H-Town (band)

The group grew up together in Houston's Yellowstone neighborhood located on the south side of the city. While attending Jack Yates High School, in 1991, Keven and Solomon Conner formed a band with Darryl Jackson. They were known as "The Gents" and recorded their first album, "It's No Dream," with producer Phil Blackmon. Shazam was chosen as lead singer at the time of recording this album, which featured the ballad "A Time for Us". The album was released locally and was not a huge commercial success. The group continued recording and performed at talent shows and plays when a local producer sent their demo tape to 2 Live Crew rapper and record label executive Luther "Luke" Campbell. After an impromptu audition, Campbell signed the group to his label, Luke Records. Producer Bishop "Stick" Burrell became their producer and positioned Dino as lead singer, seeing his potential and rare voice as the formula for success in the group and built his sound around him. [2] They took the name of the group, "H-Town", from the local nickname for the city of Houston, Texas, in which they grew up.[3]

H-Town's debut album Fever for Da Flavor was released on April 15, 1993.[4] The group achieved hit status in the United States with "Knockin' Da Boots", which became H-Town's biggest hit and also their signature song. "Boots" was a #1 hit on the R&B charts,[5] and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] "Lick U Up", the band's follow-up single, peaked at #21. They signed on as a part of the 1993 Coca-Cola Summer Fest tour, which included fellow R&B hit groups Shai, SWV, Jade, Naughty by Nature, Silk and also included multi-platinum rap artist LL Cool J.[7] In 1994, H-Town won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. They also appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack with their single "Part Time Lover", which was produced by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. It peaked at #9 on the R&B Charts.

In late 1993, H-Town returned to the studio to record their second album Beggin' After Dark . It was released on November 8, 1994.[8] The most popular single from this album was "Emotions". It became a #11 hit on the Billboard R&B chart and reached #51 on the Hot 100.[6] Other tracks from the album included "Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)", "Full Time", "One Night Gigolo", "Tumble & Rumble", "Buss One", featuring reggae singer Papa Reu, and "Baby I Love Ya" featuring Roger Troutman. By the time H-Town returned to the studio to record Ladies Edition, they had undergone some changes. They recorded a cover version of The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" featuring Shirley Murdock for the 1996 film of the same name. The song became H-Town's first Top 40 pop hit in three years, peaking at #37.[6] They then cut ties with Luther Campbell, underwent a spiritual awakening of sorts, and became more aware of women's issues on their third album Ladies Edition, Woman's World.[9] It was released on October 28, 1997.[10] The album's general theme centers on a man's penitence for his past transgressions with his woman, a theme conveyed in songs such as "Don't Sleep on the Female," "Julie Rain" (an account of spousal abuse), and "Jezebel." According to the liner notes, the album was dedicated to Nicole Brown Simpson and "all the women of the world." Twenty national women's telephone helplines were also listed on the back cover. Their one and only single from the album, "They Like It Slow" was released on September 23, 1997, and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Founding member Dino Conner was killed along with his girlfriend in an automobile accident in 2003.[4] In 2004, the band self-released Imitations of Life. The surviving members continued to record and tour into the 2010s, collaborating with Pretty Ricky and Jodeci on a 2010 single "Knockin' Your Heels."

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