love, hope, peace, tranquility, and a group that became to be known as the Silver Stars which emerged from the original group, The Del Quapries (1969) whose membership consisted of Henry D. ‘Muhammad’ Hamilton (Hakim), Charles McKenny, Derrick Goines (Whadir), & Ricky Toler. Ricky was replaced by William Bobbitt (Shaquan)  and the Del Quapies became a local, statewide, and regional phenomenon, winning talent shows, performing at all the local night clubs and theatre’s, such prestigious places as RKO Proctor & Symphony Hall Mosque Theatre’s, Newark, NJ; Carnegie Hall, The Cheeta Theatre, The Cotton Club, & Sweet Waters, NY; The PNC Arts Center (formerly Garden State Arts Center), South Jersey. 

 

The evolution of the Del Quapries was interrupted when the leader & originator of the group, Hakim, became incarcerated. A brief time thereafter Shaquan joined him, and they formed a group while they were in jail. The group became so good and admired by the inmates and the correction officers, the group was taken out to perform in the community. Shaquan was released first and when Hakim came home, Whadir, Shaquan and he put the Del Quapries back together, (1977) but Charles’s parents did not allow him to remain with the group. Shaquan suggested that Hakim ask his brother Keith Kee Hamilton (Alkhalique) who at the time was a free-lance musician, song writer and former member of a rival vocal group, the Orientations. Alkhalique, agreed to join the group and suggested that we name the group The Silver Stars and the group agreed to take on the New Name. 

 

At last, the universe had aligned. From the Seventies up to today, with many repeat performances, the silk, satin, sophisticated sound of The Silver Stars has captivated audiences in some of the most prestigious theatres and nightclubs in various part of the United States, including, New Jersey, South Orange, Englewood, Performing Arts Center’s, Symphony Hall Mosque Theatre, Cotton Club, night clubs, cruises, internationally in Ghana and Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the decades up to this date, The Silver Stars has taken on many different forms and members, Larry Jefferson, Wayne Parham, Larry Nelson, Abdullah Muhammad, and current members, Anita ‘Songbird’ Sykes, Curtis Chambers, (Kareem), Robert Turner, yet, their history, hearts and their talents has remains consistent. 

 

The Silver Stars have shared the stage and established personal relationships with national recording artists such as, The Whispers, Ray Goodman, and Brown, The Delfonics, The Manhattans, Dionne Warwick, Benny King, Little Anthony and The Imperials, Blue Magic, Soul Generation, Ted ‘Wizard’ Mills, Kenny Burke, Harold Melvins Blue Notes, The Intruders, The Temptations Review, and the list goes on and on. The Silver Stars released their first album, “In the Beginning” in 2000, in 2010, two singles, “Party with You” and “Who Do You Love” in 2013, “Time”, in 2015 their “Classic Silver Stars’ album, and in 2018 another single, “My Love Is Good.”.

 

The Silver Stars have been awarded many accolades from the city of Newark, New Jersey, the City of Paterson, NJ and the 2022, prestigious J.R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement and Community Service award for their over fifty years of dedication to the music and entertainment industry, The Silver Stars have become known as the “Heart” of Newark,” the “Soul” of New Jersey and “The Diplomats of Lov!” Created out of the Darkness of the 60's and evolving into the Marvelous Light of the 24th year of the 21st Century, The Silver Stars is a Musical Movement with DIVINE PURPOSE and a testament that “ALLAH(GOD) can bring Congruity out of Chaos, Light out of Darkness” & Triumph out Tragedy! We have an exceptional Story to tell, and “The Message Is In Our Music.”