it was a time of civil strife, and world wide confusion, the Vietnam conflict, universal corruption, social, political and economic injustice, race riots, massive poverty and famine. The country was split into two (2) entities, the haves and the have nots’, separate and unequal, and music was the only common ground for humanities since of peace, equity, pride and prosperity. Out of the darkness of those turbulent times sparked a ‘Shining Light’ of hope for the future. Out of an urban project complex of Newark, NJ called “Scudder Homes” emerged three young men that would make a difference in their community and ultimately the World!

1967 was the year, Duane, Charles, Derrick & William formed a ‘doo wop group’ called the Delquapries which rivaled most vocal groups throughout the City of Newark taking first prize category in most talent shows. The group went on to perform at some of the most prestige’s theatre’s and night clubs, the RKO Proctors in Newark, NJ; The Cheetah’s Night Club and Carnegie Hall Theatre in New York, NY. The group also won first place in a State wide talent contest which afforded them the opportunity to perform at the infamous Garden State Art Center, Holmdel, NJ. But poor management and other inner city troubles caused the group complications which all but broke the group up. Then something strange happened. The group’s chief rival, the Orientations which was lead by Duane’s brother Keith disbanded making Keith a free lance vocalist, musician and song writer, performing with such notable acts as the Escorts, Ghetto Incorporated and Third Power and in 1977 the siblings joined forces and together with Derrick Goines & William Bobbitt they became known as the Silver Stars and the rest is history. The group began touring the Country, sharing the stage with such notables as The Five Stair Steps; Ted "The Wizard" Mills and Blue Magic; Ricky West of Kool and the Gang; The Escorts; The Delfonics; The Manhattans; Harold Melvins Blue Notes; Colonel Abrams and others. They have performed at Sweet Waters Night Club & the Manhattans Center, New York, NY; Newark’s Symphony Hall Mosque/Theater and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ. In the year 2000 the group produced its first promotional CD of cover songs titled ‘In the Beginning’. They are currently working on their 2nd CD, their own record label, production and distribution company!

This Group is Dynamic, Explosive and ‘Incessant’, they plan to be around for a long time, look for them; they will be in your town soon. For more information about the CD, bookings, performances and other products Contact us at (973) 703-3262 or email: hakmuhammad@yahoo.com

William E. Bobbitt
(Shaquon)

Birth Place: Washington, DC

Birth Sign: Virgo

Tenor The Musical Arranger

I came to Newark at age three (3) and I always had a love for singing and music. My greatest influences musically were the Sounds of Motown, Smokey Robinson, and the Miracles, Steve Wonder and the Temptations, I like the Delfonics too and the Whispers are my favorite group. With that influence behind me and a gifted vocal ability myself, I developed a passion to make it in this industry. To me it was no coincidence that my family moved to Newark which is a City with a rich history entertainment and excitement. In the middle of the Big Apple, New York, NY and the City of Brotherly Love Philadelphia, I knew it would just be a matter of time. It didn’t take long for me to meet some like minded individuals and before you knew it, Derrick, Duane (Hakim), Charles and I formed a singing group, ‘The Delquapries’! We were only in junior high school at the time, but like magic, things began to happen for us, we were winning first place in talent shows, performing in New York at the Carnegie Hall and Cheetah Theatre’s, The Garden State Art Center, RKO Proctor and the Symphony Hall Mosque Theatre in Newark!

As time went on and the group became plagued with poor management and other urban environment tribulations, i.e., crime, drugs and women and the group struggled for continued existence. Subsequently, Charles left the group and I reached out to Hakim’s brother Keith (Alkhalique) who had major experience in the industry, playing with such notables as the Escorts, the Parliament’s and Joe Bataan. I knew that Alkhalique would bring synergy to the group and sure enough I was right. That was in 1977 and since that time till now we have been on the move up and down the Eastern Seaboard and have become a ‘force to be reckoned with’ as you can see on our bio.

