Years active 1976–1983 | Active until 1983 | |
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Labels MCA Records
Warner Bros. Records Past members Rochelle Runnells
Debra Anderson
Janice Williams Origin United States of America (1976) Albums The Changing Of The Gard, What You Waitin' For, Back 2 Back, Stargard Members Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, Janice Williams Genres Funk, Disco, Rhythm and blues, Soul music Similar Dianne Steinberg, Stacy Lattisaw, Paul Nicholas, Sandy Farina, Gino Soccio | ||
Stargard (in the Pomeranian/Kashubian language the term means Old Town, Old City or Old Fortified Settlement; the name can be also phonetically read as star guard) was an American three-piece female funk band, consisting of original members Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams. Stargard was best known for their 1977 Norman Whitfield-penned hit song "Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" which served as a theme for the movie of the same name starring Richard Pryor. The single, which also anchored the band's 1978 self-titled debut album for MCA Records, charted at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart. The Whitfield-penned title track of their follow up album What You Waitin' For was also a Top 10 R&B hit. The group's last hit came after switching to the Warner Bros. Records label and releasing The Changing Of The Gard, and its standout single "Wear It Out", co-produced by Verdine White of Earth, Wind, & Fire.
Anderson left the group shortly after The Changing of the Gard album. The remaining members stayed together to release two more albums; Back 2 Back (Warner Bros., 1980) and Nine Lives (MCA, 1982).
Outside of their recorded output, Stargard appeared as 'the Diamonds' in the 1978 film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Songs
Theme From "Which Way Is Up"Stargard · 1978
Wear it OutThe Changing Of The Gard · 1979
High On The BoogieBack 2 Back · 2009