Five Star

Modeled after the Jackson 5, Five Star was a British pop group featuring siblings Stedman, Lorraine, Denise, Doris, and Delroy Pearson. Formed in London, England in 1983 under the guidance of their father Buster Pearson, Five Star issued their first single, “Problematic,” on Tent Records. The group was originally a trio that only featured the sisters, but the brothers were added to fill out the group. Although the song “Problematic” was not a hit, it caught the attention of RCA Records, who signed the group in 1984. After two singles for the label – “Hide and Seek” (1984) and “Crazy” (1984) – Five Star finally scored a number 15 hit in the UK with “All Fall Down” (1985). The song was also a charting hit in Belgium, the US, New Zealand, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Further hits in 1985 – including “Let Me Be the One,” “Love Take Over,” and “System Addict” – and were lifted from their debut album Luxury of Life, which hit number 12 in the UK. The group’s second album, Silk & Steel (1986), was even more successful, reaching number 1 in the UK. The album included the international hits “Rain or Shine,” “Can’t Wait Another Minute,” “Find the Time,” “The Slightest Touch,” and “Stay Out of My Life.” While Five Star’s success continued to rise in the UK and Europe, they began sliding down the charts in the US. In 1987, they released the album Between the Lines, which reached number 7 on the UK Albums chart. Although they continued to release hit singles that reached the Top 40 in the UK, there was a significant drop in their popularity beginning with 1988’s Rock the World album. Their singles continued to chart in England, but they no longer reached the Top 40. After the albums Five Star (1990), Shine (1991), and Heart and Soul (1995), the group split up amidst news of financial difficulties. The five members came back together in 2001 for the album Eclipse but put Five Star to rest the following year. They resurfaced again in 2012, but Lorraine left the group shortly after their reunion. The other four continued as Five Star until 2016 before calling it quits yet again. However, Denise revived the group with four new members and continued to perform as Five Star. Stedman Pearson died at the age of 60 of complications from diabetes on March 10, 2025.