Sheila Horne
Sheila Horne (also known professionally as Sheila Brody, Blackwood, and Amuka) is an American singer and songwriter best known for her work as a member of the Brides of Funkenstein, Parliament-Funkadelic, and for her solo career in dance and house music.[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Sheila Horne was born in Syracuse, New York.[1] She began singing as a teenager and moved to Detroit, where she connected with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective in the late 1970s.[2]
The Brides of Funkenstein
[edit]In 1978, Horne joined the P-Funk universe as a backing vocalist, initially performing as a “Bridesmaid” for the Brides of Funkenstein, an all-female group formed by George Clinton.[1] After founding member Lynn Mabry left the group, Horne became a full member alongside Dawn Silva and Jeanette McGruder.[1]
She sang co-lead vocals on the Brides’ second album, Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy, which has since been acclaimed as one of the strongest P-Funk spin-off records.[3] One single from the album led by Horne, "Didn't Mean To Fall in Love", won a rhythm and blues award for "Best New Female Group" in 1981. The group won a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues award for Best New Female Artist in 1979.[1] Horne toured extensively with the Brides and Parliament-Funkadelic during this period.[1]
Work with Parliament-Funkadelic and Rick James
[edit]Following her time with the Brides, Horne continued recording with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. She contributed backing vocals to Parliament’s hit single Atomic Dog.[4]
In 1981, she joined Rick James’ band as an original member of his Mary Jane Girls touring ensemble.[1] She performed backup vocals on James’ Street Songs tour but left the group after a dispute and later won a legal case against James.[1]
Songwriting and other collaborations
[edit]During the mid-1980s, Horne, credited under her married name Sheila Washington, co-wrote several songs with George Clinton. She co-wrote Do Fries Go with That Shake? from Clinton’s album R&B Skeletons in the Closet.[5] She also contributed to the Federation of Tackheads project.[6]
She collaborated with the funk band Aurra alongside her then-husband Steve Washington, recording Satisfaction in the mid-1980s, which was released in 2013.[7]
In the 1980s and 1990s, Horne performed as a session and touring vocalist for various artists, including Cyndi Lauper[1] and Was (Not Was).[8] She also continued to appear with the P-Funk All-Stars.[2]
Blackwood and international dance career
[edit]In the late 1990s, Horne reinvented herself under the alias Blackwood and found success in the European dance scene.[9] She fronted the Italian dance-pop project Blackwood and released the album Friday Night in 1998.[10] The single "Peace" reached number one on the Italian pop charts.[11]
She also recorded the song "Everything Changes" for the 1999 Pokémon 2.B.A. Master soundtrack, credited as Sheila Brody.[12]
Amuka and Billboard Dance Chart success
[edit]In the early 2000s, Horne launched her solo dance career as Amuka, collaborating with DJ Peter Rauhofer.[11] She released the single "Appreciate Me" in 2003, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart[13] and appeared on the Queer As Folk: Club Babylon soundtrack.[14]
Her follow-up single, "U Ain’t That Good," reached number three on the same chart in 2004.[15] Amuka scored a number one Billboard dance hit with "I Want More (Cling On to Me)" in 2006 and continued to release dance singles that charted in the Top 10.[16]
Later career and recent work
[edit]Horne contributed vocals to Public Enemy’s albums The Evil Empire of Everything (2012) and Man Plans God Laughs (2015).[17][18] She has also released music under her own name and with the dance collective Discomind.[19]
She has stated she is working on a memoir titled Dancing in Heels which will cover her multi-genre career.[1]
Discography (selected)
[edit]- Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy (1979) – Brides of Funkenstein
- R&B Skeletons in the Closet (1986) – George Clinton (co-writer)
- Federation of Tackheads (1985) – contributor
- Satisfaction (recorded 1984, released 2013) – Aurra
- Friday Night (1998) – as Blackwood
- Pokémon: 2.B.A. Master (1999) – "Everything Changes"
- The Fresh Turnout (2003) – Discomind
- Multiple dance singles as Amuka: Appreciate Me, U Ain’t That Good, I Want More (Cling On to Me)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lipsky, Jessica. "The Bride's Side". Wax Poetics. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sheila Brody". George Clinton Official. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy – Brides of Funkenstein". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Computer Games – George Clinton". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "R&B Skeletons in the Closet". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Federation of Tackheads". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Aurra – Satisfaction". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Was (Not Was) Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Blackwood". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Sheila Brody". Flying Carpet Records. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sheila Brody". Flying Carpet Records. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Pokémon: 2.B.A. Master". Bulbapedia. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Billboard Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Queer As Folk: Club Babylon". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Amuka Chart History". MusicVF. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Amuka Chart History". MusicVF. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Public Enemy – The Evil Empire of Everything". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Public Enemy – Man Plans God Laughs". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Discomind". Discogs. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
External links
[edit]
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