TOUCH OF CLASS
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Touch of Class
Touch of Class originated in Paterson, New Jersey. In 1976 the group released their first album titled, “I’m In Heaven”, which brought about their first single of the same title. The release was on the Midland International/RCA label. The group enjoyed a few years of success with Midland Int’l before relocating, with a production arrangement, to Atlantic Records where they recorded several hit singles. During the following years, the group continued with production arrangements with Next Plateau Records and Roadshow Records/RCA, resulting in a string of hit records, some of which are: “Let Me Be Your Everything”, “Said It Before”, “You’ve Got To Know Better”, “Keep Dancing”, and the list goes on. Pete and Gerald Jackson of the group also wrote the smash hit “Turn the Beat Around” recorded by the late Vickie Sue Robinson, and re-recorded by Gloria Estefan. The group originally consisted of Pete and Gerald Jackson, who are the songwriters/arrangers/producers of the group, their cousin Michael Hailstock and childhood friend Herbert Brevard. When they relocated to Atlantic Records, Michael retired and the group became three. The group is famous for its live shows, never failing to excite the crowds of fans with well produced and exciting stage performances, causing them to be always in demand. Herbert has since retired and the third member is now Hamp Dickerson. They have performed and/or worked with such stars as: “The Whispers”, “The Stylistics”, Michael Jackson, Clarence Burke (of “The Invisible Man’s Band”), “Kool and The Gang”, “Ray, Goodman and Brown”, Barry White, “The Delfonics”, Pharaoh Sanders, Kenny Burke, Meco Minardo (of “Star Wars” fame), Patrick Adams, and many others.
Pete and Gerald have founded “Brojack Entertainment”, an independent record label located in East Orange, NJ, and are still very much active in songwriting and producing some of the young local talent. There are tentative deals in place with major record labels; however, most of their success to date has been on an independent basis. Songwriting and music production aside, Pete, Gerald and Hamp say that “Touch of Class” will continue to perform for as long as there is an audience.