Hi-Five | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Waco, Texas, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989–1994 2005–2007 2012–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Marcus Sanders Shannon Gill Treston Irby Billy Covington Faruq Evans |
| Past members | Tony Thompson (deceased) Russell Neal Roderick Clark (deceased) Toriano Easley Terrence Murphy Ricky Smith Andre Ramseur (aka Dre Wonda) |
Hi-Five is an American R&B quintet from Waco, Texas. Hi-Five had a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1991 with "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)".
The band was formed in 1989 and originally consisted of a trio; with childhood friends Tony Thompson, Russell Neal, and Oklahoma native, Toriano Easley. Jive Records, later suggested that the trio's other childhood friends, Roderick "Pooh" Clark, and Marcus Sanders, be added to the group, with them being signed as an official ensemble, making the five of them together, the founding original members of Hi-Five.[1]
During the release of their debut album, Toriano Easley was charged with a crime, which involved a dispute with his neighborhood friends, which made him unable to continue with the group. The label recruited New York native Treston Irby, as a replacement member. After the release of their second album, Russell Neal left the group after financial conflicts with the record label. Unfortunately congruently, while the group was on tour carrying on as four members, Roderick "Pooh" Clark was injured in a vehicle collision, making him paralyzed from the chest down, which his injuries made him depart from the group.[2] The label added Shannon Gill, and Terrence Murphy as replacement members.
When the group decided to accept Giant records offer, and change labels, while their Jive contract was still pending, Giant records, instead decided to focus their attention on lead singer Tony Thompson, neglecting the projects related to the group. Because of this discrepancy, the group disbanded. Tony Thompson was later signed to Bad Boy Records. In 2005, without consulting the initial members of Hi-Five, Tony Thompson put together several new vocalists to form a new incarnation of the band, under the Hi-Five name. This later resulted in a legal battle, between Thompson and former Hi-Five members, which put the band on even more haphazard terms. In 2007, lead singer Tony Thompson, died in drug related circumstances. In 2012, as a result of Thompson's passing, the remaining members of Hi-Five in Thompson's honor, decided to reunite. In 2022, Roderick "Pooh" Clark died.