Float On -- Happy Full Force Birthday in Heaven To Larry Cunningham of The Floaters

By Bowlegged Lou & DJ Rob

(June 23, 2020) This is DJ Rob reportin with my boy Bowlegged Lou on deck...We all remember “Float On” by the Floaters, that four- (and sometimes five)-man group out of Northeast Detroit who wowed us with one of the smoothest songs in soul music history.  

It was one of the cheesiest love ballads in a decade full of cheese (the ‘70s).  Never before or since had a song’s sole premise been to feature four guys with come-on lines built around their zodiac signs and what they liked in a woman.

“Float On” by the Floaters featured those smooth cats Ralph the Aquarius, Charles the Libra, Paul the Leo, and then…Drum roll please.....“Cancer! and my name is Larry.”

Larry was Larry Cunningham, one of the group’s founders who passed away last year in Arizona after a long undisclosed illness.  He was 67 and today June 23 we celebrate his birthday in heaven. Larry Cunningham of the Floaters (June 23, 1951 – January 10, 2019)

“Cancer! and my name is Larry,” he boasted.  The boldness of his delivery instantly got our attention and was enough to melt the hearts of ladies nationwide. Float On went on to be a huge worldwide smash hit.

Hey Its Bowlegged Lou of Full Force, and I will take it from here with the story. Thanks DJ Rob.

So some years ago, my group released an album called Still Standing on TVT Records (now called The Orchard/Sony Records) and it is still selling all over the world.

I decided to go Float On Crazy as Full Force recorded a remake and it featured many versions with many guest appearances.

I decided to go to Detroit to meet The Floaters in person as well as record a version with them in the same studio where they recorded the original, and we used the same engineer too. There is a video link with documenting audio too. I met the 2 original members, Larry Cunningham and Ralph Mitchell, with the 2 other group members, Michael Charles and Robert Paul.

What a fun session and honor to work with the Floaters. You guys will see and hear the attached video and feel the fun vibe we had. On that version with The Floaters we also feature the legendary Isaac Hayes and Meli'sa Morgan. In the video skit intro Larry describes Meli'sa as a very pretty lady with the big hair. Larry had such a great sense of humor too. I will miss him.

Full Force also did a version with Ginuwine, Kevon Edmonds, Montell Jordan and Gerald Levert.

We did a mostly ladies version featuring Regina Belle,The late great Vesta, the spoken intro of Vivica Fox along with return performances by Isaac Hayes & Meli'sa Morgan

We also did an Jazzy Instrumental plus version that featured the talking and playing by the legendary musicians George Duke on piano, Najee on sax, Nile Rodgers on guitar, and Miss Bobbi Humphrey on flute.

I told you I went Float On crazy. So in honor of Larry Cunningham's birthday as well as The group The Floaters and the song “Float On” itself, we include here all the video & slideshow versions with the links attached.

WE HONOR THE FLOATERS AND THE SONG FLOAT ON AND SINCE MY 42ND BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW COME JUNE 24TH WHEN I TURN 4O. I SALUTE ALL CANCER ZODIACS SUCH AS LARRY CUNNINGHAM, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN 68 TODAY JUNE 23RD WHILE I WILL BE TURNING 39 TOMORROW AS WE ALL JUST BE FLOATIN ON. Enjoy the videos.