The Beck Family was a musical family group from Philadelphia. With their music in the disco-funk genre, they had success with their hit single, "Can't Shake the Feeling" which charted nationally in 1979, the peak of the disco era. It registered in the Cash Box, Billboard and Record World charts. It also made the disco chart in Canada. They released an album which made the Billboard Soul LPs chart. They also had another single released during that time.
Background The group was made up of three Beck Brothers, Anthony Beck, Mendy Beck, Tyrone Beck, their sister Joanna Beck and their cousins, Nick Mundy and Donald Wilson.Soul Walking - Soul And / Or Related Artists, the beck family
The origins of the group can be traced back to a gospel group in 1966. The group was called The Beck Brothers. They were doing the rounds with their parents, father Elder Charles Beck who was a minister and leader of the ensemble. Their mother Bertha beck was the pianist. According to music-trade magazine, Cash Box, the grandmother of the Beck Children was Anna Shepherd, a prominent gospel singer.
Following the death of Charles Beck, older Brother Tony Beck decided that they should move towards the mainstream. Cousins Donny Wilson and Nick Mundi then joined the group. At that time Joanna was still a gospel singer and a solo act. Menelick aka Mendy had gone into the military service for a period of time. Joanna Joined the group and after Mendy's service was up. He later re-joined the group.Cash Box, April 5, 1979 - Page 10 NEW FACES TO WATCH, The Beck FamilyRecord World, September 16, 1978 - Page 44 London R&B Taps Custom Label Talent
It was while the group was performing at different venues on the R&B circuit in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia that they came into contact with Ron Mosley of the newly formed Le Joint record label.Cash Box, April 5, 1979 - Page 10 NEW FACES TO WATCH, The Beck Family
Career The group recorded some tracks at Quad Studios in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The song "Dancing", backed with "I Don't Know What You're Coming To" was released on Art TBWH 7771 in 1976. It was composed by T. Beck and N. Mundy. Beck also handled the arrangements.Paddy Field RECORDS - トップS.S.W / AORThe Beck Family - Dancing / I Don’t Know What You’re Coming ToMusic Metason - ArtistInfo, The Beck Family, Dancing
By September 1978, The Beck Family had been signed to the LeJoint label. They had signed with the label shortly after Zulema did.Record World, September 16, 1978 - Page 44 London R&B Taps Custom Label Talent
It was noted in the February 10 issue of Billboard that The Beck Family were getting ready for the first release on the LeJoint label. The intended release was to be called The Beck Family.Billboard, February 10, 1979 - Page 36 Radio Challenging Pools * continued from page 35
On the 28th of February, an event organized by Billboard, the Disco Forum included an event in a New York club with Frankie Crocker as the host. It was for the MCA and LeJoint record labels. Artists intending to perform were Van McCoy, Chuck Brown and Zulema. The Beck Family were also expected to appear.Cash Box, February 17, 1979 - DISCO BREAKS (continued from page 40)
In 1979, the ages of the three brothers were, Tyrone, 18; Menelick, (aka Mendy) 26; and Tony, 27. Sister Joanna was 24. Cousin Donny Wilson was 20, and cousin Nick Mundi was 21.Cash Box, April 28, 1979 - Page 10 NEW FACES TO WATCH, The Beck Family
Album When the album was released, it was called Dancin' on the Ceiling. It was reviewed in the March 17 issue of Billboard. The review was positive. The reviewer's picks were, "Can't Shake the Feeling", Dancin' on the Ceiling" and "Falling in Love Again". With pop crossover potential, the expectations were that it would get r&b and disco airplay.Billboard, March 17, 1979 - Page 98 Billboard's Top Album Picks, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY Fa Week Ending 3/17/79, First Time Around Their album was also reviewed in the March 24, 1979 issue of Cash Box. The review said that the T. Life produced album had potential for chart action and airplay in the R&B, disco and pop formats.Cash Box, March 24, 1979 - Page 22 REVIEWS ALBUM REVIEWS
