Two Tons of Fun/Weather Girls Question(s)

[Cdnbob]

One of my all time favourite disco duo's is Martha Wash and Izora Armstead better known as the Two Tons of Fun and/or the Weather Girls. I don't know if its been asked before on the forum, but I've always wondered what was the reasoning behind their name change when they switched from Fantasy Records to Columbia Records? Also what led to them eventually breaking up? I always felt the two of them had two of the most powerful and iconic voices in music. Their output with Fantasy was superb and sadly they seemed to be burdened with third rate material when they were with Columbia.

[Cdnbob]

Just thought I'd bump this up to see if anyone had any info?

[Dansez!]

Just thought I'd bump this up to see if anyone had any info?

I tried answering this last month but for some reason, the post didn't post!

"It's Raining Men" was a studio project that Paul Jabara put together with The Weather Girls as just a name for the project. When the song took off as it did, they needed Martha and Izora to become The Weather Girls, since they sang the lead vocals. On the original 12", I remember it saying on the sleeve, "The Weather Girls are Martha Wash, Izora Armstead, Zenobia, Stephanie Spruill, Maxine and Julia Waters..." (and maybe a few others that I can't recall right now). The project was released by Columbia Records and since it was such a huge hit, they needed more by The Weather Girls.

Hope that helps!

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

One of my all time favourite disco duo's is Martha Wash and Izora Armstead better known as the Two Tons of Fun and/or the Weather Girls. Also what led to them eventually breaking up? I always felt the two of them had two of the most powerful and iconic voices in music. Their output with Fantasy was superb and sadly they seemed to be burdened with third rate material when they were with Columbia.

With the name-change issue addressed, I'll tackle the break-up, etc...

Actually, they had more success at Columbia, than at Fantasy. Recorded 2 LPs at Fantasy and 3 at Columbia. "Santa, Bring Me A Man" (a holiday track that I believe was promo only, and started with a take-off on the "Raining Men" intro.), "No One Can Love You More Than Me", "Wash That Ma Right Outta My Hair" and even "Well-A-Wiggy", all racked-up some some chart-time. There was, also a beautiful ballad release that I can't recall the name of and a track they did with Cult Jam (as in Lisa-Lisa and...)

I worked with them both, together and separately, almost once a year, from 1980 thru the mid-90's. They were both talented, personable, sweet and funny-as-hell!:icon_lol:

The club I worked at, in NJ was where they premiered "It's Raining Men". But we had them billed as 'Two Tons 'O Fun'. I'd read in the Daily News that Paul Jabara had finished a project with them and I asked them about it, in the dressing room. Very convincingly, they looked at me and said "What project?" "Who's Paul Jabara?" "No, we don't have a new record."
Then I left the booth, when their sound-man came in to do the show. So I didn't see the reels or the show line-up.

At the end of the show, they announced they were going to perform their new song, that they made with the writer of "Last Dance". They pointed at me, in the front of the crowd, laughed and shouted "We got you, Jungle DJ!" (That was my "tag", back then. And yes, Kikrokos was my "theme".) And dedicated it to me. It was a major thrill. Then my b/f and I drove them back to Manhattan when the club closed and laughed our asses off the whole way.

By the mid-late 80's Izora just wasn't as driven as Martha, especially on the road. When we had them at The Seagull Resort, on Miami Beach, we had to drag Izora out of the Keno game (like Bingo) at a church on North Miami Beach, to get her to the show on time. (Martha had been there for an hour, already.) Not that she was unreliable at all! Izora just got tired of the touring grind, after 10 years. And she LOVED to play Keno.

She preferred Germany and moved there. Where she performed, and eventually recorded, with her daughter, Dynell Rhodes, as 'The Weather Girls'. It was a very big deal when she and Martha appeared together again. But it only happened once, that I recall. Izora died on Sept. 16, 2004 from heart failure.

There was never any animosity. They just moved-on, in different directions. Izora in Germany and Martha doing a lot of b/v session work. That's how the Black Box, and C&C Music Factory stuff happened.

[discokicks]

I worked with them both, together and separately, almost once a year, from 1980 thru the mid-90's. They were both talented, personable, sweet and funny-as-hell!:icon_lol:

The club I worked at, in NJ was where they premiered "It's Raining Men". But we had them billed as 'Two Tons 'O Fun'. I'd read in the Daily News that Paul Jabara had finished a project with them and I asked them about it, in the dressing room. Very convincingly, they looked at me and said "What project?" "Who's Paul Jabara?" "No, we don't have a new record."
Then I left the booth, when their sound-man came in to do the show. So I didn't see the reels or the show line-up.

