Listen in to the podcast interview as the "Upper Room with Joe Kell... Dussault" welcomed Minneapolis' Mazarati/The Secret to the WVOF studios.

The band world premeired new music , talked about recording and touring with Prince, and their numerous production and touring work with many talented artists.

LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD HERE.

Mazarati is an American R&B group which emerged in the 1980's, discovered by Brown Mark of Prince and The Revolution. The group would become an intricate and historic part of the Minneapolis music scene, whose alumni included Prince,The Time,Vanity 6,Jill Jones,Sheila E., SueAnn Carwell,Andre Cymone and The Family. Mazarati was (became) the first act signed to Prince's Paisley Park/Warner Bros label. Their debut album produced by Brown Mark also included a single produced/written by Prince "100MPH". The album also included another single "Players Ball", as well as the popular "Stroke", "She's Just That Kind of Lady" and "Guess Its All Over". During the Paisley Park period, Mazarati collaborated with Prince on the single "Kiss". Although co-written and produced by Mazarati, became a number #1 Grammy award winning single for Prince, released on the 1986 "Parade" album and featured in the film "Under the Cherry Moon". Another Prince/Mazarati collaboration included the single "Jerk Out",also originally recorded by Mazarati, but later released by label mates The Time on their 1990 "Pandemonium" album. This would also become a #1 single for the group. The band would later leave Paisley Park in favor of Motown Records in the late 1980's. With a shift in musical trends, the group would disband and its members would go on to write/produce for a number of artists. (Additional discography information listed below).

In 2011 members of the group (Tony Christian, Jerome "Romeo"Woodson-Cox and Craig "Screamer" Powell) reunited, combined with former Ta Mara and The Seen member "Keith Woodson-Cox" (keyboards), former keyboardist for The Time,Cherrelle,Alexander O'neal and The Sos Band "Brice Myles", former drummer for Andre Cymone, Jak, SueAnn Carwell,Cherrelle and Alexander O'neal "Bryan Rankin" and former guitarist for Trey Songz, Lloyd,Xscape,112 and Jesse Johnson protege "Dwayne Cotton". The project entitled "Mazarati/The Secret" evolved combining Paisley Park/Flyte Tyme/"Minneapolis Sound" alumni, to re-ignite an era that helped define a distinct period in music history. With a new album and tour in the works..the groups emergence comes at a time when other Minneapolis based groups have also returned to the scene: The Revolution, The Family (FDeluxe) and The Original 7ven (formerly known as The Time).

[Edited 1/22/12 5:47am]

[Edited 1/29/12 11:31am]

Great news Joe! Looking forward to the show.

JoeKelley said: Mazarati was (became) the first act signed to Prince's Paisley Park/Warner Bros label.

Sheila E's "Romance 1600" album and The Family's selftitled project came out a year before Mazarati's strong debut, so i guess those other two signed for the label first?

[Edited 1/22/12 6:59am]

Bring on a visit to the UK!

Looking forward to it. Thanks, Joe.

Damn, I messed it! Tell me you archived this, Joe. Please tell me you did...

BlaqueKnight said:

Damn, I messed it! Tell me you archived this, Joe. Please tell me you did...

Thanks for the interest. It was a great time. Will have it archived by Sat. morning. Busy with doing taxes and cutting another radio show .

I'll let you know when it is up for sure.

Peace

Joe

Link not working.

BlaqueKnight said:

Link not working.

BlaqueKnight. It's all good in the hood. I tested it out on Firefox and Explorer and it downloaded fine. Let me know if you have any more problems with it.

Thanks

Joe

Interesting interview. Thanks for posting it, Joe.