KLYMAXX BIOGRAPHY
The following is my personal summary of information on the band, as done on my original Klymaxx website. The information features both personal research and information from former members of the group. The info includes current updates since the original site. Enjoy!

Klymaxx was formed in 1979 in Los Angeles by drummer Bernadette Cooper. Looking to create a self-contained, all female funk and soul band Bernadette formed the group with the initial line-up of guitarists Cheryl Cooley and Ann Williams, keyboardist Lynn Malsby, bassist Denise Walk, Cheryl McLennen on congas, and lead vocalist Lorena Porter Hardimon.

The band was discovered, guided, and groomed by a lady named Margret “Cissi” Nash, whom Klymaxx referred to as “the guiding force behind The Girls” in the liner notes for their debut album. The female funk band landed a record deal with SOLAR Records — home of such groups as Dynasty, The Whispers, Midnight Star, and Lakeside, the latter of which was helpful to Klymaxx in making them feel at home on the label. However, prior to the release of their debut album, changes were made to the line-up. Although the above line-up was the one signed to SOLAR, the label wanted Denise Walk and Cheryl McLennen replaced with new members. Enter bassist Joyce “Fenderella” Irby.

Joyce Irby had released a 12″ single on T.K. Records, Funk’s Gone Crazy b/w A Wild And Crazzy Song [sic], in 1980 under the name Fenderella — a name that came from the fact that she played the Fender bass guitar. Joyce was referred to the group by SOLAR producer Leon F. Sylvers III as Denise’s replacement. Taking Cheryl McLennen’s place on percussions was Judy Takeuchi, who was referred to the group because of previous work that she had done with singer Patti Austin. Rounding out the new line-up was Robbin Grider on synthesizers, who was brought in by Bernadette Cooper herself.

Now an octet, Klymaxx released their debut album — Never Underestimate The Power Of A Woman — in 1981, the title song of which was instrumental in landing the group their deal with SOLAR to begin with. Not being signed to the SOLAR contract at the time, Robbin and Judy were officially listed as additional musicians on the debut album. Sadly, following the release of their debut album, Klymaxx had to deal with the loss of their benefactor and friend, “Cissi” Nash, who passed away suddenly.

In 1982 the octet released their second album for SOLAR Records, Girls Will Be Girls. This album introduced Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, members of Prince’s Minneapolis funk band The Time, as producers years before they would hit it big with Janet Jackson. At this point more changes were to take place within the ranks of the group. Seeking to make changes to Klymaxx’s image, guitarist Ann Williams was dropped from the group by the label, leaving then a septet. Klymaxx followed up with what would be their final album for SOLAR, Girls In The Band, in 1983. This album, in fact, has never been released even though it’s officially listed in album discographies for the group. Only a 12″ single from the album, Multi-Purpose Girls, actually made it to official release.

SOLAR was distributed by Elektra/Asylum Records and, for whatever reason, Elektra did not want Klymaxx as part of their roster — Elektra’s loss. The group’s executive producer, Dick Griffey, then formed Constellation Records and landed a deal with MCA Records to distribute the label. Judy Takeuchi ended up being the next one to depart from the group, reducing the line-up to the sextet that would be signed up to Constellation. Now at their new record label home, Klymaxx went on to put out what would commercially become their best and most recognized album, Meeting In The Ladies Room. Although no longer part of the group by this time, Judy Takeuchi did make an appearance on one song on the album sharing lead vocals. It’s possible that this song was in fact originally recorded for the aforementioned 1983 album Girls In The Band, when Takeuchi was in fact still a member.

Now thrust out into the mainstream with such hits as The Men All Pause, Lock & Key, I Miss You, and Meeting In The Ladies Room, Klymaxx ended up being tapped to do a song for the movie Running Scared, a cop comedy starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as a pair of cops trying to stay alive during one last case so they could retire and enjoy the good life. Klymaxx did the main song for the movie, Man Size Love, which also became a commercial hit. They did an eponymously titled album in 1986 which included the aforementioned soundtrack song as well as a song co-produced by P-Funk ringleader George Clinton.

At this point, more changes were afoot for the group. Founder Bernadette Cooper and bassist and co-lead vocalist Joyce “Fenderella” Irby left the group. They were replaced by drummer Maria Martinez and bassist Terry “Bambi” Wallace, respectively. Bernadette Cooper went into production work, beginning with a female R&B vocal trio called Madame X in 1987. In 1989, Fenderella released a solo album on Motown under Jheryl Busby’s direction. The following year, 1990, Bernadette Cooper released her solo album on MCA. Lynn Malsby had left the group a year after Bernadette originally did, prior to the recording of Klymaxx’s album The Maxx Is Back, released in 1990 on the parent label MCA.

In 1994 Klymaxx returned with five of the six original sextet members. Lynn Malsby did not return and Bernadette Cooper came back as a “special guest vocalist”. Maria Martinez had left by this point and in her place came jazz/funk drummer Terri Lyne Carrington of The Arsenio Hall Show fame. Having been dropped by MCA, the group put out an independent release on their own Eighteen Sixty Three EP Entertainment/Diva One Entertainment label, One Day. MCA, in the meantime, issued Klymaxx’s Greatest Hits in 1996, which includes a song from Bernadette Cooper’s solo album.

The Klymaxx saga was not done yet though because, in early 2002, another of the group’s roster released a new CD — guitarist Cheryl Cooley. After working with a local old school cover band in Los Angeles, Cheryl made the move to front her own band called Aseelah while taking on the moniker “Dr. Madame C.C.”. Their debut (and, thus far, only) CD is Jan-Jam 2002. The following year, Constellation and MCA Records released 20th Century Masters: The Millenium Collection — The Best Of Klymaxx, their entry in the Millenium series of hits collection CDs. This was heralded by an amusing skit on Saturday Night Live where host Halle Berry would portray Bernadette Cooper and other cast members would portray the other members of the classic sextet in a perfectly dead-on impersonation of the group. The skit served as a “commercial advertisement” for The Best Of Klymaxx CD.

Also in 2003, guitarist Cheryl Cooley formed a brand new all-female band under the Klymaxx name. This band toured and released a CD titled Live From Pacifica, L.A.. Later on that year, VH-1 approached the original members of Klymaxx (excluding percussionist Robbin Grider, which is still a mystery) to do a one-time reunion for their series Bands Reunited. All said yes. Unfortunately, due to legal dissension at this point over the use of the “Klymaxx” name, Cheryl was excluded from taking part in the full reunion on the show so only Bernadette, Joyce, Lynn, and Lorena did the performance.

Cheryl would continue touring with her Klymaxx lineup, billed as Klymaxx featuring Cheryl Cooley, which would vary in membership throughout the years, while Bernadette and Fenderella continued on with their lineup simultaneously. Lynn and Lorena no longer tour with the group so Bernadette would acquire a new lineup of female musicians and singers for her band, who remain known simply as Klymaxx. In 2007, Cheryl’s band rechristened themselves as Unruley Cooley and released an eponymous EP.

In 2009, the trademark issue with the name “Klymaxx” was finally settled and the group fronted by Bernadette Cooper and Joyce “Fenderella” Irby will be independently releasing a brand new CD under the Klymaxx name titled Real Divas Never Die on Bernadette’s own label.

In the years since the original group’s heyday years, music has seen a rebirth of “girl power” with such groups as the Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child, En Vogue, TLC, and SWV (Sisters With Voices), to name a few. However, in the eighties it was the self-contained female funk band Klymaxx who defined “girl power” in R&B music.