In 1980, Shakatak, a British jazz-funk group, was formed in London. The group was originally composed of keyboardists Bill Sharpe, Nigel Wright, guitarist Keith Winter and drummer Roger Odell. It quickly became an underground success with “Steppin’.” They also cracked the British Top 50 with singles “Livin’ In the UK” (and “Brazilian Dawn”) the next year. Their debut album, Drivin’ hard, was also well received. With the 1982 sequel Nightbirds, Shakatak, which replaced Underwood with guitarist Keith Winter, scored its first Top 20 hit with “Steppin’.” The disc’s title track also made it into the Top Ten. Nightbirds introduced Jill Saward as Shakatak’s singer. The band’s fifth album, 1984’s Down on the Street, had the hit song “Watching You”. 1985’s Live followed the release of Day by Day. A series of instrumental albums, including Into the Blue and Golden Wings, Da Makani and Niteflite, were issued only in Japan where Shakatak enjoyed huge popularity. Meanwhile, Manic and Cool, which was released internationally in 1988, featured the singles “Mr. Manic and Sister Cool”, and “Something Special”. The 1992 album Open Your Eyes was a top-selling Contemporary Jazz hit. In 1993, the band supported Street Level in South Africa. Full Circle followed suit with hip-hop beats. Shakatak, which was then composed of Sharpe and Odell and Saward, resurfaced in 1997 with Let the Piano Play. Then, in 1999, Let the Music Play and Magic followed by Under Your Spell in 2002.
