CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Joe Little III, a founding member of Cleveland R&B group The Rude Boys, released a new single called “All of Me” on Friday, Aug. 27.
The song, in short, is about love -- a perfect kind of love.
“It came at a time when I felt a lot of love coming my way,” Little said. “I felt this is something women need to hear a man singing about, how much he loves his woman, how much he wants her to be a part of the rest of his life. That he’ll do whatever it takes, that he’s about whatever it is for them to be together.”
The song was released on Little’s label, Brother 2 Brother International, featuring Little’s soulful vocals over a beat made by Mike Bell Jr. The track was mixed and mastered by Daytonez Productions’ P. Jones. Along with the song’s release came a music video shot by Ryan Zellars, directed by Zellars and Marc A. Jenkins, the president of Brother 2 Brother.
Little’s label connected with Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), one of Warner Music Group’s companies, with help from Randy Chase, the vice president at Tragic Hero Music Group. Shay Davis coordinated public relations for the release.
“All of Me” is just one of the dozens of songs that Little said he penned during the pandemic, while mostly taking a break from live performance. Little said the only shows he performed up until recent weeks have been limited -- mostly weddings and funerals.
“The beat went on, but nothing major,” Little said. “I was just sitting at home and taking care of my parents.”
“All of Me” builds on a couple other single releases that Little put out in 2019 and 2020.
Little teamed up with Edward “Buddy” Banks, Larry Marcus and Melvin Sephus to form The Rude Boys, which rose to prominence following its 1990 smash hit, “Written All Over Your Face.” The group was mentored by late Cleveland R&B star Gerald Levert.
The name “The Rude Boys” was inspired by the cover of Prince’s 1981 album “Controversy,” featuring Prince’s “Rude Boy” button on his purple jacket. Banks picked the name and decided on the group’s move toward R&B, Little said. At the time of The Rude Boys’ founding, Little was still a teenager.
“I was younger and I was really fascinated by working with Buddy because he was an amazing vocalist,” Little said. “He was leading the way.”
The Rude Boys performed regionally, and first met Levert when Little was performing at a Shaker Heights club called The Reason Why. While singing with vocalist Evelyn Wright, Little said he noticed Levert in the room and invited him to perform onstage with them. After the song, Levert invited Little and The Rude Boys to meet the next day at his home.
“Buddy and I went to his house in Shaker… a big mansion. When we got there, surprisingly his father, Eddie Levert from the O’Jays, was there. He was re-auditioning us and he wanted his father to hear,” Little said. “The rest is history.”
Levert helped The Rude Boys create “Written All Over Your Face,” a hallmark and standout moment for the band in the ‘90s. The song, featuring Levert’s vocals, won a Billboard Music Award for the No. 1 R&B Single of the Year in 1991.
The single appeared on The Rude Boys’ 1990 album “Rude Awakening,” which was followed up with 1992′s “Rude House” and 1997′s “Rude As Ever.”
Little stepped away from the band after “Rude House” to pursue a solo career, releasing the 1994 album, “Puttin’ It Down,” under the name J. Little. He also contributed to “U Will Know” by Black Men United, a group that included Levert, D’Angelo, Boyz II Men, Keith Sweat, Lenny Kravitz, Usher and more.
Little’s music career then shifted to production. He teamed up with some of the biggest names in the business, working with Snoop Dogg, Charlie Wilson, Dru Hill, Ginuwine, Usher, Angie Stone and more, he said. He won a Grammy for his work writing two songs with Levert on The Temptations’ 2000 album “Ear-Resistible.”
One highlight, Little said, was recording a duet with Aretha Franklin, which remains unreleased.
“I hope someday it’ll be released,” Little said. “She selected me out of many to come and do a duet with her called ‘Only You’... I was grateful and thankful to work with the queen, even though the song has never come out.”
After Levert died in 2006, Little joined another of his musical influences, Stevie Wonder, onstage at a memorial concert for the singer, he said. Around the same time, the Rude Boys came back together. In 2012, Little formed a new lineup for Rude Boys performances.
Little hasn’t limited himself to music. He’s also writing an autobiography titled “The Day of the Convincing Storyteller.” Since 2009, he’s run Cleveland’s Urbean Joe Coffee shop. The business’ e-commerce took off over the past year, which helped keep Little going through the pandemic, he said.
This past year, Little won an Ohio R&B Legends award.
“My thing is that legends are usually people who are being still. Me, I’m not being still,” Little said. “I’m going to perform until the wheels fall off. I’m going to write and sing my heart out. That’s my gift from God.”
Though original Rude Boys members Larry Marcus died in 2016 and Banks passed away in late 2020, The Rude Boys continue to tour with its new lineup: Little, Keni Myles and G. LaBeaud. Little plans on releasing more music with The Rude Boys in 2021, and he’s also seeking out more collaborations with rappers and singers in the industry.
He’s been hitting the stage, too, performing mostly out-of-town gigs both solo and with the Rude Boys. An upcoming R&B group residency will bring Little to Las Vegas for a few months this year, and the Rude Boys will perform at Nashville Soul Music Festival in October.
Still, Little always looks back to his work with Levert and his roots in Cleveland, crediting his hometown’s music scene for many of his biggest career moments.
“There are a lot of good acts here. I really want a lot of people from Cleveland to shine,” Little said. “We’re trying to get Cleveland back noticed with R&B. That’s my focus: putting out great R&B music, keeping my city on the map.”
You can follow Little on Facebook at facebook.com/joeybeanzlittle.
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The Link LonkAugust 27, 2021 at 11:07PM
https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/08/the-rude-boys-founder-joe-little-releases-new-single-all-of-me.html
The Rude Boys lead singer Joe Little III releases new single ‘All of Me’ - cleveland.com
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