Avatar Blue

Avatar Blue (1992-1995) was an influential Boston R&B/Funk band in the early 1990s. In 1993 and 1994, the band was nominated for several awards, including "Best Unsigned Band" (Musician magazine), "Best Funk Act" (Boston Music Awards) and "Best Hip-hop/Rap Act"” (WFNX Reader’s Poll). The band released a single LP in 1994, which garnered a songwriter achievement award. The group disbanded in late 1995 when co-founder Chris Phoenix moved to New York City.

Performers
The band was initially composed of James Bas (Guitar), Jim Calandrella (Tenor Sax), Deanna Dellacioppa (Vocals), Mick Demopolous (Bass), Ron Lowenstein (Alto Sax), Chris Phoenix (Vocals / Keyboards), Bryan Steele (Tenor Sax) and Troy Velazquez (Drums); following line-up changes in 1994, the group incorporated Laquinta Brown (Vocals), Takahiro Miyazaki (Alto Sax), Lyn Tatsuno (Bass), and Reiji Munekoa (Guitar).

Releases
An early successful track, "Hip-Hop 2 The Top", included performances by Joe Peek (Chuck) and Mike Stevens (Rippopotamus). The song debuted on WFNX and was later performed at the 1994 Boston Music Awards afterparty by all three bands.

The eponymous 15 track debut LP CD, Avatar Blue, was released in early 1995 on the PolyGram boutique label Renaissance Records and distributed by PGD. Initial reviews cited that the album contained strong Pop/R&B ballads in "Sittin’ On the Edge" and "This is Love", but that it suffered from a lack of direction as it attempted to "cover too much ground" as it skipped between Pop, Funk, Reggae and Hip-Hop. Note Magazine stated that “This record has a jump start on the listener causing you to have to try and catch up to its dazzling fusion of pop, R&B, funk and hip-hop." Despite its lukewarm reception, the album did manage to get considerable New England college radio play for "Tell Me Why" and earned Chris Phoenix and Deanna Dellacioppa a Billboard Songwriter Achievement Award for "Sittin’ On the Edge".

Additional Notes
Nate Morton was the band's drummer for a few months in 1994 while Troy Velazquez had surgery to repair a hernia.

Songwriter/Producer Michael Carroll was one of the band's original guitarists and founding members.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu