Formed in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, the band originally consisted of singer Molly Johnson and guitarist Norman Orenstein. Drummer Steven Gelineau and bassist Etric Lyons were added in 1982 and 1983 respectively.
The band eventually signed to CBS Records and released their debut album in 1987. Although the album spawned the hit single "Julian", the band were widely considered "too black" to succeed on Canadian radio, and the album's sales suffered from lack of airplay. The band were quickly dropped from their label.
The band then broke up, and Johnson returned to jazz with a band who later became known in their own right as Big Sugar.
Johnson and Orenstein reunited in 1990 as Infidels, who had a similar sound to Alta Moda's but were somewhat more successful on the charts.
AltaModa was created by chanteuse Molly Johnson and guitarist Norman Orenstein (Michael Jordana, Toby Lark) in 1979 after Orenstein saw Johnson performing in a Toronto club.
AltaModa would sign with Gerry Young's Current Management (Parachute Club, M + M).
When Johnson decided to break away from her career as a jazz/lounge singer (with Aaron Davis of Manteca and David Pilch of the Holly Cole Trio) she was more than delighted to sign a seven album record deal with CBS records to get her "out of jazz hell" (as she put it).
Feeds |
Contact