The Groove Kings
The Groove Kings
Blue-eyed soul.
"...the songs by guitarist Howard Forman are bright and blustery (oh how I
wish a big up tempo song like Never Gonna Give Myself Away could get played
on the radio so I could crank up the volume in my car) ..."
-The Kingston Whig-Standard, ONT.
"I can listen to the Groove Kings until I die"
-The News at 6, CBC-TV Toronto
'It's wonderful music...if we could have a house band, we decided we'd
like to have The Groove Kings"
-The Dini Petty Show -CTV, National
"Them's whatchtya call great pipes...She has got a beautiful voice...Boy
can she sing..."
-MIX 96, Montreal, QC
"What a voice, wonderful, you guys are soooo good...buy it (CD Into The
Groove Age) you'll play it over and over, you'll wear it out"
-Entertainment Desk Global-TV, Toronto, ONT.
"Forman has a feel for classic soul and R&B forms and some of the stronger
songs here,...funky Burn It Down or Moon To Moon, Sun To Sun, wouldn't sound out of place on a Stax or Atlantic album from the late 1960s"
-The Globe and Mail newspaper
"Forman has cooked up a stew of rock, soul, big band; served with Marc's
gutsy singing, it's a meal that'll have you calling out for seconds and (the
heck with the diet) even thirds."
-The Hour magazine, Montreal, QC
"Montreal's Groove Kings have found a deep groove in this country that
runs from one coast to the other"
-The Edmonton Sun
"Amid the post-Nirvanic squalor (comes) The Groove Kings' polished R&B
groove, highlighted by singer Irene Marc's powerful, soulful voice...avid
listener response from across the country is undeniable. . ."
-Montreal Mirror, QC
"This (Everybody Knows) is so cool, man. It's like, amazing. Does the
bitch really look good in real life?"
-Grainstore Tavern, Melbourne, Australia
"Cordes vocales sablees avec soin par la vie, eraillements signifiants,
puissance et maturite remarquables. Irene Marc est certes une chanteuse de
premier ordre"
-La Presse, Montreal, QC
"...une voix de blueswoman comme celle-la (Irene Marc) ne s'oublie pas..."
-Le Devoir, Montreal, QC
"...your Hot' CD...yes!!, I liked it very much... Your playing and
producing has surely arrived!!! I have nothin' but praise as well for
Irene's incredible vocal performance..."
-Jimmy Johnson, legendary studio guitarist for Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon
and many others
The Groove Kings - Into the Groove Age (Visual Music G.K.I.)
This is The Groove Kings' second indie CD, and if there is a god in the
music industry then this Montreal outfit will have the record companies
lining up around the block to sign them. Though The Groove Kings are only
vocalist Irene Marc and multi-instrumentalist/composer Howard Forman, you
wouldn't guess it from listening to the album. Forman has cooked up a stew
of rock, soul, big band; served with Marc's gutsy singing, it's a meal
that'll have you calling out for seconds and (the heck with the diet) even
thirds. Listen for them on the radio, because that's where they belong, out
where everyone can enjoy the experience; if you must listen to it at home,
invite your friends and neighbours over. If they want to make a copy, point
out that The Groove kings are indie and direct them to the closest record
store. (Mo Elnuaimy) Hour Magazine *****
ALBUMS THE GROOVE KINGS - Into The Groove Age
This Montreal-based act first hit the Canadian airwaves back in the spring
of 93 with a very cool R&B number called Everybody Knows, off a three-song
self-produced EP. That three-song EP turned into a full album, featuring a
five-piece band leg by guitarist/songwriter Howard Forman and singer Irene
Marc. Since then, Forman and Marc have decided to do things on their own,
leaving the three other band members behind, and the results are quite
effective. Forman is a good writer, an experienced player who has worked
with some of the best in the business, and his professionalism shows off in
this new 10-track CD, which he also produced. The songs are strong pop tunes
in an R&B vein, with many of them radio-friendly. Tell Me, the lead single,
has already made a bit of noise on the RPM Hit Tracks chart , and one or two
more charted songs isn't out of the question. Marc is a tremendous singer,
sort of a cross between Annie Lennox and Janis Joplin, and her rough-edged
tone gives the songs just that right amount of character needed to separate
the music from so many bar bands. Fully Cancon. --RR
RPM CHART WEEKLY -Monday November 14, 1994
GROOVE KINGS -INTO THE GROOVE AGE
Having enjoyed substantial radio play with their first indie effort,
Montreal's Groove Kings take another shot at the airwaves with this even
more accomplished and sophisticated slice of adult contemporary R&B. The
group is now pared to a duo consisting of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist
Howard Forman and gutsy vocalist Irene Marc.
Pop: Brill Building Pop