The Cover Girls

The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Freestyle;
Years active	1986–1996, 2001–present
Labels	Fever; Capitol; EMI; Epic; SME;
Members	Evelyn Escalera; Sabrina Nieves; Lorraine Munoz; Louise "Angel" Mercado; Margo Urban; Michelle Viana;
Past members	Sunshine Wright; Caroline Jackson; Michelle Valentine; Julissa McBride; Maribel Paredes;

The Cover Girls are a New York City based American freestyle music girl group whose original line-up comprised Louise "Angel" Sabater, Caroline Jackson, and Sunshine Wright. Formed in 1986, The Cover Girls peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut single "Show Me", taken from their debut studio album of the same name. Shortly after the release of their second single "Spring Love", Wright departed from the group and was replaced with Margo Urban. The group's second studio album We Can't Go Wrong was released in 1989, producing the #8 hit single of the same name.

Shortly after the release of their second studio album, Sabater departed from the group and was replaced by Evelyn Escalera. The line-up comprising Jackson, Urban, and Escalera released one single "Don't Stop Now", taken from the compilation album Music Speaks Louder Than Words. Urban departed from the group and was replaced by Michelle Valentine. In 1992, they released their third studio album Here It Is, which produced the hit single "Wishing on a Star". Shortly after the release of the album, Jackson departed from the group leaving Escalera and Valentine as a duo.

As of 2024, The "Original" Cover Girls are composed of Angel Mercado, Margo Urban, and Michelle Viana, who in 2024 replaced Michelle Valentine.

Evelyn Escalera, Lorraine Munoz and Sabrina Nieves who are under Fever Management perform under The Cover Girls.

History

The Cover Girls were formed by music producer and songwriter Andy "Panda" Tripoli and music promoter and dance club owner Sal Abbatiello.^[1] The group was originally composed of singers Louise "Angel" Sabater, Caroline Jackson, and Sunshine Wright. In late 1986, they released their first album, Show Me. Five singles were released from this album, including the Top 40, Billboard Hot 100 hits "Show Me"^[2] and "Promise Me".^[3] Sunshine Wright left the group in late 1987 after the release of the album and its second single "Spring Love", and was replaced by Margo Urban. In 1988, they recorded the song "Better Late Than Never" for the Coming to America film soundtrack.^[4]

In 1989, their second album, We Can't Go Wrong, was released and included the song "My Heart Skips a Beat" as well as the title track. The Cover Girls performed "My Heart Skips a Beat" and "We Can't Go Wrong" on the series finale of American Bandstand in October 1989.^[5] "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" was the third and final single released from the We Can't Go Wrong album. Shortly after its release, Louise "Angel" Sabater left the group and was replaced on lead vocals by Evelyn Escalera.^[6]

The first song recorded with Escalera on lead was "Don't Stop Now", released for the compilation album Music Speaks Louder Than Words, which was a joint collaboration between American and Soviet songwriters. The song's music is a cover of Russian artist Viktor Reznikov's 1988 song "Domovoy", with new English lyrics written by Todd Cerney and Harold Payne.^[7]^[8] The song was released as a single in 1990 with "Funk Boutique" originally as the B-Side.^[9]

In 1992, they released their third studio album,Here It Is features for the first time two lead singers, Escalera and Michelle Valentine, who replaced Margo Urban, who left the group a year prior. This album produced a cover version of the Rose Royce 1978 song "Wishing on a Star". The second and third singles were "Thank You" and "If You Want My Love (Here It Is)". Following the release of "Thank You" Caroline Jackson left the group. And Escalera and Valentine continued as a duo. In 1993, Escalera recorded vocals on a promotional single titled "Can You Feel It" by Fish released on Cupid Records.^[10]

In 1994, the group contributed the new song "You Better Change" to the soundtrack of the film I Like It Like That.^[11]

In 1996, they released their fourth and final album, titled, Satisfy. Lead and background vocals on this album was handled by Valentine, Gayle Ellis and Nicki Richards. The first single from the album, "I Am Woman", was released originally with Valentine on lead vocals. But shortly after the single was released Valentine left the group. Lead vocals were then taken over by Gayle Ellis. On "I Need Your Lovin'", the vocals on the album mix were by Valentine and the single remix vocals were handled by Ellis and Evelyn Escalera, whom then returned to the group from a hiatus. Nicki Richards also recorded lead vocals on some of the Satisfy album tracks, notably "Whenever You Need Me" and "Keep on Giving Me Love".^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, The Cover Girls re-grouped with Evelyn Escalera, and two new members Sabrina Nieves and Lorraine Munoz.

