Sheila Horne
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Sheila Horne (also known professionally as Sheila Brody, Blackwood, and Amuka) is an American singer and songwriter best known for her work as a member of the Brides of Funkenstein, Parliament-Funkadelic, and for her solo career in dance and house music.<ref name="WaxPoetics">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Early life and career
Sheila Horne was born in Syracuse, New York.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/> She began singing as a teenager and moved to Detroit, where she connected with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective in the late 1970s.<ref name="GeorgeClinton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Brides of Funkenstein
In 1978, Horne joined the P-Funk universe as a backing vocalist, initially performing as a “Bridesmaid” for the Brides of Funkenstein, an all-female group formed by George Clinton.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/> After founding member Lynn Mabry left the group, Horne became a full member alongside Dawn Silva and Jeanette McGruder.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/>
She sang co-lead vocals on the Brides’ second album, Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy, which has since been acclaimed as one of the strongest P-Funk spin-off records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One single from the album led by Horne, "Didn't Mean To Fall in Love", won a rhythm and blues award for "Best New Female Group" in 1981. The group won a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues award for Best New Female Artist in 1979.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/> Horne toured extensively with the Brides and Parliament-Funkadelic during this period.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/>
Work with Parliament-Funkadelic and Rick James
Following her time with the Brides, Horne continued recording with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. She contributed backing vocals to Parliament’s hit single Atomic Dog.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1981, she joined Rick James’ band as an original member of his Mary Jane Girls touring ensemble.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/> She performed backup vocals on James’ Street Songs tour but left the group after a dispute and later won a legal case against James.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/>
Songwriting and other collaborations
During the mid-1980s, Horne, credited under her married name Sheila Washington, co-wrote several songs with George Clinton. She co-wrote Do Fries Go with That Shake? from Clinton’s album R&B Skeletons in the Closet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also contributed to the Federation of Tackheads project.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
She collaborated with the funk band Aurra alongside her then-husband Steve Washington, recording Satisfaction in the mid-1980s, which was released in 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the 1980s and 1990s, Horne performed as a session and touring vocalist for various artists, including Cyndi Lauper<ref name="WaxPoetics"/> and Was (Not Was).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also continued to appear with the P-Funk All-Stars.<ref name="GeorgeClinton"/>
Blackwood and international dance career
In the late 1990s, Horne reinvented herself under the alias Blackwood and found success in the European dance scene.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She fronted the Italian dance-pop project Blackwood and released the album Friday Night in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The single "Peace" reached number one on the Italian pop charts.<ref name="FlyingCarpet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
She also recorded the song "Everything Changes" for the 1999 Pokémon 2.B.A. Master soundtrack, credited as Sheila Brody.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Amuka and Billboard Dance Chart success
In the early 2000s, Horne launched her solo dance career as Amuka, collaborating with DJ Peter Rauhofer.<ref name="FlyingCarpet"/> She released the single "Appreciate Me" in 2003, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and appeared on the Queer As Folk: Club Babylon soundtrack.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Her follow-up single, "U Ain’t That Good," reached number three on the same chart in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Amuka scored a number one Billboard dance hit with "I Want More (Cling On to Me)" in 2006 and continued to release dance singles that charted in the Top 10.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Later career and recent work
Horne contributed vocals to Public Enemy’s albums The Evil Empire of Everything (2012) and Man Plans God Laughs (2015).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She has also released music under her own name and with the dance collective Discomind.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
She has stated she is working on a memoir titled Dancing in Heels which will cover her multi-genre career.<ref name="WaxPoetics"/>
Discography (selected)
- Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy (1979) – Brides of Funkenstein
- R&B Skeletons in the Closet (1986) – George Clinton (co-writer)
- Federation of Tackheads (1985) – contributor
- Satisfaction (recorded 1984, released 2013) – Aurra
- Friday Night (1998) – as Blackwood
- Pokémon: 2.B.A. Master (1999) – "Everything Changes"
- The Fresh Turnout (2003) – Discomind
- Multiple dance singles as Amuka: Appreciate Me, U Ain’t That Good, I Want More (Cling On to Me)