TYSON

Tyson, aka Tyson Speede, was a member of Unklejam, a U.K. trio signed to Virgin that fused funk, soul, disco, and contemporary R&B. They issued a self-titled album in 2007 that featured a U.K. Top 20 single, “What Am I Fighting For?” Their most striking characteristic was Tyson’s voice, capable of reaching a falsetto that recalled that of disco legend Sylvester (if a bit huskier). When Tyson went solo in 2010, the Sylvester likeness not only continued but intensified. The singer, songwriter, and producer’s debut solo single for Back Yard, “Die on the Dancefloor,” deeply resembled Sylvester’s electro-disco/Hi-NRG collaborations with Patrick Cowley. After two singles in 2011 — “After You’re Gone” and “Out of My Mind,” both of which were also inspired by the early-’80s sound — Tyson issued an album, Die on the Dancefloor, in February 2012. ~ Andy Kellman