As the arranger of the group I’m responsible for putting together our repertoire for performances, setting the style of our costumes, track production, reproduction and maintenance. Lately I’ve been co-writing and composing music as we work on our next CD which is guaranteed to take the group to the next level. Watch for Us! We know that we have been spared by God to tell the story OUR WAY, God Bless You…

William E. Bobbitt
‘Shaquon’

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Henry D. Muhammad (Hamilton)
Birth Place: Newark, NJ

Birth Sign: Leo

Lead Singer ‘The Spirit Guide’

I grew up in Newark, NJ and I remember as a child my mother and her brothers and sisters (The Kee Family) gathering during holidays at our home singing gospels songs with the melody and harmony of the angels in heaven. That was a most memorable experience for me as a child. I noticed that each one of them would lead a song one after the other. That was the best part of growing up in a City where it was inevitable that a young man of a curious nature like mine would eventually have a run in with the authorities, it was descending from heaven in to hell. Anyway, music has always been my saving grace from the day I discovered that I could sing and captivate an audience. I began singing in grammer school and formed the group the ‘Delquapries’ with a close friend Charles Mckinney and we must have auditioned at least ten (10) people, before we settled on Derrick Goines & Ricky Toler.

Ricky didn’t work out to well and Derrick introduced William (Shaquon) Bobbitt to the group and we took off from there (read Shaquon’s bio). We all were lead singers but William and I did most of the lead vocal in those days. We are known for precision choreography and theatrics and we all work very hard to maintain that distinction. We attracted a large following and some of the best musicians in New Jersey played in our band. At one point we had a semi orchestra consisting of a five (5) piece horn section, a violinist, three guitar players, a bass player, two keyboard players, a drummer and a percussionist.

I’ve always been the organizer, coordinator, producer, promoter and spokesperson for the group and today I am affectionately referred to as ‘The Spirit Guide’! I like that expression because I believe it captures what the Silver Stars are all about, The Spirit of The Creator and all of His Splendor, Glory, Greatness & Mercy. You see, you must understand that most of the entertainers, groups and bands that grew up with us in the Greater Newark Area, as we call it, from the 60’, the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90’s up into this new millennium are not here with us today. Some have long prison sentences, some are chronically ill, some have just given up and stopped performing and some have passed away, but the ‘Silver Stars’ are still here, building their legacy and getting stronger and stronger and stronger by the Grace of God. Look for our soon to be released CD, ‘Love On the Bricks” From The Brick City! See you soon! Peace – Peace!

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Keith (Alkhalique)
I was born the son of Bishop Henry & Berneice Hamilton in the city of Newark, NJ. My birth name is Keith Kee Hamilton & today I am known as Al-Khalique Muhammad. My musical career began in 1962 at the passing of my grandfather Gorge G. Kee Sr., who is also the grandfather of the world renowned Gospel Artist John P. Kee. It appears that music was a family trait because my mother was in the industry and had performed with the likes of Sarah Vaughn and I have two (2) more relatives who performed professionally also, Leon Nelson of the Drifters & Larry Nelson (Arkbar) who performed with a group known as The Fabulous Five. So it is no small wonder that music was/is my destiny.

At age seven (7) I can remember my mother & all of her brother’s & sister’s coming together singing gospels songs & harmonizing in such melodious fashion that I could not help but to impacted by it. Moving to the ‘Scudder Holmes’ projects of the Infamous Brick City was another memorable experience for me because it was the projects hallways were the acoustics where like that of a theatre, that my singing career began. Most of the local groups in that area used the hallways for their rehearsals & I was right there in the mix in a group called the Orientations. We later formed a family group with my younger brother’s to keep our harmony ‘tight’ and from there I taught myself to play the piano which was expanded upon by my attending a school of the Arts in Newark. I went on to play & sing with several prominent groups in New Jersey the most prominent of which were the Famous Ambassadors of Love, ‘the Escorts’! In 1977 I joined with my brother Henry ‘Hakim Muhammad’ (Hamilton), William ‘Shaquon’ Bobbitt & Derrick ‘Slick’ Goines & the Silver Stars were born & history began to be made. The culmination of these talented individuals burst on the scene like a comet & we have traversed the Eastern Seaboard doing what we do best, singing & performing for people.
And we believe the best is yet to come! Watch for us.

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