Band & Artist Dossier

Cameo

Origin: New York City, New York · Active Years: 1974-present

A detailed catalogue profile for Cameo.

In this archive

1 album / credit record(s) · Funk/R&B

Cameo is an American funk band formed in New York City in 1974 by Larry Blackmon, originally a 14-member group called the New York City Players before a Mercury Records naming conflict forced the switch to Cameo. After a run of gold-certified funk albums through the late 1970s and early 1980s (Cameosis, Alligator Woman, She's Strange), the band's sound grew increasingly synth-driven and futuristic, culminating in 1986's Word Up!, their 13th studio album and first platinum-certified LP, powered by the title track's chanted hook and Blackmon's signature red codpiece stage look.

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Band Lineup & Member Profiles

lead vocals, drums, production, bandleader
1974-present
Founded the band as the New York City Players in 1974; wrote and produced Word Up!'s guttural lead vocal in tribute to his hero Sly Stone and became the band's enduring frontman and visual icon.

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Photo & Visual Gallery

Complete 1980s Studio Discography

9 studio albums released from 1980–1989 by Cameo. Archived records link directly to full dossiers; remaining releases are queued for harvesting. MusicBrainz source.

♫ 1980
Cameosis
1980 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1980
Feel Me
1980 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1981
Knights of the Sound Table
1981 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1982
Alligator Woman
1982 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1983
Style
1983 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1984
She’s Strange
1984 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
♫ 1985
Single Life
1985 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting
Word Up! cover
Word Up!
1986 · Atlanta Artists/PolyGram
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♫ 1988
Machismo
1988 ·
⏳ Queued for Harvesting

80s discography & production credits in the archive

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