Pieces of a Dream (band)

Pieces of a Dream is an American R&B and jazz fusion group.^[1][2]

Pieces of a Dream
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres	Jazz fusion Funk R&B
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Elektra, Heads Up
Members	James Lloyd Curtis Harmon David Dyson Tony Watson Jr. Chris Harris Elec Simon
Past members	Cedric Napoleon Gerald Veasley Lance Webb Vince Evans Federico Pena Tracy Hamlin Ramona Dunlop Ron Kerber Eddie Baccus Jr. Michael Antonio Thornton Norwood Young Benjie Porecki Cherie Mitchell Bennie Sims Leroy "Scooter" Taylor Cliff Starkey Rohn Lawrence George Granville
Website	piecesofadream.net

Overview

The group was formed in Philadelphia during 1976 by bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd who were all teenagers at the time. The group based their name on "Pieces of Dreams", a Michel Legrand tune recorded by Stanley Turrentine that they regularly performed. In 1981 Pieces of a Dream had a minor soul hit with "Warm Weather" with vocals by singer Barbara Walker and synthesizer by Dexter Wansel, which was recorded on Elektra Records and co-produced by Dexter Wansel. In late 1983, the group had their most successful single, "Fo-Fi-Fo", which peaked at No. 13 on the US soul chart.^[1][2] During their time with Elektra Records from 1981 to 1983, the group's first three albums were produced by saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.

The single "What Can I Do", from the album 'Bout Dat Time, with Norwood on the lead vocals, peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart in February 1990.^[3]

Tracy Hamlin was the group's lead vocalist from 2002 to 2005 and sings on two of their albums, Love Silhouette and No Assembly Required.^[4]

David Dyson has been the core bassist with the group from 2001 to the present and has also been a composer on No Assembly Required, Soul Intent, In The Moment, Just Funkin' Around, and Fired Up. Gerald Veasley and Scott Ambush have shared the bass chair intermittently as well.

Bassist Cedric A. Napoleon died in June 2024.^[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title[2]	Peak chart positions					Record label
		US [6]	US R&B [7]	US Jazz [8]	US Con. Jazz [9]	US Tra. Jazz [10]
1981	Pieces of a Dream	170	37	15[11]	—	—	Elektra Records
1982	We Are One	114	22	4[12]	—	—	Elektra Records
1983	Imagine This	90	16	—	—	4	Elektra Records
1986	Joyride	102	18	—	—	3	Manhattan Records
1988	Makes You Wanna	—	60	—	24	—	Manhattan Records
1989	Bout Dat Time	—	57	—	—	—	EMI USA
1993	In Flight	—	81	44	7	—	Manhattan Records
1995	Goodbye Manhattan	—	—	9	8	—	Blue Note Contemporary
1997	Pieces	—	—	13	9	—	Blue Note Contemporary
1999	Ahead To The Past	—	—	11	9	—	Blue Note
2001	Acquainted With The Night	—	—	20	12	—	Heads Up International
2002	Love's Silhouette	—	—	16	8	—	Heads Up International
2004	No Assembly Required	—	—	11	6	—	Heads Up International
2006	Pillow Talk	—	—	8	4	—	Heads Up International
2009	Soul Intent	—	—	11	5	—	Heads Up International
2013	In The Moment	—	—	6	3	—	Shanachie
2015	All In	—	—	10	3	—	Shanachie
2017	Just Funkin' Around	—	—	6	2	—	Shanachie
2019	On Another Note	—	—	—	1	—	Shanachie
2021	Fired Up	—	—	—	—	—	Shanachie

Compilation albums

Year	Title[2]	Peak chart positions				Record label
		US Pop [6]	US R&B [7]	US Jazz [8]	US Con. Jazz [9]
1995	The Best Of..	—	—	31	19	Blue Note
2002	Sensual Embrace - The Soul Ballads	—	—	30	18	Blue Note
2004	Sensual Embrace 2: More Soul Ballads	—	—	16	11	Blue Note
2005	Blue Note Trip: Jazzanova	—	—	—	—