The 90s R&B era boasts a unique sound that captures the essence of the time. Among the big names in the industry, there were also lesser-known groups who contributed significantly to the genre’s success. One such group was Intro, whose music still resonates with listeners today. The group members were the late Kenny Greene, Buddy Wike, and Jeff Sanders.
Director Jay Billons’ documentary, Intro Music Lyrics and Life, tells how the group achieved fame, shedding light on their challenges and triumphs. Through interviews with the group members and industry insiders, the documentary offers valuable insights into the group’s journey and its impact on the music industry.
Jay Billons also pens the script and produces with surviving group members Buddy Wike and Jeff Sanders. The documentary starts with archive footage of the group performing before we hear about their impact from R&B luminaries such as Donell Jones, Coko, and Woody formerly of Dru Hill.
The first member we hear from is Buddy Wike, who talks about meeting Kenny Greene while both were serving in the Army. Wike’s recollection of meeting Greene comes off as very organic and inspiring. One of the highlights early in the documentary is hearing one of the group’s early recordings, “Love Is Here.” Jeff Sanders is next to speak and details about meeting the legendary Heavy D and eventually Kenny, writing four tracks on Mary J Blige’s debut album What’s The 411.
The documentary continues by providing an in-depth look into the group’s journey as they collaborate with renowned producers Eddie F and Dave “Jam” Hall to craft their debut album. It covers the various obstacles and challenges the group encounters in the music industry, including internal tensions, worldwide touring, disputes with their record label, and the tragic and untimely passing of their bandmate, Kenny Greene.
I had been waiting for this documentary for a while, and one of the great things about it is all of the archive footage we get to see. One of the most surprising things was seeing how funny group member Jeff was and Buddy’s vision. I also couldn’t help but smile at the connection between the group and SWV during their early days. There’s also a great scene where Kenny Greene shows out on their cover version of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon In The Sky.” And yes, we hear the back story on “Come Inside.”
I mostly enjoyed the documentary, but I did have a few gripes. For starters, the documentary is a little short. I would have loved to hear more stories on touring and about the second album. Despite this, Intro Music Lyrics and Life is worth checking for nineties R&B fans.
Final Grade: B
Intro Music Lyrics and Life is available to stream on Vimeo.
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