A Taste of Honey (band) facts for kids

A Taste of Honey was an American music group that became famous in the 1970s. They were formed in 1972 by Janice-Marie Johnson and Perry Kibble. They are best known for their huge disco hit song, "Boogie Oogie Oogie", which was a number one song in 1978.

After their biggest hits, Janice-Marie Johnson started a solo music career. In 2004, Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne got back together to perform on TV shows like Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion.

The Story of A Taste of Honey

How the Band Began

The band A Taste of Honey started in Los Angeles, California, in 1972. The main members were Janice-Marie Johnson (who sang, wrote songs, and played bass), Perry Kibble (who played keyboards and helped write songs), and Donald Ray Johnson (who played drums). Janice-Marie Johnson and Perry Kibble were friends for a long time and were the first members.

Later, Carlita Dorhan joined the band, playing guitar and singing. In 1976, Carlita Dorhan left, and Hazel Payne joined the group.

Becoming Famous

A Taste of Honey worked hard for six years to improve their music. They played in many big cities and even went on tours for the USO, performing for military members in places like Spain, Japan, and South Korea.

When they returned to Los Angeles, they were playing in a nightclub when record producers Fonce and Larry Mizell saw them. These producers helped them get an audition with Capitol Records. The band signed a five-album deal. They chose their name from a famous song by Herb Alpert called "A Taste of Honey".

Their first song, "Boogie Oogie Oogie", was released in 1978. It was a massive hit, staying at number one on the Billboard music chart for three weeks! The song sold two million copies. A Taste of Honey won two platinum records for the song and their first album. They also won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1979, which is a very important music award.

More Hits and Changes

After "Boogie Oogie Oogie", the band released other disco songs like "Do It Good". However, these songs were not as popular. By 1980, the group became a duo, with just Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne.

In 1981, they released a cover version of a Japanese song called "Sukiyaki". This song was a slow, beautiful song (a ballad), not a dance tune. It became their second big hit, reaching number one on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.

A Taste of Honey released their fourth and final album, Ladies of the Eighties, in 1982. Their last song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was "I'll Try Something New".

After the Band

In 1983, Hazel Payne left the group. Janice-Marie Johnson then started her solo career. She released an album called One Taste of Honey. Hazel Payne became an international stage actress.

Perry Kibble, one of the original members, moved to Calgary, Canada. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 49. Donald Ray Johnson, the drummer, still lives in Calgary and plays blues music. Janice-Marie Johnson released another solo album in 2000.

In 2004, Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne performed together again for the first time in over twenty years. Janice-Marie Johnson was honored in the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame in 2008. Guitarist Suzanne "Minnie" Thomas passed away in 2015.

See also

In Spanish: A Taste of Honey para niños

• List of Billboard number-one singles
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart