The Weather Girls
The Weather Girls are a female R&B and dance music duo originally consisting of Izora Armstead and Martha Wash. Initially known as Two Tons o’Fun, the Weather Girls scored a big hit and now- camp oldies classic hit (as well as party anthem and “gay anthem”) “It’s Raining Men” in 1982. The Weather Girls are still active up to the present, but with an updated lineup. More on them in this article!
Formation as the Two Tons o’Fun
Initially, the Weather Girls started as the duo the Two Tons o’ Fun (aka the Two Tons) during the mid- or late-70s music era, consisting of singers Izora Armstead and Martha Wash (born in 1953). They released a handful of records, which include the albums their epnymous debut album in 1980 and Bakatcha in 1981. They also had a couple of minor hits such as “Just Us”/”I Got the Feeling” (#29 R&B) and “Two Tons o’ Fun” (#2 dance). Which means that they had charting hits and that dispelled the mainstream notion that this same members that made up the Weather Girls are far from being one hit wonders.
As the Weather Girls and their camp hit “It’s Raining Men”
The Two Tons o’ Fun changed to the Weather Girls and released their first record under that moniker, “It’s Raining Men,” written by the late actor/singer-songwriter/producer Paul Jabara and musician Paul Shaffer (known as being the bandleader of the now-defunct Late Show with David Letterman).
“It’s Raining Men” debuted at #1 on the Billboard disco/dance chart and #34 on the R&B chart in late 1982, and early the following year it peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it became an even bigger hit outside the United States: in the UK it peaked at #2, #8 in Norway, #5 in Ireland, and #13 in New Zealand. Around that time it sold over six million copies worldwide.
Later career
The Weather Girls broke up in 1988, and Wash continued her career as a solo artist as well as session vocalist. She took the part of lead vocals (much of her work there is uncredited) in songs such as “Everybody, Everybody,” “I Don’t Know Anybody Else,” “You’re My One and Only” and “Fantasy.” Wash continues to be a solo artist up to this day.
Armstead, meanwhile, relocated to Germany where she re-formed the Weather Girls along with her daughter Dynelle. The newer Weather Girls released three albums (Double Tons of Fun, Think Big! and Puttin’ on the Hits). They also toured extensively thorughout Europe, and even tried to represent Germany for the Eurovision Song Contest for a time (but their final song “Get Up” didn’t make it to the final round).
Armstead, 62, died of heart failure in 2004. Her daughter Dynelle continued the Weather Girls along with her cousin Ingrid Arthur. Up to the present they have remained active recording and performing, and like the original Weather Girls, the current duo still proves to be popular most especially with the gay audience.