Five Star

Five Star is a British pop and R&B group from Romford, United Kingdom, active from 1983 to the present. The group is also styled as 5 Star. It is made up of siblings Delroy Pearson, Denise Pearson, Doris Pearson, Lorraine Pearson and Stedman Pearson.

Formation and early years

The group begins with the Pearson family in Romford, Essex, where the siblings record early material under the guidance of their father, record owner Buster Pearson. Denise Pearson, then known as Deniece, sings lead and writes songs, while Stedman Pearson designs costumes, Lorraine Pearson acts as spokesperson and writes songs, Doris Pearson works as choreographer, and Delroy Pearson writes and produces. In 1983, the group appears on BBC television performing and dancing to Problematic, which leads to major label interest. They are signed through Tent Records before RCA/BMG takes them on.

1980s success

Five Star releases its debut single Hide and Seek in 1984, followed by Crazy, neither of which charts. The group then breaks through in 1985 with All Fall Down and Let Me Be The One, both top 20 hits. Their debut album Luxury of Life is released in 1985 and spends 70 weeks in the album chart. That year also brings Love Take Over and RSVP.

In 1986 the group has a strong run of hits, beginning with System Addict, which reaches number 3, followed by Can't Wait Another Minute and Find The Time, both top ten singles. Their second album, Silk & Steel, reaches number 1 in the UK album chart and spends 58 weeks there. It is their most successful album and includes seven hit singles in total, including Rain or Shine, If I Say Yes, Stay Out Of My Life and a Shep Pettibone remix of The Slightest Touch. The group is noted for being the youngest act to top the UK album chart.

Their third album, Between The Lines, follows in 1987 and reaches number 7. Singles from it include Whenever You're Ready, Strong As Steel, written by Diane Warren, and Somewhere Somebody. A tour ends with a sell-out week at Wembley Arena. The group also wins best group at the 1987 Brit Awards and at the 1987 Smash Hits awards.

Later releases and line-up activity

Five Star changes image in 1988, moving from sequined suits to black leather and large blonde hair extensions for Denise. That year the group releases Another Weekend, Rock My World and the album Rock The World. In 1989 it releases With Every Heartbeat and a Greatest Hits album.

In 1990 the group signs to Epic Records and releases Treat Me Like A Lady and Hot Love, both written by Delroy and Doris, with Doris on lead vocals. Later in 1990 the group moves to the United States and releases the self-titled album Five Star, with all tracks written by the group. In 1991 it issues the single and album Shine, with Denise back as the main lead singer. Further US albums follow with Heart & Soul in 1995 and Eclipse in 2001.

In 2002 Denise, Lorraine and Stedman return to the UK to tour as part of the Here & Now concerts at Wembley. In 2012 the first four original albums are remastered and reissued on Cherry Pop with bonus tracks.