child Support
"Lay U Down" 2020 — — — — — Date Night
"Lose Control"
(featuring Kut Klose) 		2021 — — — — —
"Super Love" — — — — —

As featured artist[edit]

Year Song Peak chart
positions 		Album
US
R&B
1992 "You and Me"[17]
(Luke featuring Angee Griffin and H-Town) 		94 I Got Shit on My Mind
(Luke album)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ In an effort to promote the Above the Rim soundtrack, "Part Time Lover" was released as a double single with Al B. Sure's cover of the hit Al Green song, "I'm Still in Love with You".

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Clark, Michael D. (February 1, 2003). "H-Town's Dino Conner, R&B artist, dies at 28". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 3, 2019. Houston police report that a sports utility vehicle struck a car driven by Teshya Rae Weisent, 22, in which Conner was a passenger. Conner's brother and bandmate, Shazam Conner, said Weisent had just picked Dino Conner up from his recording studio. The SUV allegedly ran a red light and struck the vehicle, throwing Conner and Weisent from the car. Conner died en route to the hospital; Weisent was dead at the scene.
  2. ^ Joseph, Stanley (2001-03-22). "H-Town: Learning the Lessons of Fame". youthoutlook.org. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  3. ^ "Bio". htown4ever.com. H-Town Music. 2011. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  4. ^ a b "H-Town - Fever for da Flavor ". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  5. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Chart Listing For The Week Of June 12, 1993". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  6. ^ a b c "H-Town Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  7. ^ Joseph, Stanley (2001-03-22). "H-Town: Learning the Lessons of Fame". youthoutlook.org. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  8. ^ "H-Town - Beggin' After Dark". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  9. ^ "H-Town Give Shout Out To "Women Of The World"". mtv.com. 1997-10-15. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  10. ^ "H-Town - Ladies Edition". mtv.com. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  11. ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 3, 2003). "H-Town Lead Singer Dies". mtv.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "H-Town Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  13. ^ "H-Town Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  14. ^ a b c d "American certifications – H-Town". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d "H-Town | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  16. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 123.
  17. ^ "Luke | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
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