🎵 Starpoint – Band Overview
Origin: Maryland, U.S.A.
Active Years: Late 1970s – Early 1990s
Genres: R&B, Funk, Soul, Dance
Early Name: Licyndiana – a name derived from the sisters of the founding members, later changed due to pronunciation difficulties.
Breakthrough: They emerged from the local Maryland music scene and gained national attention after signing with Casablanca Records in 1982, later moving to Elektra Records where they found their greatest success.
🧑🎤 Key Band Members
Renee Diggs
Born: July 23, 1954, Annapolis, MD
Died: March 18, 2005, Annapolis, MD
Lead vocalist with a powerful voice and commanding stage presence. She also worked with James Ingram and Bob James, and released a solo album in 1994 (released posthumously in 2000 by Expansion Records in the UK).
Cause of Death: Complications from a heart condition.Ernesto McKenzie Phillips
Born: July 13, 1953, Crownsville, MD
Died: March 25, 2004, Baltimore Highlands, MD
Primary songwriter, keyboardist, and co-founder.George Phillips Jnr.
Died: 2021
One of the Phillips brothers and band co-founders.Gregory Phillips
Guitarist and co-founding member.Orlando Phillips
Bassist and also part of the core family lineup.Kayode Adeyemo
Drummer and contributing songwriter.Lionel Job
Producer and songwriter involved in the group’s production.
📀 Discography
Chocolate City Records:
Starpoint (1980)
Keep on It (1981)
Wanting You (1981)
Casablanca Records:
All Night Long (1982)
Notable tracks: “Bring Your Sweet Lovin’ Back”, “Get Your Body Up”
Boardwalk:
It’s So Delicious (1983)
Elektra Records:
It’s All Yours (1984)
Restless (1985) –
Includes: “Objects Of My Desire”, “Emotions”Sensational (1987)
Asylum Records:
Hot to the Touch (1988)
Elektra Records:
Have You Got What It Takes (1991)
⭐ Legacy
While Starpoint achieved greater success in the U.S., particularly in the R&B charts, they remained somewhat underground or cult favorites in the U.K. Their most iconic hit, “Object of My Desire,” remains a staple of 80s funk playlists and continues to define their legacy as one of the standout groups of that era.
The group’s sound — infused with tight grooves, infectious hooks, and Diggs’ vibrant vocals — made them a standout on the 80s funk and dance scene, and they continue to be respected among collectors and fans of classic R&B and funk.