Starship
With the recent release of their first full studio album since 1989, Starship has proven unstoppable once again. The San Francisco band behind power 80s anthems like“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “We Built This City” and “Sara,” the group began in the 60s as Jefferson Airplane, then morphed into Jefferson Starship and, finally, in 1979, reinvented itself as Starship when Mickey Thomas joined on lead vocals. Today, Thomas and mainstays Jeff Adams, Darrell Verdusco, Stephanie Calvert and Phil Bennett appeal to generations of audiences playing their popular hits of the 80s as well as newer tracks from their most recent project, “Loveless Fascination,” a diverse album with a much harder rock sound and heavy guitar riffing as well as slower numbers and even some gospel singing.
Kool & The Gang
Still cool after more than four decades of entertaining audiences, Kool & The Gang is sure to transform The 80s Cruise into one unforgettable celebration when it brings its signature blend of jazz, soul and funk and fierce horn arrangements to our ship’s main stage. Since its formation in 1964 and with universally recognized hits like “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Joanna,” and “Celebration,” Kool & The Gang has sold more than 70 million albums and amassed an impressive two Grammy® Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Today, the band’s hits remain in the rotation for weddings and other party playlists. The beloved R&B and Pop anthem, “Celebration,” even served as the backdrop to the American hostages returning in 1981 from years of captivity in Iran. The group’s hits also earned spots on the popular “Rocky” and “Saturday Night Fever” soundtracks. In recent years, the band has found itself collaborating with Lil’ Kim, Sean Paul and Ashanti, and in 2012, Kool & The Gang joined rock legend Van Halen for a 52-city tour. Originating in Jersey City, New Jersey, Kool & The Gang consists of brothers Khalis Bayyan (AKA Ronald Bell) and Robert “Kool” Bell and their high school friends, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith.
Was (Not Was)
Boyhood friends, Don Was and David Weiss, reunite along with singers Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson to get Guests of The 80s Cruise walking the dinosaur and jamming to other hits of their popular band, Was (Not Was). With David on flute and Don on bass, the group released four albums and wrote hits including “Spy in the House of Love,” “Walk the Dinosaur” and dance single “Wheel Me Out.” Masters at melding funk, rock, jazz and electronic dance sounds, they toured with Dire Straits and counts a diverse list of artists – from Elvis Costello to Kris Kristofferson and Ozzy Osborne – among their collaborators. Since the 80s, band co-founder Don has been a mainstay in the music production world, winning three Grammy® awards in his work with major Artists like The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Ziggy Marley, Bob Seger, Al Green, Lucinda Williams, Garth Brooks, Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Cocker, Hootie and The Blowfish, Amos Lee, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, George Clinton, Randy Newman, The Black Crowes, Carly Simon, Travis Tritt, Brian Wilson, Jackson Browne, The Barenaked Ladies, Old Crow Medicine Show, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Richie Sambora, B.B. King, Paul Westerberg, Kurt Elling, Poison, Cheb Khaled, The B-52’s, Solomon Burke and Neil Diamond. Today he heads up jazz label, Blue Note Records.
Biz Markie Is More than ‘Just a Friend’ of The 80s Cruise