Company B

Company B: From Freestyle to House

Who was the original line-up of Company B?
Company B started with Charlotte McKinnon, Lori Ledesma, and Susan Johnson (Gonzalez). However, Lezlee Livrano took McKinnon’s place before the debut album on Atlantic was released. Livrano and Johnson were replaced by Donna Huntley and Sheena. Then Sheena was quickly replaced by Julie Marie. After all of those changes, Livrano and Johnson returned and replaced Huntley and Marie, from time to time. Recently, the group re-formed, with original members McKinnon and Johnson (who now calls herself Susan Marie) and new member Rachel Leslie.

Where did Company B come from?
They came out of Miami, Florida. They wore memorable platinum white “punk” wigs and blue leather outfits.

How did they start?
Ish Ledesma, who was born in Cuba, was the DJ and producer who assembled Company B. His name may be familiar to some, as he had also formed the bands Foxy and Oxo. In 1986, Company B released “Fascinated,” which became an international club phenomenon and reached number 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart.

Please tell me about their debut album.
It was released on Atlantic Records and had the hits “Full Circle”, “Perfect Lover”, and “Jam On Me”. Sheena took Susan’s place.

Some people say they’re Freestyle, some say they’re House music. Who is right?
Both are! While they did break a path for the “Miami Freestyle” sound, Company B also was a part of the early House sound that was then popular in clubs. That got them guest performances on Club MTV, Dance Party USA, The Apollo Theater, among others.

What about their second album?
Gotta Dance was released on Atlantic in 1989. It had Donna Huntley and Julie Marie (of Expose) taking the place of Lezlee & Sheena. By now, they ditched the wigs and were making a clearer shift toward House music, with singles “You Stole My Heart” and a cover of The Andrews Sisters’ 1941 hit, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. It also lacked the Latin rhythms prominent on the debut album.

Was that all for Company B?
Not so much. They have gradually released hits compilations, like 2000′s maxi-single with new remixes of “Fascinated” and a new track “He’s All I Want” under the name Company B2000. Company B’s influence was reflected in 2005, when dance music diva Suzanne Palmer released a cover of “Fascinated”, which became one of her most successful singles. Company B often joins the Freestyle Explosion concert tours.

Singles
1986: “Jam on Me”
1987: “Fascinated” (#1 U.S. Dance, #21 U.S. Hot 100, #23 Netherlands, #89 UK)
1987: “Full Circle” (#5 U.S. Dance)
1988: “Perfect Lover” (#12 U.S. Dance)
1988: “Signed in Your Book of Love” (#9 U.S. Dance)