• 1972-1975

  Tim McQueen

  John Brown

  Claude Johnson

  Eddie Schell
• Originally formed in 1971 under the name Triboro Exchange (referencing the three boroughs of New York City - Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan), the group New York City consisted of Tim McQueen (lead singer), John Brown, Claude Johnson and Eddie Schell, all seasoned vocalists with experience in doo-wop ensembles. When they were still known as Triboro Exchange they released a single, "Seven Lonely Nights" backed by "Lil Ole Me."
• Prior to becoming a singer, Johnson had been a jukebox revenue collector.
• Soon after their initial release, they rebranded themselves as New York City. Under the direction of record producer Thom Bell, known for his work in the Philly soul genre, they released two albums and several hit singles.
• Their most successful song was "I'm Doin' Fine Now," released in 1973, which reached #17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Two other tunes made the Hot 100: "Make Me Twice the Man"(#93) and "Quick, Fast, in a Hurry" (#79).
• Their backing band, the Big Apple Band, included future Chic members Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards.
• New York City disbanded in 1975 after releasing only two albums. While short-lived, they left their mark on the R&B scene of the early 1970s. Their smooth vocals and Philly soul influences continue to be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

Comments

More Songfacts:

I Ran (So Far Away)A Flock of Seagulls

"I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock Of Seagulls ends with an alien abduction.

StanEminem

Thanks to Eminem's song, the word "stan" was added to the Oxford American Dictionary in 2017. It means an obsessive fan.

Sloop John BThe Beach Boys

"Sloop John B" is a traditional West Indian folk song, and it was a huge hit for The Beach Boys in 1966. They tweaked the lyric, "This is the worst trip since I've been born" to "...I've ever been on" as a wink to acid culture.

3 AMMatchbox Twenty

The Matchbox Twenty song "3 AM" is about the difficult times lead singer Rob Thomas spent caring for his mother, who had cancer.

Nothin' On YouB.o.B

When "Nothin' On You" reached #1 on the Hot 100, B.o.B became the first American act whose name is a palindrome to top the chart. The other two who did so prior to the Atlanta rapper were both Scandinavian groups - ABBA and A-Ha.

Just Give Me A ReasonPink

Pink wrote "Just Give Me A Reason" about how one partner can feel jilted over something trivial, like how her boyfriend passes her the butter.

Editor's Picks

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."