"Uptown Festival" (1977) is credited as Shalamar’s first hit record, which was recorded at Ike & Tina Turner's studio Bolic Sound in 1976. The album’s success inspired Griffey and Don Cornelius to replace session singers with popular Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, to join original Shalamar lead singer Gary Mumford, solidifying them as a band that would span decades.
