Secret Weapon (group)

Secret Weapon was a New York-based short-lived post-disco music group,[1] formed by Jerome Prister. The group had a number of hits throughout the 1980s with their most successful single being "Must Be the Music" which hit #24 on the R&B chart[2] and #66 on the dance chart in 1982.[3]

Not to be confused with Secret Weapons (band).
Secret Weapon
OriginNew York, New York U.S.
GenresPost-disco • funk
LabelsPrelude Records

Post-breakup

Band founder Jerome Prister went on to form the short-lived off-shoot group Output and later released several solo singles, along with a 1989 studio album, under the name Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister. He died of a stroke in 2007.[4]

Singer Michele Blackmon, who also co-wrote "Must Be the Music," later began working as a unit team member managing inmates at a correctional facility, although she would continue performing/entertaining on the side until shortly before her death in late 2014.[5]

Secret Weapon's Djuana "DJ" Thomas is a radio personality on Atlanta's WRDA.[6]

One-time lead vocalist Stanley Snider (credited as "'The' Roy Skip Snider" in liner notes for the band's self-titled album) went on to release several solo singles after the dissolution of the group[7] but would never officially join another group, opting to work more behind the scenes, creating and producing several groups. The founder of a health insurance non-profit, Snider currently works as the CEO of this company and recently announced his return to singing.[8]

Original members
  • Djuana "DJ" Thomas - vocals
  • Michele Blackmon - vocals
  • Kevin Walker - keyboards
  • Russell Thomas - lead guitar
  • Jeff Bell - rhythm guitar
  • Jerome Prister - bass, vocals
  • Ricci Paige - drums
  • Darren Steward - percussion

Other members (at various times)
  • Stanley Snider - vocals
  • Bobby Coleman- vocals
  • Frank Prato - background vocals
  • Calvin Fields - bass guitar
  • Dave Brown - drums

Discography

Albums
Year Single Chart positions
US
R&B		 US
Dance
1983 Secret Weapon — —
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

Singles
Year Single Chart positions
US
R&B		 US
Dance
1982 "Must Be the Music" 24 66
1983 "DJ Man" 73 —
1984 "Move for Me" (as Output) 88 —
1988 "Say You'll Be" (as Jerome "Secret Weapon" Prister) 89 —
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

References
  1. Kellman, Andy (Allmusic). Secret Weapon overview. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 516.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 229.
  4. Jerome Prister @Discogs.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  5. Michele Blackmon - Obituaries - The Hutchinson News - Hutchinson, KS (December 23, 2014) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  6. http://www.1057thegroove.com/pages/DJThomas.html%5B%5D
  7. Stanley Snider @Discogs.com (needs to be verified, as Discogs no longer considered a reliable source) Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  8. Secret Weapon's Chart topping Vocalist Shouts Out "DOW Principle & JAMBOX Studios" @YouTube.com Retrieved March 31, 2019.


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