MAI TAI

Mai Tai

Girl group from Utrecht that had several huge disco/soul hits in the '80s.
Full biography

Members

BYentl   zang
Jetty Weels   zang
Carolien De Windt   zang

Former members

Lisa Noya   zang
Mildred Douglas   zang
Karin Nági   zang

Mentioned in the biography of

1973   Eddy Hilberts
1980   John van Katwijk
1981   Fruitcake
1981   Rutger Kroese
1983   Fluitsma & Van Tijn
1983   Mildred Douglas
1984   Fluitsma & Van Tijn
1984   Jochem Fluitsma
1985   Glenn Gaddum sr.
1985   Mildred Douglas
1985   Saskia Laroo
1986   Johnny Baby
1986   Mildred Douglas
1987   Mildred Douglas
1988   Lesley Joseph
1989   Mildred Douglas
1990   Beau Wassenbergh
1998   Berget Lewis
2002   Big, Black & Beautiful
2009   Fruitcake
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Biography Mai Tai

Girl group from Utrecht that had several huge disco/soul hits in the '80s.

1983

Mai Tai is formed when singer Jetty Weels is asked by producer Jochem Fluitsma to record the song Keep On Dancin'. When the end result sounds rather puny, Weels asks her friends Mildred Douglas and Carolien de Windt to help her out. All three are experienced background singers. Jetty used to sing with groups like the Free, Rockaway Boulevard, American Gypsy, Streetlight and the socially committed band Braak. Carolien sang with Fruitcake and Precious Wilson and Douglas with Hans Dulfer, Fruitcake, Rockaway Boulevard and Daniël Sahuleka. Keep On Dancin' is released in October, but isn't very successful.

American Gypsy Braak Fruitcake Jochem Fluitsma Rockaway Boulevard The Free

1984

The single What Goes On, released in the summer, dents the charts. Its follow-up Body And Soul, released in October, isn't very successful either. Nevertheless, the band manages to establish itself in the Dutch pop scene. Their sound is stylish, funky and American and refers to American disco groups like Chic.

1985

The ballad Am I Losing You Forever, which is released in January, leaves a good impression. The trio's debut album, Mai Tai, comes out in March and is produced by producers/composers duo Jochem Fluitsma and Eric van Tijn. The album wins the girls a Zilveren ('Silver') Harp music award and an Edison music award. The funky track History becomes a big hit, not only in the Netherlands both also in the US and the UK. When recording the album the girls meet fellow Dutch singer Frank Boeijen who also happens to be in the studio. He so impressed by their vocal skills that he asks them to back him on what will later turn out to be his classic Kronenburger Park.

Fluitsma & Van Tijn

1986

Mai Tai's second album 1 Touch 2 Much is released and the singles Female Intuition and Turn Your Love Around become Top 10 hits. The album's title track, however, does not manage to enter the charts.

1987

Mai Tai's third album Cool Is The Rule is released, but the singles taken from the album, Bet That's What You Say and Fight Fire With Fire, barely made the Dutch charts.

1988

The compilation CD Best is released.

1989

When commercial success is declining, the girls opt for solo careers. Early January Mildred Douglas steps out of the group. She is replaced by Karin Nagie. In the course of the year Jetty Weels goes solo under the name Oscare.

Oscare

1990

In June Mildred Douglas releases her solo album. The album is recorded in San Diego and produced by Alphonso Johnson from Santana. The funky sound has made place for ballads. The song Back To Curaçao is written by Mildred's brother Frankie Douglas.

1994

Mai Tai reforms and the single It's Not Over is released. Lisa Noya has taken the place of lead singer Mildred Douglas and Jetty Weels has returned from her solo career.

1995

Following the success of the rejuvenated R&B genre, their biggest hit History is re-released in the UK and reaches the Top 10 of the UK dance charts. The Netherlands sees the release of the maxi-CD Are You For Real, which is mixed by house producer G-Man.

1996

The R&B-influenced single Afrodisiac is successful in France and Scandinavia. The girls also work on a new album.

2002

At the The Reflex Of The 80's, an evening in the Rotterdam Ahoy' arena staged by pubcaster BNN, the girls sing some of their hits.

2004

In a different line-up (Jetty Weels, Carolien de Windt and Marjorie Lammerts) the ladies take part in the fourth qualification group of the National Song Contest (for the Eurovision Song Contest in Turkey) on February 12. They sing Bring Back The Music, but fail to get through.

2005

The summer single Don't Forget To Live is produced by Almighty and written by Han Epskamp. Before winter sets in the single Don't Be Afraid is released.

2007

Mai Tai records a Dutch language version of its hit single Female Intuition. The single Vrouwelijke Intuïtie is released in February under the name Vlemmix & Mai Tai. Proceeds of the summer single 100% Vocé/100% Van Jou to the Dutch foundation Help Mij Leven (Help Me Live) which supports street children in Brazil. The song is released in both the Dutch and Portuguese language. The album Onder Voorbehoud (With Reservations) is entirely sung in the Dutch language. Besides new material there are also several covers on the album like Iedereen Is Van De Wereld (The Scene), Stil In Mij (Van Dik Hout) and Kronenburg Park (Frank Boeijen Groep). A limited edition of the album includes a bonus DVD with fourteen videos of the new album tracks. First single Bijna (Almost) is written by TV presenter Eddy Zoëy.

Eddy Zoëy

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