IMPACT has been together only since 2001, yet the heart and soul of the group began in a high school band room in 1986. Michael Dennis and Brian Davis, best friends since kindergarten, were original members of Lovers Crew. The group - comprised of six freshmen, three sophomores and a junior at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School in Monetta, SC - began with the guys rapping and dancing during breaks in band class. Lovers Crew was immensely popular locally and the group was named a finalist in the 1989 National Discovery Talent Search. However, each year brought graduation. One by one the guys went off to college, into the military or into the workforce. Lovers Crew gave its final performance in the spring of 1990. In 1992, Michael and Brian began a new group called BMC Posse, which included long-time friends Anthony Preston (another charter member of Lovers Crew), Christopher Long and Ricky Jackson. BMC Posse recorded the original version of "Under Pressure" at Master Phase Studio in 1994. Later that same year, Michael and Brian formed Impact. They signed a two-year contract with Melvin Blakely and Ronnie West of West-Blake Productions and recorded "What the World Needs Now" and "Represent" at The House of Deep. As the guys matured, so did their musical tastes. They began to lean toward rhythm and blues and soul. Doo-wop and the Motown sound found their way into hearts. But their rap background lingered, refusing to be set aside. In early 2001, Michael, Brian and Anthony Preston started IMPACT. But with their newfound appetite for other genre, they knew something was missing. Timothy Bryant, with his church-born vibrancy, was just what the group needed. And the fact that Tim was a brother-in-law whose life-long passion for music had given him special insight into its nuts and bolts was an added bonus. Michael's thought-provoking lyrics soon resonated with a unique blend of R&B/Soul/Rap. Brian became the master of dialogue behind Tim's dynamic lead vocals. And Anthony's turntable artistry added kick to the mix. The positive and uplifting messages of IMPACT's music became the group's signature. Their repertoire focused on belief in a higher power, family, friendship, hope and racial harmony. They sang what they knew: life. IMPACT made numerous personal appearances throughout the Southeast over the next two years, performing from Alabama to Tennessee and points in between. The group recorded 10 songs from 2002 to 2003, utilizing the outstanding production talents of Jackie Johnson (AKA Freddy Fred) of Third Eye Entertainment and Melvin Blakely of the House of Deep, both of Aiken, SC. A New York record company offered the group a contract in the summer of 2003. Unfortunately, IMPACT would have had to move to New York for at least six months, leaving their families - and all the responsibilities that go with them - behind. In a heart- and gut-wrenching decision, the guys turned down the contract. Anthony Preston left IMPACT in mid-2003 to pursue other interests. Since his departure, the group has recorded another single in Michael's own studio and is focused on presenting their music with a new voice and image with their now completed first album. |
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Insight into who we are, where we came from and where we're going |
