The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls – They had it all: looks, talent, and energy. But talk about a revolving door!
When did they record?
1987-1996
Where did the Cover Girls come from?
They were from Bronx, New York, and dreamed up as a group by the Latin Rascals, who had in mind a Latina update of the Supremes. Then it became a project of Sal Abbatiello, a music promoter and entrepreneur and owner of famed club “Disco Fever.”
How were they discovered?
Sal Abatiello began a talent search and selected the group out of 300 women applicants.
How did people find out about them?
The Cover Girls did a lot of publicity after their initial release. They performed live in concert, and then they appeared on every available music and video television show at that time. They made appearances on Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel, Soul Train, Showtime at the Apollo, MTV, and MTV International. Appearing on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand’s was their proudest moment, but it didn’t hurt to have been selected by the New Kids on the Block to open with them on their tour.
So were they big anywhere else?
The Japanese loved them! In 1988, the “Show Me” single was the #1 record in Japan, and the album went double platinum. They toured the country 4 times to sold out venues, and were asked to enter the world-renowned International Tokyo Music Festival Competition, eventually winning second place. Due to their popularity in Japan that year, they got an advertising contract for a commercial with Panasonic.
What other honors have they earned?
In June, 1996, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame in Los Angeles.
Why were they so successful?
Now only did they have musical talent, but they also had glamour and beauty. They released 4 albums, sold over 3 million records, charted 11 singles in a row on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, and have had international success all over the world.
Did they stay on Sal Abbatiello’s label?
Only at the beginning were the Cover Girls signed to Fever Records, Abbatiello’s own independent label. Sal knew that only a major label could give the Cover Girls the national promotion they needed to make them the top female group in the nation. After much deal-making, they signed a recording contract with Capital Records, who released their second album, “We Can’t Go Wrong” in 1989.
Who were the members of the Cover Girls?
Their line up revolved so much it could make you dizzy! They started with Louise “Angel” Sabater Clivelles, Sunshine Wright, and Caroline Jackson. This version of the group had three smaller R&B chart hits in 1987. Margo Urban took Wright’s place by the time of their 1989 Capitol album We Can’t Go Wrong, whose title track was a #8 hit.
Is that all?
No way! In 1990, for the 1992 release Here It Is, Sal Abbatiello replaced Urban and Sabater with Evelyn Escalera and Michelle Valentine. None of the original Cover Girls were on 1996′s Satisfy. Instead, this effort was performed by a new trio of singers, Damie, Gayle, and Shelia.
So those are the Cover Girls today?
Hardly! The current performers are Evelyn Escalera, Lorraine Munoz, and Sabrina Nieves (aka Sabrina Sang). However, Sal Abatiello is still the manager.
What are their top ten singles?
- “Show Me” is their most enduring single. It’s thought of as a textbook example of freestyle music in its heyday, with its yearning lyrics and hyper beats. In 1987, it was released as a single from Fever Records. The single went gold, selling more than 500,000 records and landing on the Billboard Top 40 chart and reaching number 2 on the Billboard Dance Chart.
- Wishing on a Star – a remake of the original Rose Royce ballad; it earned them many national television appearances including the Arsenio Hall show, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, and Apollo Comedy Hour.
- Because of You
- Inside Outside
- I Need Your Lovin’
- Hooked on You
- My Heart Skips a Beat – produced by David Cole and Robert Clivelles, of the C&C Music Factory.
- Funk Boutique – Evelyn Escalera’s first recording as the new lead singer. Its success guaranteed them a new recording contract with Epic Records for a third album.
- Spring Love
- One Night Affair
- We Can’t Go Wrong – The ballad that put The Cover Girls over the top. Its success led the group to a major endorsement deal with Coca Cola and Sprite. They did numerous promotions including radio and television commercial in English and Spanish.
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