Mike & Brenda Sutton

Mike & Brenda Sutton was an American musical duo composed of Michael B. Sutton and Brenda Sutton. The duo are best known for both their songwriting-production work at Motown and their own recordings in the early 1980s, including the dance song "Don't Let Go of Me (Grip My Hips and Move Me)" as remixed by Shep Pettibone.[1]

Mike & Brenda Sutton
OriginUnited States
Genres
Years active1978–1984
LabelsSAM Records (US)
Virgin Records (UK)
Past membersMichael B. Sutton and Brenda Sutton

Discovered by Stevie Wonder, both became writers and producers at Motown Records, working there from 1974 to 1979. The duo produced numerous hits at the label, most notably "There Will Come A Day" by Smokey Robinson, "Stay With Me" by Jermaine Jackson, as well as songs by the group Switch. They are the recipients of one Gold and two Platinum albums for their work.

After leaving Motown they partnered with long-time friend Cheryl Lynn and wrote the Ray Parker-produced Top 5 R&B hit "Shake It Up Tonight". The Suttons also recorded two albums of their own, Don't Hold Back in 1982, and So Good in 1984, scoring several R&B and dance hits. They later worked with Ian Levine for his Motown revival project and recorded the track "No Other Love".

History

Back in the early 1970s, Michael B. Sutton wrote numerous songs for Motown artists including Thelma Houston, Smokey Robinson, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson, The Supremes.[2]

Michael Sutton and Brenda Sutton were originally members of a disco/R&B group called Finished Touch. Together with Finished Touch they recorded a few songs for legendary Motown label including dancefloor favorites like "Need to Know You (Better)" and "I Love To See You Dance".[3] After the band broke up in 1979 they signed to Sam Records and recorded soul-tinged boogie-funk songs "Don't Let Go of Me" and "We'll Make It". Both songs entered the Billboard Club Play Singles chart, reaching No. 37 ("Don't Let Go of Me") and No. 49 ("We'll Make It").[4][5]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album
1982 Don't Hold Back
1984 So Good

Singles
Year Song Label Peak chart position[5]
U.S. Dance
1982 "We'll Make It" SAM 49
"Don't Let Go Of Me" SAM 37
"Don't Hold Back" SAM —
1984 "Kraazy" Rocshire —
"Live It Up (Love It Up)" Rocshire —
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that region.

References
  1. ""Dance Trax" by Brian Chin". Billboard. 94: 28. Aug 28, 1982.
  2. "Mike & Brenda Sutton at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  3. "Finished Touch - Billboard Singles". Allmusic, Billboard. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  4. "Mike & Brenda Sutton - Billboard Singles". Allmusic, Billboard. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  5. "Billboard (r) Disco Top 80 (tm)". Billboard. 94: 41. Nov 6, 1982.
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