The album was released in the UK on London SHE 8534. It was reviewed in the June 23 issue of Music Week. To the reviewer it was somewhere between pop and r&b. The reviewer also said that it was light and infectious and could pick up airplay. The reviewer also said that the Beck Family appearing in the UK would stimulate interest.Music Week, June 23, 1979 - Page 40 ALBUM REVIEWS, BECK FAMILY
The album entered the Billboard Soul LPs chart at no. 72 on the week of May 12,Billboard, May 12, 1979 - Page 41 Billboard Soul LPs, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY for Week Ending 5/12/79 and held that position for another week.Billboard, May 19, 1979 - Page 42 Billboard Soul LPs, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY for Week Ending 5/19/79Joel Whitburn's Top R & B albums, 1965-1998 - Page 12 Beck Family, The
One of the backing singers on the album was Phyllis Hyman.music-was-my-first-love.com - Phyllis Hyman, The Beck Family, Dancin' On The Ceiling
Hit single "Can't Shake the Feeling" was a Record World Single Pick for the week ending March 17. The reviewer noted the radio potential, calling it a strong debut.Record World, March 17, 1979 - Page 22 Record World Single Picks On March 24, it made its debut in the Cash Box, Top 100 Black Contemporary singles chart.Cash Box, March 24, 1979 - Page 42 CASH BOX TOP 100 March 24, 1979 Their record was also getting played on George White's show at WGPR-FM in Detroit, James Jordan's show at WYBC in New Haven and Joe Tamburro's show at WDAS in Philadelphia.Cash Box, March 24, 1979 - Page 43 BLACK CONTEMPORARY, BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
It had been doing well with airplay. For the week of March 30, Radio & Records recorded its activity in the East where it was in the "Hottest" on WXYV. It was also added to the WILD and WWIN playlists.Radio & Records, ISSUE NUMBER 275 MARCH 30, 1979 - Page 46 Popular Rhythms, Radio & Records Hottest, Regionalized Adds & Hots EAST In the South it was added to two others, incl. WTMP.Radio & Records, ISSUE NUMBER 275 MARCH 30, 1979 - Page 46 Popular Rhythms, Radio & Records Hottest, Regionalized Adds & Hots SOUTH In the West it was added to the KYAC playlist.Radio & Records, ISSUE NUMBER 275 MARCH 30, 1979 - Page 46 Popular Rhythms, Radio & Records Hottest, Regionalized Adds & Hots WEST
The single made its debut at no. 79 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart for the week ending April 7.Billboard, April 7, 1979 - Page 62 Billboard's Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 4/7/79 It also made its debut that week in the Record World Black Oriented Singles chart at no. 71.Record World, April 7, 1979 - Page 50 Record World Black Oriented Singles APRIL 7, 1979
In Canada the single was getting airplay and on the week of April 14, RPM Weekly recorded it at no. 25 on the Disco Playlist. It was being played on Gerry O'Day's show at CFMQ-FM in Regina.RPM Weekly, Volume 31 No. 3 April 14, 1979 - Page 41 DISCO PLAYLIST For the week of April 27, Radio & Records reported that it was added to the playlists of WVKO in the MidwestRadio & Records, ISSUE NUMBER 279 APRIL 27, 1979 - Page 42 Popular Rhythms Regionalized Adds & Hots, MIDWEST and KDAY in the West.Radio & Records, ISSUE NUMBER 279 APRIL 27, 1979 - Page 42 Popular Rhythms Regionalized Adds & Hots, WEST
