Photo by Hiroshi Iwaya
In April 1985, Valerie Day, John Smith, and their band NU SHOOZ released the five-song EP ‘Tha’s Right!’. Acting on a dare from a local music writer, Gary Bryan of Portland, Oregon’s KKRZ, put the song “I Can’t Wait” on the air. Listener reaction was strong and immediate- the kind of response known in radio jargon as ‘Instant Phones.’
But this was no overnight sensation. By the time the whole world heard about the Soul band from Oregon, they'd spent seven years onstage, four hours a night, four or five nights a week. So, when their spotlight moment came, the Shooz could get up and play.
By the end of the year, "I Can't Wait" was a regional hit. But the song really took off when it was remixed by Dutch DJ Peter Slaghuis. Atlantic Records signed the band in January 1986. "I Can't Wait" eventually reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the debut album 'Poolside' was certified Gold by the RIAA. Other hits followed, including "Point of No Return" and "Should I Say Yes." NU SHOOZ was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy in 1987.
Nu Shooz made three albums for Atlantic—'Poolside' (certified RIAA Gold), 'Told U So,' and the unreleased 'Eat & Run'—before the ride ended in 1992. By then, John and Valerie were ready to move on. John spent the next two decades writing music for commercials and independent films. Valerie worked as a session percussionist, taught voice, and performed in jazz quartets and big bands. They raised a son and never stopped making music, though reviving Nu Shooz seemed unlikely. Never say never. In 2006, to mark the 20th anniversary of "I Can't Wait," they released a stunning remake under the name Nu Shooz Orchestra. This was followed by the chamber jazz album "Pandora's Box" in 2010 and the archival collection "Kung Pao Kitchen" in 2012.
In 2013, Nu Shooz joined the 80's revival tours "Superfreestyle Explosion" and "Lost 80's," sharing the stage with acts like Exposé, The Jets, Wang Chung, Flock of Seagulls, Boy George, and More. At the same time, they reformed the live band featuring former members from every incarnation of the group. In 2016, they released their final studio album, Bagtown—a vibrant return to the Funk, R&B, Jazz, and Soul that had always been at the heart of their music.
Nu Shooz retired from performing in 2019. Since then, John has been creating graphic novels, while Valerie guides aspiring vocalists through her online course, Becoming A Singer. They continue to explore new creative horizons, each pursuing their own artistic passions.
To this day, "I Can't Wait" continues to stream through the cosmos, reaching every corner of the known universe with its timeless groove.
THE NU SHOOZ CHRONICLES
![Welcome to your summer. Yes, it's finally here! And it's the 46th anniversary of the very first NuShooz gig. [Colonel Summer's Park, Portland, Oregon, June 21st, 1979.] What a different world that was; pre-internet, no smartphones or smart toasters,](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54cee645e4b01fa0f0bfc5f9/1750512289030-8M6PFU9H9F6KHZ2HFJ94/image-asset.jpeg)
In 1986, Atlantic Records sent Valerie and me on a promotional tour of Europe. We were jet-lagged, shell-shocked by sudden fame, and completely unprepared for what we would find across the pond. We appeared on over a dozen radio and TV shows in England, France, and Italy, including a little BBC thing called…TOP OF THE POPS.
Welcome to the pre-Internet era of rock stardom, where you could conquer Europe and have no clue you were doing it.