Often neglected next to the adventures of Afrika Bambaataa or Grandmaster Flash, Force M.D.’s (from Staten Island, New York City) were nevertheless a vital component in the early 80s in rap’s development. They were originally titled the LDs, working as a street-corner act in the manner of the Jackson Five, with Antoine ‘TCD’ Lundy, Stevie D, Trisco Pearson and Charles ‘Mercury’ Nelson holding the reigns. Alongside Planet Patrol, they were the first to instigate doo-wop hip-hop, before changing tack to largely soul-based harmonies, which were an early influence on the swingbeat outfits of the late 80s and early 90s. They employed formation steps alongside breakdance routines as visual inducement, adding impersonations of television theme tunes and popular stars of the day, often performing on the Staten Island ferry. They became Dr. Rock And The MCs when they were joined by a DJ of that title, introducing scratching into their nascent act (in his absence a DJ Shock would deputise). When they signed to Tommy Boy Records in 1984 they were billed simply as the Force M.D.’s (the M.D. component of the name is short for Musical Diversity). They enjoyed several R&B hits during the latter part of the decade, including the chart-topping ‘Love Is A House’. Their pop career peaked with 1986’s ‘Tender Love’, a US Top 10 ballad written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Nelson and Pearson were replaced by Rodney ‘Khalil’ Lundy and Shaun Waters in 1990, but the premature death of Antoine Lundy was a sad loss.
