Klymaxx (E6S3)

Klymaxx speak with Carl about the joys of being the first black female band with major pop success. Klymaxx is an American all-female pop/R&B band from Los Angeles, California. The band was composed of members Bernadette Cooper, Lorena Porter Shelby, Cheryl Cooley, Robbin Grider, Lynn Malsby and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby. Klymaxx was created and formed in 1979 by Bernadette Cooper (producer/drummer/vocals), the other original members included Lorena Porter Shelby (lead vocals), Cheryl Cooley (guitar), Robbin Grider (keyboards) and Lynn Malsby (keyboards). Joyce "Fenderella" Irby (bass/vocals/producer) joined the band later, before the recording of their debut album. The women involved developed their core sound in rehearsal, with Cooper providing "funky diva" vocals on faster songs, and Irby adding a "pop sensibility". Their debut album Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman was released in 1981, and their second album was Girls Will Be Girls. However their first album to achieve national recognition was the 1984 released Meeting in the Ladies Room, which the band self-composed and self-produced.