A Taste Of Honey

A Taste of Honey was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1972. The original lineup included Janice-Marie Johnson on bass and vocals, Carlita Dorhan on guitar and vocals, Perry Kibble on keyboards, and Donald Ray Johnson on drums. The group honed their skills by performing at various clubs across Southern California and entertaining American military personnel on USO and US Navy tours in diverse locations such as Spain, Alaska, Thailand, Morocco, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Okinawa, and Japan. In 1976, Hazel Payne replaced Carlita Dorhan, solidifying the group’s core.

The group’s career trajectory changed significantly when they were discovered by Capitol Records in 1977. This led to their breakthrough in 1978 with the release of “Boogie Oogie Oogie.” This disco track achieved immense commercial success, spending three consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard pop charts and selling over two million copies. The song earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on February 15, 1979. Their follow-up single, “Do It Good,” reached number 13 on the R&B radio charts. By 1980, A Taste of Honey operated as a duo consisting of Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne. They achieved another major success in 1981 with their cover of the Japanese ballad “Sukiyaki,” which hit number one on the R&B radio charts and climbed to number three on the Billboard pop charts. The group disbanded in the early 1980s, marking the end of their active performing and recording career as a unified entity.

After the group’s dissolution, Janice-Marie Johnson pursued a solo career, releasing two albums and continuing the legacy of A Taste of Honey under the moniker A Taste of Honey featuring Janice-Marie. Hazel Payne embarked on a career as an international stage actress. Perry Kibble, a co-founder, passed away in 1999 at the age of 49 due to heart failure. Donald Ray Johnson continued his musical journey, recording several blues albums and establishing himself as a blues singer and drummer in Western Canada. In 2004, Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne reunited for performances on the PBS television specials “Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion” (2004) and “My Music: Funky Soul Superstars” (2005), demonstrating their enduring appeal.