In 2006, The Cover Girls contributed vocals on the Cobra Starship song "The Ballad of Big Poppa and Diamond Girl" from the Cobra Starship album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets.^[12]

In November 2008, Evelyn Escalera released her first solo single, a cover of the Mariah Carey Christmas classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You", under her new pseudonym Evelyn DeMille.^[13]

In 2010, Evelyn Escalera contributed the track "Grown Up Christmas List" to the album A Traditional Freestyle Christmas Vol 1.^[14]

In 2011, The "Original" Cover Girls featuring Louise "Angel" Mercado, Caroline Jackson and Margo Urban reunited with a performance at the 2011 Long Beach Pride festival. On May 17th, 2022, The "Original" Cover Girls, (Angel, Sunshine & Margo) performed on the last episode of The Wendy Williams Show, hosted by Leah Remini and Michelle Visage.

In 2021, original member Caroline Jackson retired from the group, and was replaced by former member Michelle Valentine.

On November 7, 2015, the Cover Girls (Escalera, Munoz, and Nieves) were featured in a documentary on freestyle music titled Legends of Freestyle, which interviewed freestyle artists and delved into the history and movement of this genre. The Documentary presented by Stanulis Productions premiered at the HBO Urban Action Film Festival at the AMC Theater; one night only on Sat Nov 7th 2015 on 47th Street in New York City.^{[citation needed]}

Evelyn Escalera, Sabrina Nieves and Lorraine Munoz still perform and tour as The Cover Girls. And they are under Sal Abbatillo's Fever Management.^{[citation needed]}

The "Original" Cover Girls featuring Angel "Louise" Mercado, Margo Urban and Michelle Viana, who in 2024 replaced Michelle Valentine currently tour as well.

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
Year	Album details	US ^[15]	US R&B ^[15]
1986	Show Me Release date: November 30, 1986 Label: Fever	64	74
1989	We Can't Go Wrong Release date: August 8, 1989 Label: Capitol	108	—
1992	Here It Is Release date: June 2, 1992 Label: Epic	—	—
1996	Satisfy Release date: August 20, 1996 Label: Quality	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Year	Album details
1998	Greatest Hits Released: July 2, 1998 Label: Mars
1998	Greatest Hits Released: July 14, 1998 Label: Warlock/Fever Records

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions					Album
Year	Single	US ^[15]	US R&B ^[15]	US Dan ^[15]	AUS ^[16]^[17]	UK ^[18]	Album
1987	"Show Me"	44	34	4	—	—	Show Me
	"Spring Love"	98	82	—	—	—
	"Because of You"	27	47	16	—	—
1988	"Promise Me"	40	—	—	—	—
	"Inside Outside"	55	—	12	—	—
	"Better Late Than Never"	—	—	—	—	—	Coming to America OST
1989	"My Heart Skips a Beat"	38	—	4	—	—	We Can't Go Wrong
1989	"We Can't Go Wrong"	8	—	—	—	—
1990	"All That Glitters Isn't Gold"	49	—	18	—	—
1990	"Don't Stop Now"	63	—	8	—	—	Music Speaks Louder Than Words
1991	"Funk Boutique"	55	—	8	150	—	Here It Is
1992	"Wishing on a Star"	9	19	7	181	38
1992	"Thank You"	75	—	—	—	—
1993	"If You Want My Love (Here It Is)"	125	—	8	—	—
1993	"Estrella Del Amor (Wishing On a Star)"	—	—	—	—	—	Sony Discos Brazil promotional single
1996	"I Am Woman"	—	—	—	—	—	Satisfy
1996	"I Need Your Lovin'"	—	—	—	—	—	Satisfy
2002	"Hooked On You (Remix)"	—	—	—	—	—	Promotional single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.