| Author | Message | ||
  caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2 |
Izora Rhodes passed yesterday here in the Bay Area. Izora Rhodes and Martha Wash met in the San Francisco-based gospel group, NOW (News Of The World) prior to joining the backing group of rising disco star Sylvester. Dubbed Two Tons Of Fun in deference to their rotund stature, the duo recorded for the Fantasy Records label before securing a measure of infamy for their tongue-in-cheek release, It's Raining Men. First released in the USA in 1982, the single achieved a greater success in the UK where it later peaked at number 2 in 1984 after re-entering the chart. Subsequent releases however lacked the undeniable charm of their major hit, but admirably showcased the Weather Girls' powerful voices. | ||
Gary (gary) 5-Doyen Username: gary Post Number: 172 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.73.238.5 |
Oh no...this is terrible news. Izora was one of my all time favorites; I love her voice. I'm going to miss her as if I knew her personally. | ||
SDF (handsome) 6-Zenith Username: handsome Post Number: 522 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14 |
Oh No! thanks caliluv! One of my favorite groups...favorites songs: Just Us Taking Away Your Space Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven Gone Away Dance (Disco Heat) w/Sylvester You Are My Friend w/Sylvester R.I.P. Izora...thanks for your musical contributions! Handsome | ||
Gary (gary) 5-Doyen Username: gary Post Number: 173 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.73.238.3 |
Handsome...You got that right, Martha and Izora totally blew out "You Are My Friend" with Sylvester on the live album. | ||
glencro (glencro) 3-Pundit Username: glencro Post Number: 52 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 146.9.113.15 |
"Taking My Space" (Martha's solo) was definately the cut and "Earth Can Be Like Heaven" is like a church revival..she will be truly missed. That "Living Proof" album is my favorite of all time. | ||
caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2 |
A few of my favorites featuring Izora are: "You Are My Friend w/ Sylvester"; "Just Us" "Was It Something I Said" "Cloudy With A Chance Of Rain" "I've Been Down" and Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" Her services will be Friday 9/24/04 @ 11:00 am at St.Mark Institutional Baptist Church, 835 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA. So please keep the family in your prayers. | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 2392 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
This is very sad news! As was mentioned here, she & Martha totally tore up You Are My Friend. Kudos to the late Sylvester for allowing these ladies to shine. Their Two Tons Of Fun LP was quality & showed them to be more than mere "Disco Divas". It's so sad, as I just saw her partner Martha Wash at the PBS Disco Special taping & she was in spectacular voice, singing their hit, It's Raining Men! Yet, one more reason to look forward to the calendar turning to 2005. This has been about the worst year ever, as regards losing our Soulful icons. Izora, R.I.P. | ||
SDF (handsome) 6-Zenith Username: handsome Post Number: 523 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14 |
Thanks Gary! What's up glenco & juice! I forgot a song, and incidentally Izora sang lead on it... I Got the Feeling Handsome | ||
SDF (handsome) 6-Zenith Username: handsome Post Number: 524 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14 |
Thanks Gary! What's up glenco & Juice! I forgot a song, and incidentally Izora sang lead on it... I Got the Feeling Handsome | ||
bigdaddyg2k4 (bigdaddyg2k4) 4-Laureate Username: bigdaddyg2k4 Post Number: 84 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.102.169.53 |
What a sudden and terrible loss for us fans of Two Tons O'Fun/The Weather Girls and the music world as well. An even greater loss for Martha Wash because they were like sisters and the best of friends when they were performing as a duo. Two powerful voices that cannot be ignored or denied. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Izora Rhodes. fave trax: Disco Heat It's Raining Men (heavily rotated on Music Choice Classic Disco channel) Just Us | ||
Spyder Turner (spyder_turner) 4-Laureate Username: spyder_turner Post Number: 130 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 68.42.246.252 |
REALLY SORRY TO HEAR THIS | ||
Brother Love (brother_love) 4-Laureate Username: brother_love Post Number: 121 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.120.57.57 |
  Dear Izora, thanks for all the great years of music. You will live on in all of our hearts. Please give our love to Sylvester, RIP. | ||
Brother Love (brother_love) 4-Laureate Username: brother_love Post Number: 122 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.120.57.57 |
  "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" | ||
Brother Love (brother_love) 4-Laureate Username: brother_love Post Number: 123 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.120.57.57 |
 "Gone Away" | ||
Vonnie (vonnie) 5-Doyen Username: vonnie Post Number: 293 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Wow, this is truly sad news! R.I.P. Izora. | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 2397 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Back at'cha Handsome!! | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke Post Number: 627 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.138 |
I understand she and her daughter were touring as The Weather Girls. What did she die of? Was she in her 50s? | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 4-Laureate Username: shawn1b Post Number: 168 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.30.13.211 |
Does anybody know what happened ?I was hoping maybe she and Martha would come back together.Shawn | ||
