Kleeer: The Pioneers of Funk and Boogie

Kleeer was an American funk and boogie band that emerged from the vibrant New York City music scene in the late 1970s. The group achieved notable success in the early 1980s with a string of dancefloor hits and is recognized for their influential role in the transition from classic funk to the electro-boogie sound.

Early career

The band originally formed in 1978 under the name "The Jam Band" by guitarist and songwriter Woody Cunningham. They were quickly signed to the independent label Atlantic Records, a testament to their tight musicianship and polished sound. Their debut album, I Love to Dance, was released in 1979, establishing their foundation in funk with a clear disco inflection.

Breakthrough

Kleeer's commercial breakthrough arrived in 1981 with their third album, License to Dream. The album's lead single, "Get Tough," became a major club hit, climbing to number 10 on the Billboard R&B chart. This success solidified their reputation and led to increased radio play, particularly on urban contemporary stations across the United States.

Key tracks

Get Tough — This 1981 single was their biggest chart hit, defining their energetic boogie style and becoming a staple on dancefloors.

Keeep Your Body Workin' — A later hit from 1984, this track showcased their adept use of early drum machines and synthesizers, anticipating the electro-funk era.

Intimate Connection — A smooth, mid-tempo boogie track that highlighted the band's vocal harmonies and crossover appeal.

Tonight — This song from their 1982 album Taste the Music is a prime example of their catchy, hook-driven approach to funk.

The group continued to release albums throughout the 1980s, including The Music and Winners, while their production work expanded. Kleeer members, particularly Woody Cunningham, collaborated with and produced for other artists on the Atlantic roster, contributing to the label's signature sound of the era. Their music was also sampled by numerous hip-hop producers in the following decades, cementing their legacy in the foundation of beatmaking.

SIMILAR ARTISTS Fans of Kleeer's slick funk and boogie grooves should also explore Midnight Star. This group similarly mastered the blend of live funk instrumentation with cutting-edge synthesizers. The polished dance-funk of The Whispers shares Kleeer's emphasis on smooth vocals and rhythmic sophistication. For the quintessential New York boogie sound, listen to D-Train, which operated in the same vibrant early-80s club circuit. The work of Slave offers a grittier but parallel funk evolution from the same period.

Kleeer's catalog remains a fixture on specialized radio formats, particularly on classic funk and boogie FM stations and dedicated online radio streams that celebrate the roots of dance music. Their tracks are regularly featured in sets that highlight the pivotal early-1980s era of electronic funk.

Listeners can discover the dynamic sound of Kleeer on radio stations featured on onairium.com, where their influential funk and boogie hits continue to receive regular airplay for a new generation of fans.