(December 18, 2019) Martha Wash earned her rep as the Queen of Clubland diva by working as a backing vocalist, a key member of a chart-topping duet and then a lead singer who had 12 Billboard number 1 songs on the dance charts over the course of a career that has spanned more than four decades.
Wash and Izora Armstead were Sylvester’s backing vocalist in the late 1970s and early 80s where they provided gospel infused vocals that propelled Sylvester’s stew of churchified funk, soul and disco. In the 80s they topped the charts as the dance music duet The Weather Girls (or Two Tons O’ Fun) with songs such as “It’s Raining Men.”
(December 18, 2019) Martha Wash earned her rep as the Queen of Clubland diva by working as a backing vocalist, a key member of a chart-topping duet and then a lead singer who had 12 Billboard number 1 songs on the dance charts over the course of a career that has spanned more than four decades.
Wash and Izora Armstead were Sylvester’s backing vocalist in the late 1970s and early 80s where they provided gospel infused vocals that propelled Sylvester’s stew of churchified funk, soul and disco. In the 80s they topped the charts as the dance music duet The Weather Girls (or Two Tons O’ Fun) with songs such as “It’s Raining Men.”
Wash became a solo artist in the late 1980s and her voice powered hits for groups such as C+C Music Factory and Black Box. The corporate suits decided it best if Wash was heard and not seen, so she didn’t get artistic or commercial credit for hits like “Gonna Make You Sweat” and “Everybody, Everybody.” She had to go to court to get credit for her work, because Wash’s career mostly transpired in a time before the current body positive movement that allows artists such as Lizzo to be seen and heard on the basis of their obvious talent, which is the way it ought to be.
Wash will be seen and heard on her latest single “Never Enough Money,” which a commentary on greed – both of the personal and corporate level. The song is compelling on a couple of levels: “Never Enough Money” is a rollicking amalgamation of funk, blues and rock with a helping of gospel inspired call and response to boot. That makes it a total departure of the kind of music Wash made during a career that made her one of the top 60 successful dance artists of all time, according to Billboard.
One also has to wonder how much Wash’s past history of being shunted aside for what some viewed as a more visually appealing – though less talented - artists helped to propel her vocal performance to the levels that it reached.
Wash would rather focus on the present and future that includes the Jan. 6, 2020 release of her upcoming album Love and Conflict. “My producers took me out of my comfort zone and into a new musical direction and the results are both uplifting and thought provoking,” explains Martha Wash. “I think that everyone will relate to the lyrics on this album and each listener will get their own message from the music.”
Check out “Never Enough Money” here.
By Howard Dukes
Martha Wash – “Never Enough Money”