Chapter 8 (band)
Chapter 8 was a Detroit soul group of the 1970s and 1980s formed by Michael J. Powell and David Washington. Anita Baker was featured as lead vocalist on their first, self-titled album on Ariola in 1979, produced by Michael and Derek. History The group was started in Detroit in the late 1970s. Derek Dirckson became the band leader after James Mitchell asked Derek to play drums with Chapter 8, who were at the time the backup Band for the Detroit Emeralds. In 1979, Dirckson and Michael J. Powell produced the first album expanding the groups roster to include Anita Baker, Gerald Lyles, David Washington, Van Cephus, Courtlen Hale, Scott Guthre, and Allen Nance. In 1985, Valerie Pinkston replaced Baker as the lead vocalist and was featured on "This Love's For Real" As Chapter 8 was the launching pad for Baker, so was it for Michael J. Powell who went on to produce Baker's "Rapture", "Giving You The Best That I Got", and "Compositions" albums. Many of the Chapter 8 group members can be found performing on these 1980s recording masterpieces. Ariola was merged with the Bertelsmann Music Group (the same company that owned Arista Records, the longtime home of Baker's