At the end of the show, they announced they were going to perform their new song, that they made with the writer of "Last Dance". They pointed at me, in the front of the crowd, laughed and shouted "We got you, Jungle DJ!" (That was my "tag", back then. And yes, Kikrokos was my "theme".) And dedicated it to me. It was a major thrill. Then my b/f and I drove them back to Manhattan when the club closed and laughed our asses off the whole way.

Ohhhh Mr. Freeman....the stories you must have! Can't wait to hear more memories like this!!!

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Ohhhh Mr. Freeman....the stories you must have! Can't wait to hear more memories like this!!!

I'm more than flattered. It has been great ride, these past 30+ years. And it's still goin' on. I'm producing one of my own songs for Ernest Kohl's next LP. And "studio-time" can always be so... er... um... uh... Let's say "interesting".

[Dayna]

With the name-change issue addressed, I'll tackle the break-up, etc...

Actually, they had more success at Columbia, than at Fantasy. Recorded 2 LPs at Fantasy and 3 at Columbia. "Santa, Bring Me A Man" (a holiday track that I believe was promo only, and started with a take-off on the "Raining Men" intro.), "No One Can Love You More Than Me", "Wash That Ma Right Outta My Hair" and even "Well-A-Wiggy", all racked-up some some chart-time. There was, also a beautiful ballad release that I can't recall the name of and a track they did with Cult Jam (as in Lisa-Lisa and...)

I worked with them both, together and separately, almost once a year, from 1980 thru the mid-90's. They were both talented, personable, sweet and funny-as-hell!:icon_lol:

The club I worked at, in NJ was where they premiered "It's Raining Men". But we had them billed as 'Two Tons 'O Fun'. I'd read in the Daily News that Paul Jabara had finished a project with them and I asked them about it, in the dressing room. Very convincingly, they looked at me and said "What project?" "Who's Paul Jabara?" "No, we don't have a new record."
Then I left the booth, when their sound-man came in to do the show. So I didn't see the reels or the show line-up.

At the end of the show, they announced they were going to perform their new song, that they made with the writer of "Last Dance". They pointed at me, in the front of the crowd, laughed and shouted "We got you, Jungle DJ!" (That was my "tag", back then. And yes, Kikrokos was my "theme".) And dedicated it to me. It was a major thrill. Then my b/f and I drove them back to Manhattan when the club closed and laughed our asses off the whole way.

By the mid-late 80's Izora just wasn't as driven as Martha, especially on the road. When we had them at The Seagull Resort, on Miami Beach, we had to drag Izora out of the Keno game (like Bingo) at a church on North Miami Beach, to get her to the show on time. (Martha had been there for an hour, already.) Not that she was unreliable at all! Izora just got tired of the touring grind, after 10 years. And she LOVED to play Keno.

She preferred Germany and moved there. Where she performed, and eventually recorded, with her daughter, Dynell Rhodes, as 'The Weather Girls'. It was a very big deal when she and Martha appeared together again. But it only happened once, that I recall. Izora died on Sept. 16, 2004 from heart failure.

There was never any animosity. They just moved-on, in different directions. Izora in Germany and Martha doing a lot of b/v session work. That's how the Black Box, and C&C Music Factory stuff happened.

Gotta love it~!! Memories are so wonderful..
and that shared memory was FUN~!!
Thank you..
Dont expect the F.F.'s to respond...ROTF ..

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Gotta love it~!! Memories are so wonderful..
and that shared memory was FUN~!!
Thank you..
Dont expect the F.F.'s to respond...ROTF ..

XOXO Thank for the laugh, first thing in the morning. You're a peach!
And trust me... I wasn't holdin' my breath.:icon_lol:

[discokicks]

I'm more than flattered. It has been great ride, these past 30+ years. And it's still goin' on. I'm producing one of my own songs for Ernest Kohl's next LP. And "studio-time" can always be so... er... um... uh... Let's say "interesting".

I just read about the upcoming album...quite an array of talent surrounding it so I'll be looking forward to the final product. My favourite Kohl songs are Follow Your Heart and To Save The Love. Best wishes to all involved!

Interesting to be able to tie the Weather Girls topic into the fact that you did the re-edit of Westend's take on It's Raining Men on NRG For The 90s! It was fun to work this cut into my sets in the mid-90s.

And, though it's 18 years after the fact, it's great that I can personally thank you for your lovely Hot Tracks edit of Donna Summer's Love's About To Change My Heart....what a godsend for those of us who loved the album cut but hated those obnoxious housey remixes of it that totally destroyed the beauty of the song. I remember the first time I heard it played at the Barn in Toronto and being overwhelmed by the crowd's enormous appreciation.

[Cdnbob]

Stephen, thanks for the info on Izora and Martha. I always loved the two of them and their work for Fantasy is my favourite of their output. I always loved their voices and thought they could sing rings around anyone else. Sad to hear Izora is no longer with us, tho'.