The Beck Family was a musical family group from Philadelphia. With their music in the disco-funk genre, they had success with their hit single, "Can't Shake the Feeling" which charted nationally in 1979, the peak of the disco era. It registered in the Cash Box, Billboard and Record World charts. It also made the disco chart in Canada. They released an album which made the Billboard Soul LPs chart. They also had another single released during that time.
Background
The group was made up of three Beck Brothers, Anthony Beck, Mendy Beck, Tyrone Beck, their sister Joanna Beck and their cousins, Nick Mundy and Donald Wilson.
The origins of the group can be traced back to a gospel group in 1966. The group was called The Beck Brothers. They were doing the rounds with their parents, father Elder Charles Beck who was a minister and leader of the ensemble. Their mother Bertha beck was the pianist. According to music-trade magazine, Cash Box, the grandmother of the Beck Children was Anna Shepherd, a prominent gospel singer.
Following the death of Charles Beck, older Brother Tony Beck decided that they should move towards the mainstream. Cousins Donny Wilson and Nick Mundi then joined the group. At that time Joanna was still a gospel singer and a solo act. Menelick aka Mendy had gone into the military service for a period of time. Joanna Joined the group and after Mendy's service was up. He later re-joined the group.
It was while the group was performing at different venues on the R&B circuit in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia that they came into contact with Ron Mosley of the newly formed Le Joint record label.
Career
The group recorded some tracks at Quad Studios in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The song "Dancing", backed with "I Don't Know What You're Coming To" was released on Art TBWH 7771 in 1976. It was composed by T. Beck and N. Mundy. Beck also handled the arrangements.
By September 1978, The Beck Family had been signed to the LeJoint label. They had signed with the label shortly after Zulema did.
It was noted in the February 10 issue of Billboard that The Beck Family were getting ready for the first release on the LeJoint label. The intended release was to be called The Beck Family.
On the 28th of February, an event organized by Billboard, the Disco Forum included an event in a New York club with Frankie Crocker as the host. It was for the MCA and LeJoint record labels. Artists intending to perform were Van McCoy, Chuck Brown and Zulema. The Beck Family were also expected to appear.
In 1979, the ages of the three brothers were, Tyrone, 18; Menelick, (aka Mendy) 26; and Tony, 27. Sister Joanna was 24. Cousin Donny Wilson was 20, and cousin Nick Mundi was 21.
Album
When the album was released, it was called Dancin' on the Ceiling. It was reviewed in the March 17 issue of Billboard. The review was positive. The reviewer's picks were, "Can't Shake the Feeling", Dancin' on the Ceiling" and "Falling in Love Again". With pop crossover potential, the expectations were that it would get r&b and disco airplay. Their album was also reviewed in the March 24, 1979 issue of Cash Box. The review said that the T. Life produced album had potential for chart action and airplay in the R&B, disco and pop formats.
The album was released in the UK on London SHE 8534. It was reviewed in the June 23 issue of Music Week. To the reviewer it was somewhere between pop and r&b. The reviewer also said that it was light and infectious and could pick up airplay. The reviewer also said that the Beck Family appearing in the UK would stimulate interest.
The album entered the Billboard Soul LPs chart at no. 72 on the week of May 12, and held that position for another week.
One of the backing singers on the album was Phyllis Hyman.
Hit single
"Can't Shake the Feeling" was a Record World Single Pick for the week ending March 17. The reviewer noted the radio potential, calling it a strong debut. On March 24, it made its debut in the Cash Box, Top 100 Black Contemporary singles chart. Their record was also getting played on George White's show at WGPR-FM in Detroit, James Jordan's show at WYBC in New Haven and Joe Tamburro's show at WDAS in Philadelphia.
It had been doing well with airplay. For the week of March 30, Radio & Records recorded its activity in the East where it was in the "Hottest" on WXYV. It was also added to the WILD and WWIN playlists. In the South it was added to two others, incl. WTMP. In the West it was added to the KYAC playlist.