Sheila Horne (also known professionally as Sheila Brody, Blackwood, and Amuka) is an American singer and songwriter best known for her work as a member of the Brides of Funkenstein, Parliament-Funkadelic, and for her solo career in dance and house music.
Early life and career
Sheila Horne was born in Syracuse, New York.
She began singing as a teenager and moved to Detroit, where she connected with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective in the late 1970s.
The Brides of Funkenstein
In 1978, Horne joined the P-Funk universe as a backing vocalist, initially performing as a “Bridesmaid” for the Brides of Funkenstein, an all-female group formed by George Clinton.
After founding member
Lynn Mabry left the group, Horne became a full member alongside
Dawn Silva and Jeanette McGruder.
She sang co-lead vocals on the Brides’ second album, Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy, which has since been acclaimed as one of the strongest P-Funk spin-off records.
Work with Parliament-Funkadelic and Rick James
Following her time with the Brides, Horne continued recording with George Clinton and the
P-Funk All-Stars. She contributed backing vocals to Parliament’s hit single
Atomic Dog.
In 1981, she joined Rick James’ band as an original member of his Mary Jane Girls touring ensemble.
Songwriting and other collaborations
During the mid-1980s, Horne, credited under her married name
Sheila Washington, co-wrote several songs with George Clinton. She co-wrote Do Fries Go with That Shake? from Clinton’s album R&B Skeletons in the Closet.
She also contributed to the Federation of Tackheads project.
She collaborated with the funk band Aurra alongside her then-husband Steve Washington, recording Satisfaction in the mid-1980s, which was released in 2013.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Horne performed as a session and touring vocalist for various artists, including Cyndi Lauper
Blackwood and international dance career
In the late 1990s, Horne reinvented herself under the alias
Blackwood and found success in the European dance scene.
She fronted the Italian dance-pop project Blackwood and released the album
Friday Night in 1998.
The single "Peace" reached number one on the Italian pop charts.
She also recorded the song "Everything Changes" for the 1999 Pokémon 2.B.A. Master soundtrack, credited as Sheila Brody.
Amuka and Billboard Dance Chart success
In the early 2000s, Horne launched her solo dance career as
Amuka, collaborating with DJ Peter Rauhofer.
She released the single "Appreciate Me" in 2003, which peaked at number eight on the
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart
and appeared on the
soundtrack.
Her follow-up single, "U Ain’t That Good," reached number three on the same chart in 2004.
Later career and recent work
Horne contributed vocals to
Public Enemy’s albums
The Evil Empire of Everything (2012) and
Man Plans God Laughs (2015).
She has also released music under her own name and with the dance collective Discomind.
She has stated she is working on a memoir titled Dancing in Heels which will cover her multi-genre career.
Discography (selected)
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Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy (1979) – Brides of Funkenstein
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R&B Skeletons in the Closet (1986) – George Clinton (co-writer)
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Federation of Tackheads (1985) – contributor
-
Satisfaction (recorded 1984, released 2013) – Aurra
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Friday Night (1998) – as Blackwood
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Pokémon: 2.B.A. Master (1999) – "Everything Changes"
-
The Fresh Turnout (2003) – Discomind
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Multiple dance singles as Amuka: Appreciate Me, U Ain’t That Good, I Want More (Cling On to Me)
External links
