Starpoint
Starpoint was an American R&B and funk band from Maryland, active from 1978 to 1990, known for ten albums and multiple R&B chart hits. Formed by the five Phillips brothers—George Jr., Ernesto, Lloyd, Orlando, and Gregory—the group evolved from early names like J.R. and the Royals and Licyndiana before settling on Starpoint.
The Phillips brothers began performing in their family home in Crownsville, Maryland, later adding vocalist Renée Diggs and bassist/keyboardist Kayode "Ky" Adeyemo. Core members included Ernesto Phillips (guitar, lead vocals), George Phillips Jr. (keyboards, vocals), Orlando Phillips (bass, keyboards, sax, vocals), Greg Phillips (drums, vocals), Renée Diggs (lead vocals), and Adeyemo (bass, keyboards).
They signed with Chocolate City Records in 1979, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1980, which hit #62 on the R&B Albums chart; the single "I Just Wanna Dance With You" reached #19 on R&B singles. The band released albums annually through the mid-1980s on Elektra, blending funk grooves with producers like Lionel Job and Keith Diamond.
Their 1985 album Restless peaked at #14 on R&B charts, with "Object of My Desire" crossing over to #25 on the Hot 100 and #8 on R&B. Follow-ups like Sensational (1987) delivered another top-10 R&B hit, "He Wants My Body," while later releases Hot to the Touch (1988) and Have You Got What It Takes? (1990) sustained modest success.
The group disbanded in 1990 but reunited briefly in 2011 for a show in France. Members faced losses: Renée Diggs died in 2005, Ernesto Phillips in 2004, George Phillips Jr. in 2021 from sepsis, and Kayode Adeyemo in 2025. Starpoint scored eight R&B top-10 hits, influencing 1980s funk and R&B.
Wanting You
Written-By – E. Phillips, K. Adeyemo
4:48
A2 Do What You Wanna Do
Written-By – E. Phillips, K. Adeyemo
5:17
A3 Angel
Written-By – E. Phillips
4:33
A4 Last Night
Written-By – E. Phillips, K. Adeyemo
4:52
B1 Try Me
Written-By – E. Phillips, R. Diggs
5:17
B2 Shake It Out
Written-By – E. Phillips, G. Phillips, Gregory Phillips, K. Adeyemo, O. Phillips
5:06
B3 Break Up To Make Up
Written-By – K. Gamble, L. Creed, T. Bell
4:05
B4 Starnite Your Night
Written-By – E. Phillips, K. Adeyemo
4:58
Label: Chocolate City – CCLP 2020
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk, Boogie
Starpoint’s 1981 album Wanting You is a solid blend of funk and R&B, highlighting Renee Diggs' powerful, emotive vocals and the band’s tight instrumentation. Featuring upbeat tracks like "Do What You Wanna Do" and ballads like "Angel," the album showcases a refined, soulful sound that bridges 70s funk with 80s boogie.
Renee Diggs delivers standout, energetic vocals that compare favorably to artists like Melba Moore, providing both power on funk tracks and warmth on ballads.
Produced by Lionel Job, the album features a mix of "stomping" funk and "luscious" R&B, characterized by synthesizer, Mini Moog, and strong basslines.
Key Tracks: "Do What You Wanna Do": An infectious, uptempo dance track; "Angel": A "luscious and dreamy" ballad; "Try Me": A midtempo, summery, and "timeless" track; "Starnite Your Nite": A highly regarded, melodic dancer that closes the album; "Wanting You" (Title Track): A funk-driven track reminiscent of Ohio Players and Cameo.
While sometimes considered a "lightweight" act compared to some contemporaries, this album is regarded as a high-quality, danceable collection of 80s soul/funk.
Overall, Wanting You is considered a strong entry in Starpoint's catalog, demonstrating their musical competence before their mainstream crossover success in the mid-80s.