RFTW (Ready For The World)…Where Are They Now?
The group Ready for the World ascended upon the music scene in the mid-eighties. Their debut album entitled Ready For The World was released in 1985 on MCA records. This album released 5 singles including “Oh Sheila”. Within the same week, “Oh Sheila” was no# 1 on the R&B, Pop, Dance, and Video Billboard charts. This feat earned the group a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. “Oh, Sheila” also earned Gold status as a single and helped propel the group to Platinum status with millions of albums sold. The second album was released in 1986 and was entitled Long Time Coming. This album proved the longevity of the group.
The hit single “Let Me Love you Down” climbed to No# 1 on the R&B charts and reached No# 9 on the Pop charts. That year the group also appeared on The Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack as well as co-produced a song with Rod Templeton (who also wrote Thriller, the greatest selling single to date) on the Running Scared soundtrack starring Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal.
In 1992 RFTW released the album Straight Down to Business. In 1996 they released “Freak The World”. In 2004 they released “She Said She Wants Some”.
The group continued to record and work in different capacities within the music industry as writers, producers, studio sound engineers, and video producers. After a hiatus from the music scene, the band is moving forward with live shows and new projects both collectively & individually. Melvin Riley left the band to pursue a solo career and has been replaced by singer Ray Lavender.
The band has recently been on a national tour, performing their hit songs from the ’80s and in support of their new single “So Much Life.” When not entertaining audiences on stage, the guys spend their days in the recording studio putting the final touches to songs on tracks, in preparation for the release of their new album.
With today’s state of R&B music diluted in commercial appeal, fans who are thirsty for real music—a lot of instruments, the real band and essence of being able to perform as entertainers,” audiences will be ready for the world!
RFTW current lineup:
Gerald Valentine – Drums, drum programming
John Eaton – Bass guitar, background vocals
Gordon Strozier – Guitar, keyboards, background vocals
Ray Lavender – Lead vocal
Gregory Potts – keyboards, background vocals
Willie Triplett – Keyboards, percussion, background vocals
Connect with Ready For The World
Official Website: http://www.readyfortheworld.com
Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/rftwmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReadyForTheWorld
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RFTWmusic
Instagram: @ReadyForTheWorldOfficial
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/readyfortheworld