Will to Power

Will to Power officially formed in Miami, Florida, in 1987. The group was founded by producer Bob Rosenberg. His mother, Gloria Mann, was a pop singer who achieved two Top 40 hits in the mid-1950s. Rosenberg began his music career as a DJ, remixing and editing songs for local radio in Miami by 1985 at station WHQT (Hot 105). In the same year, he produced a rap record titled “Miami Vice,” which led to a copyright claim from MCA Records. He also contributed to 2 Live Crew’s 1986 debut album, “The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are,” by remixing and editing the song “Beat Box.” Rosenberg named the group Will to Power, referencing the philosophical concept by Friedrich Nietzsche.

In 1986, Rosenberg composed “Dreamin'” as a tribute to his late sister, Robin. This track was initially released on Thrust Records and gained regional popularity before Epic Records secured distribution rights. The song reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1987 and No. 15 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Epic Records subsequently requested a full album from Rosenberg. In June 1988, Will to Power released “Say It’s Gonna Rain,” which peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at the top of the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The self-titled debut album was released in March 1988.

The album featured the single “Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby),” a combination of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” Despite initial reluctance from Epic Records to release the medley as a single, Rosenberg distributed it to Miami radio stations, including WPOW (Power 96), where it gained traction. This song subsequently spent a week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988 and reached No. 2 on the adult contemporary chart. It also charted at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The album peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard 200 that same month. A fourth single, “Fading Away,” topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for two weeks in early 1989. The group’s second album, “Journey Home,” was released in late 1990, featuring Elin Michaels as the primary female vocalist. The album included a cover of 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love,” which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the adult contemporary chart in early 1991, as well as No. 29 on the UK singles chart. The album peaked at No. 178 on the Billboard 200. Will to Power released “Spirit Warrior” in 2004 and an EP “Spirit Warrior: The Remixes” in 2006.