Brother Love (brother_love) 4-Laureate Username: brother_love Post Number: 124 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 67.113.219.48 |
Izora's service we be held this Thrusday October 23th at 10:30 AM, St. John's Church on Third Street (Bayview District). If you woul like to sent any condolences to the family you may do so at: Izora Rhodes & Family P.O. Box 5936 Oakland, CA 94605-0936 | ||
caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv Post Number: 28 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2 |
Thanks BrotherLove. Just got the updated info. | ||
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don Post Number: 909 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.78.27.224 |
I been so busy since last week I kept passing this thread by. And I read everyone's comments too. I knew of Izora Rhodes with her partner Martha Wash thru the records they made as Two Tons Of Fun, and later recorded as The Weather Girls. I'm filmiliar with the song Izora & Martha done as Two Tons Of Fun was "I'm Not Trying To Take Away Your Space" in 1980. My Condolences. | ||
Gil (gil) 4-Laureate Username: gil Post Number: 137 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 68.223.16.3 |
From the Hollywood Reporter: Weather Girls vocalist Izora Armstead dies Vocalist Izora Armstead, who enjoyed crossover dance hits in the 1970s and '80s as a member of Two Tons O' Fun and the Weather Girls, died of heart failure Thursday in San Leandro, Calif. Her age is not known. With future stage partner Martha Wash, Armstead began her career backing the late disco star Sylvester. Armstead and Wash left in 1979 to form Two Tons O' Fun, and cut several dance hits for Honey/Fantasy. But the duo recorded their most enduring song, the No. 1 1982 disco hit "It's Raining Men," as the Weather Girls on Columbia. Armstead relocated to Germany in the late '80s and founded a new version of the Weather Girls with her daughter. She returned to the San Francisco Bay area recently after developing heart trouble. (Chris Morris) Was Armstead a married name? | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 6-Zenith Username: ladymystique Post Number: 689 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 216.37.254.198 |
Wow that's terrible...RIP. | ||
Brother Love (brother_love) 4-Laureate Username: brother_love Post Number: 125 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.169.118.144 |
 "Don't Let Love Slip Away" (IN'D Records 601 from 1991) | ||
roger (roger) 5-Doyen Username: roger Post Number: 174 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17 |
Hello Everyone. One of the best ever live performances I've ever been to was back in 1979 when I saw SYLVESTER performing at "Baileys" in Leicester. This was in the wake of his U.K. top 10 smash hit "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real". I was already a fan of THE TWO TONS OF FUN by then, and had bought their Fantasy L.P. that featured "Just Us", I still have this L.P. to this day. SYLVESTER was backed on the tour by THE TWO TONS OF FUN and all three put on a tremendous performance. I can still see in my mind the sight of Izora, Martha and Sylvester bumping and rubbing against each other whilst dancing!! Maybe they should have billed themselves as "The Three Tons of Fun". Thanks for the music Izora, and condolances to your family and friends. Roger | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 6-Zenith Username: ladymystique Post Number: 702 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 216.37.254.198 |
So...Sylvester put them on? He had a great ear for talent!  | ||
caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv Post Number: 29 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2 |
It was a beautiful homegoing service for Izora yesterday. Martha Wash and Jeannie Tracy were both in attendance. R.I.P. Izora | ||
everettinct (everett860) 3-Pundit Username: everett860 Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.213.209.31 |
I'm listening to Sylvester - Living Proof right now..this has got to be one of the BEST live albums ever. Sylvester, Martha & Izora tear it up!!!  | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 5-Doyen Username: shawn1b Post Number: 180 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.30.13.211 |
Is Sylvester's live album on cd if anyone knows please let me know?Shawn ps I found Two Ton's of Fun's first album on cd but can't find it again does anybody have a clue ? | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 2572 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Everettinct, You are correct there. Near the end of '79, two great "Live" LPs were released, Millie Jacksons' "Live & Uncensored" & Sylvesters' "Livin Proof"!! Those were two of the best LPs of that year. The girls absolutely destroyed you are my friend! Two powerhouse voices & if not for the industries perchant for categorizing & compartmentalizing artists, these ladies would have been great if they were produced & marketed as something other than "Dance" artists. I would have loved to see some daring record label give these two ladies an opportunity to sing something other that dance songs. It's also a shame that the advent of video vixens & its emphasis on skin & bone model types, relegated these ladies as artists to be Heard & not SEEN(i.e. the C&C Music Factory debacle & their ill treatment of Ms Wash). These ladies deserved better than they got. Izoras' spirit will live on through the powerhouse voice of Ms Martha Wash, whose voice is as strong & vibrant today, as it was back in 1978! | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 6-Zenith Username: ladymystique Post Number: 723 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 216.37.254.198 |
Shawn1...check amazon.com for the Sylvester Live CD, which IMO is great! Maybe check the same website for the Two Ton's of Fun debut album...I did see it on there a while ago. BTW, NYU I think is having a concert/tribute to Sylvester in October...go to http://www.nyu.edu for details. |
