The group was formed in 1976 at
Kentucky State University by trumpeter Reggie Calloway, vocalist Belinda Lipscomb,
[1] guitarist/drummer/vocalist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, multi-instrumentalist Bill Simmons, keyboard player/vocalist Bo Watson and guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Cooper, as a self-contained group. They later added non-KSU student trombonist Vincent Calloway (Reginald's younger brother). A 1978 New York City showcase inspired
SOLAR Records chief
Dick Griffey to sign the group. They released their debut album
The Beginning (1980) with some guest
studio musicians. In 1981 their second album, released on Solar Records,
Standing Together, reached position #54 on the
U.S. R&B chart.
[2] In 1982 they released a third album,
Victory. Using elected band leader Reggie Calloway's production skills, Midnight Star hit the U.S.
R&B chart with early
singles "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You".
[2] Drummer Bobby Lovelace joined the group in late 1982, freeing Gentry to sing and play guitar exclusively.
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