Formed 1971 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
A Taste Of Honey comprised of:
Janice Marie Johnson (bassist/vocals)
Hazel P. Payne (guitarist/vocals)
Perry Kimble (b. 1950, U.S.A. d. February 1999, U.S.A.)
Suzanne 'Minnie' Thomas (guitarist. b. 1955, U.S.A. d. June 2015, U.S.A.)
and
Donald Ray Johnson (drums)
A Taste of Honey were famous for the hits, 'Boogie Oogie Oogie', along with a cover version of Kyu Sakamoto's 1963 hit, 'Sukiyaki.'
In 1971, singer/bassist/guitarist Janice Marie Johnson and keyboardist Percy Kibble formed a band after meeting earlier at a band audition for vacation cruise gigs for the Princess Cruises line.
Taking their group name of one of their favorite songs, the band added several friends to the lineup and began playing Southern California bars and military bases in the U.S. and abroad.
Their lead singer, Gregory Walker, quit to join Santana and guitarist Hazel Payne was added.
After meeting with producer Fonce Mizell and his brother Larry, the group were signed to the Capitol Records imprint.
The group's first single, 'Boogie Oogie Oogie,' was inspired by an indifferent response during a date at a military base.
a taste of honey - 1978 / another taste - 1979 / twice as sweet - 1980 / ladies of the eighties - 1982
The single sold more than two million copies and topped Billboard's charts for three weeks in 1978.
The follow-up single, 'Do It Good,' went to number 13 R&B/number 79 pop.
After hearing Linda Ronstadt's version of Smokey Robinson's 'Ooh Baby Baby,' Janice decided that the group (now Johnson and Payne) should remake the song.
In their pre-Capitol days, Janice used to sing the lyrics to Sakamoto's 'Sukiyaki' when the group toured Japan (and performed at the Yamaha Song Festival).
However, Capitol wasn't too keen on 'Sukiyaki,' promising to release it as a single, but then releasing 'Rescue Me' number 16 R&B, summer 1980 and 'I'm Talkin 'Bout You,' number 64 R&B, late 1980.
Capitol finally released 'Sukiyaki' as a single,the song going to number one R&B/number three pop in 1981.
The 'Twice as Sweet' LP went to number 36 pop in 1981.
The group went to Japan and toured with Kyu Sakamoto.
A Taste of Honey also covered of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' 'I'll Try Something New.'
one taste of honey - 1984 / hiatus of the heart - 2001
Janice released a solo Capitol LP, 'One Taste of Honey', which featured the single, 'Love Me Tonite,' number 67 R&B, in 1984.
The Burger King national fast food chain began using 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' in a national TV ad campaign in 1999.
The track has also been sampled by hip-hop and rap groups, MC Lyte, Mac 10 and others.
Janice announced plans for an EP (mini-LP), 'Hiatus of the Heart' for her own Tastebuds label, released in 2000.
Percy Kibble died in February 1999 from heart failure, at the age of 49.
A Taste of Honey's greatest hits can be found on Anthology (One Way, 1995) and 'Sukiyaki' is listed on Smooth Grooves, Vol. 7-Sensual Collection (Rhino, 1996).
Janice Marie Johnson is of Stockbridge-Munsee-Mohican heritage according to her website's biography.
She was inducted in the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
suzanne 'minnie' thomas
Guitarist Suzanne 'Minnie' Thomas died on the 15th of June 2015, at the age of 60.
Albums:
A Taste of Honey (Capitol Records 1978)
Another Taste (Capitol Records 1979)
Twice as Sweet (Capitol Records Records 1980)
Ladies of the Eighties (Capitol Records 1982)
Hiatus Of The Heart (Capitol Records 2001)
as Janice Marie Johnson:
One Taste Of Honey (Capitol Records 1984)