With the success of the single in the US, Decca Records in England had an interest in it. Michael McDonaugh of Decca said that they were on the lookout for new disco product and were excited by what the Beck Family were doing in the US.Music Week, May 5, 1979 - Page 4 DISCO, Decca It was released on a 12" format in the UK. In his review of the single, Paul Sexton of Record Mirror said that it had a great boogie and good party feeling. He also said that it generated more feeling than any other disco record that week.Record Mirror, May 12, 1979 - Page 8 SINGLES Reviewed by PAUL SEXTON The 7" version was issued in the UK on London HLE 10569. The 12" version was released on LHLE 10569.Music Week, April 28, 1979 - Page 46 RELEASES, LISTINGS
On May 12 at week six, it peaked at #47 on the Record World Black Oriented Singles chart.Record World, May 12, 1979 - Page 56 Record World Black Oriented Singles MAY 12, 1979Record World, May 19, 1979 - Page 82 Record World Black Oriented Singles MAY 19, 1979 On May 19, at week nine, "Can't Shake The Feeling" got to no. 37 on the Cash Box, Top 100 Black Contemporary singles chart.Cash Box, May 19, 1979 - Page 42 CASH BOX TOP 100 May 19, 1979 It held that position for another week.Cash Box, May 26, 1979 - Page 38 CASH BOX TOP 100 May 26, 1979Cash Box, June 2, 1979 - Page 42 CASH BOX TOP 100 June 2, 1979 It spent a total of twelve weeks in the chart.Cash Box, June 9, 1979 - Page 40 CASH BOX TOP 100 June 9, 1979Cash Box, June 16, 1979 - Page 46 CASH BOX TOP 100 June 16, 1979 Also on the week of May 19, on its seventh week, it peaked at no. 43 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart.Billboard, May 19, 1979 - Page 40 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 5/19/79Billboard, May 26, 1979 - Page 69 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 5/26/79
On the week of June 30, the 12" version was bubbling under the UK Disco Top 90.James Hamilton's Disco Page, An archive of James Hamilton's columns in Record Mirror - June 30, 1979: Chantal Curtis, Chic, Donna Summer, Olympic Runners, Five Specialm, Bubbling Under the Disco Top 90 are:
Further activities The group appeared with other performers, Shalamar, Cindy and Roy, Grace Jones, and Blondie on The Soap Factory show that was televised on March 17, 1979.The New York Times, March 17, 1979 - Television, Evening
The March 31 issue of Cash Box had a recent-then picture of artists at a club. Pictured Joanna Beck, Tony Beck, and Nick Mundy with Van McCoy, Keith Barrow, Lamarr Rene, WBLS radio personality and Billy Smith the national disco promotion manager for London in New York during the National Disco Convention.Cash Box, March 31, 1979 - Page 64 LONDON DISCO
The group were the subject of an article and an interview in the June 5, 1979 issue of Blues & Soul.Rock's Back Pages Blues & Soul, List of articles in the library, The Beck Family
The single, "Falling in Love Again" was released on LeJoint 5N34005. It was a recommended soul single in Billboards Top Single Picks for August 4, 1979.Billboard, August 4, 1979 - Page 55 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Billboard SPECIAL SURUEY For Week Ending 8/4/79
On December 11, 1979, "Dancin' on the Ceiling" was getting played on Canale 5, on the Musica leggera in stereofonia program in Italy. Radiocorriere TV, Anno LVI - Numero 20 9/15 Dicembre 1979 - 11 dicembre V CANALE Musica leggera, 22/24 MUSICA LEGGERA IN STEREOFONIA On December 14, "Can't Shake the Feeling" was being played on the same program. Radiocorriere TV, Anno LVI - Numero 20 9/15 Dicembre 1979 - 14 dicembre V CANALE Musica leggera, 22/24 MUSICA LEGGERA IN STEREOFONIA
Members Members of the group included: Anthony Beck Mendy Beck Tyrone Beck Joanna Beck Nick Mundy (Lead singerRecord World, June 9, 1979 - Page 36 Black Oriented Music:Year in Review (Continued from page 34) Donald WilsonCash Box, April 5, 1979 - Page 10 NEW FACES TO WATCH, The Beck FamilySoul Walking - Soul And / Or Related Artists, the beck familyCash Box, March 24, 1979 - Page 22 REVIEWS ALBUM REVIEWS
Discography