Starland Vocal Band
American pop band known for "Afternoon Delight."
Starland Vocal Band was an American pop group best remembered for their 1976 hit "Afternoon Delight," which became one of the year's top-selling singles. The band came together in the mid-1970s, bringing together Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, Jon Carroll, and Margot Chapman.
Before forming Starland Vocal Band, Danoff and Nivert performed as the duo Fat City. They co-wrote "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado" and later teamed up with John Denver on "Take Me Home, Country Roads," a 1971 hit that was later named an official song of West Virginia in 2014. As Fat City, they released two albums, *Reincarnation* and *Welcome to Fat City*, and then two more as Bill & Taffy, *Pass It On* and *Aces*, all between 1969 and 1974.
The group signed to Denver's Windsong Records. Their debut album, *Starland Vocal Band*, included "Afternoon Delight," which reached number one in the US and also charted. The song hit number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. At the 1977 Grammy Awards, the band earned four nominations and won two: Best Arrangement for Voices and Best New Artist, beating out Boston. Their follow-up album, *Rear View Mirror*, spent 8 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 104.
In the summer of 1977, the band hosted *The Starland Vocal Band Show* on CBS for six weeks. David Letterman worked as a writer and regular performer on the show, alongside Mark Russell, Jeff Altman, and Proctor and Bergman. April Kelly also wrote for the series.
Unable to replicate their early success, the group disbanded in 1981. Carroll and Chapman divorced that same year, followed by Danoff and Nivert in 1982. All four pursued solo careers but remained on good terms. In 1998, they reunited for a few concerts, often including their children as additional vocalists. In 2007, they appeared on a New Jersey Network 1970s special, singing "Afternoon Delight."
In 2010, *Billboard* named "Afternoon Delight" the 20th sexiest song of all time. The track appeared in films such as *PCU*, *Anchorman*, and *Good Will Hunting*, and was used in episodes of *The Simpsons* and *South Park*. In 2011, it was performed on the musical TV series *Glee*.
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- Washington, D.C., U.S.
- Genre
- Pop, folk rock, country, soft rock
- Discography
- Studio albums, singles
- Years Active
- 1975–1981, 1998, 2007
- Label
- RCA, Windsong
- Past Members
- Bill Danoff / Taffy Nivert / Jon Carroll / Margot Chapman
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The group began as Fat City, a husband/wife duo of Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert. Danoff and Nivert co-wrote the song 'I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado' and then, with John Denver, 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', which became a hit single in 1971 and became an official song of West Virginia in 2014. The duo recorded two albums as Fat City (Reincarnation, Welcome to Fat City), and two more as Bill & Taffy (Pass It On, Aces), all released from 1969 to 1974.
In the mid-1970s, Starland Vocal Band was formed and subsequently signed to Denver's label Windsong Records. Starland Vocal Band also included Jon Carroll (keyboards, guitar, vocals) and Margot Chapman (vocals). Carroll and Chapman also became a couple, marrying in 1978. The group's debut album was the self-titled Starland Vocal Band and included 'Afternoon Delight'. The song was a US number one hit and the album also charted. They were nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1977 and won two: Best Arrangement for Voices and Best New Artist, the latter award over the group Boston. The song also reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.
Reader's Guide
Starland Vocal Band's significance rests primarily on their 1976 hit 'Afternoon Delight', which became one of the biggest-selling singles of that year and reached number one in the US. The song's enduring popularity is evidenced by its inclusion in films such as PCU, Anchorman, and Good Will Hunting, and in TV shows including The Simpsons and South Park. In 2010, Billboard named it the 20th sexiest song of all time. The band's legacy also includes winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1977, beating out Boston. However, they are often categorized as a one-hit wonder, as their follow-up album Rear View Mirror peaked at number 104 on the Billboard 200. The band hosted a short-lived variety show on CBS in the summer of 1977, which featured a young David Letterman as a writer and regular. Despite breaking up in 1981, the members reunited for concerts in 1998 and appeared on a 1970s special in 2007.
Did You Know?
- David Letterman was a writer and regular on The Starland Vocal Band Show.
- Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert co-wrote 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' with John Denver.
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