These two women first came to
national attention as the lead vocalists of the powerhouse multi
platinum recording group CHIC. Collectively they've earned gold and
platinum albums as the signature voices on smash hits Dance Dance
Dance, Everybody Dance, Good Times, Le Freak, and others. Highly
acclaimed for their vocal style they quickly became sought after
session singers and loaned their voices to productions for
luminaries like Madonna, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Diana
Ross, Michael Jackson, and The Rolling Stones.
Chic's bright airy panorama of sound, anchored by the percussive,
sensual and sultry vocal interaction provided by Luci Martin & Norma
Jean Wright, gave the group a note of distinction. This, with the
Nile Rodgers' subtly modulating guitar, licks Bernard Edwards'
ferocious bass lines and Tony Thompson’s four to the floor bass drum,
immediately propelled the group to the top of the charts.
In early 1977 it began when Ohio native, Norma Jean moved to New
York City in pursuit of a music career. Within months she was
introduced to Chic founding fathers, Nile Rodgers, and Bernard
Edwards. Impressed with her vocal prowess Jean was hired as lead
vocalist to front their band which consisted of Rodgers, Edwards and
drummer Tony Thompson. To complete the line up Luci Martin, a pretty
young vocalist of Latin descent, was enlisted and became the fifth
member of the group. Soon after, Chic signed a deal with Atlantic
Records and released their first smash single Dance Dance Dance (Yoswah,
Yoswah, Yoswah), which was followed by numerous others. This
immediate success led to Rodgers & Edwards producing a solo album
and single with Norma Jean which also garnered her the hit single
Saturday.
Today Martin & Wright continue to perform their classic hits
throughout the world, from Italy, to Asia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France and England. Their music and
voices have been sampled by a Who’s Who List of Rap Artists from
Will Smith to Puff Daddy. They've recorded with the contemporary
artists Lauryn Hill and Deborah Cox.
To sum it up, Martins' & Wrights' music has spanned 2 decades and
continues to make an impact on listeners. Their sound takes you back
to the era of Studio 54 when dancing was a way of life or it simply
reminds you that "good music like good times" should last forever!!