A Bronx group that effectively mixed East Coast disco and Chicago soul covers with originals during the late '70s and early '80s,
GQ began as
Sabu & the Survivors in 1968. Lead vocalist Emmanuel Rahiem LeBlanc, Keith Crier,
Herb Lane, and
Paul Service were original members, but by 1980
GQ were a trio following
Service's departure. They had two Top Ten R&B and Top 20 pop hits, as well as a number one R&B single in 1979, with "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" also peaking at number 12 pop; the single also won
GQ an American Music Award. Their remakes of the
Billy Stewart classics "I Do Love You" and "Sitting in the Park" were number five and number nine R&B singles in 1979 and 1980, respectively, with "I Do Love You" also reaching number 20 pop. They enjoyed one other Top 30 R&B single in 1981, "Shake." All their hits were on Arista from 1979 to 1982. The group briefly reconvened for
A Tribute to Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart, issued independently in 1999. Crier died in 2013. ~ Ron Wynn