R&B group featuring vocal trio of Blimp Smooth, Mike Smooth, and Skinner Smooth, backed with rhythm and horns. Rock band Vacuform merged with the group in 1979. Members included Rick Rutledge (guitar), Tobias Hurwitz (guitar), Jay Davenport (keyboards), George Johnson (trumpet ex-Sound Track…), Tippy Brown (drums), Joe Berky… Michael Joyner (bass vocalist) joined in 1985. The group performed at the Ritz, Famous Ballroom, Twenty Grand Club, Lydell Mitchell’s The Point After…
Smooth-n-Company’s 1985 single “Half Stepping” received a three-star review in Billboard
Hurwitz (see bio) continued with various groups and a successful solo career.
After the group split in 1995 Larry Skinner focused on his song writing and working with his daughters Tonya and Kiki. In ‘00s he decided to form a new group, calling on friend Steve Scribner. First named the Smooth Tempts, then Smooth Teaze, the new doo-wop acapella group debuted in January 2007.
Members included Skinner and Scribner, with Charles Moore, Vince Covington, Houston Buford, Ray Morgan (Morgan’s Pirates…), Charles Weems, and Michael Joyner, with Kelly, Dave, and Eddie as backups. Larry described them as “the group that has the spirit of the past… the ‘40s and ‘50s… We play to motivate, to make people happy, and to teach young people about doo-wop… and it takes some very special people to do this.” They performed many street shows, nursing homes, Inner Harbor events, country clubs… The group was featured on many television shows including WJZ-TV and Fox 45…
Record releases by Smooth –N- Company:
1985(12”) Move Half Stepping / Love Is Always on My Mind
1992(LP) Echo 3 Everybody Has a Sign
CD release by Smooth Teaze
200*(CD) Look’n for an Echo – Acapella Doo-Wop Classics
