The early 90s saw a slew of R&B groups dominating the Billboard charts. Hailing from Waco, Texas, Hi-Five picked up the mantle from New Edition with their smooth harmonies. If there was ever a group that deserved a VH1 Behind The Music episode, Hi-Five was it. Tragedy struck the quintet time and time again.
Just before their debut album was released, Toriano Easley shot and killed a friend during an altercation and was sentenced to ten years in prison and dropped from the group. While promoting their second album in 1993, the group was involved in a car accident leaving Roderick Clark paralyzed. In 2007, lead singer Tony Thompson, who had a history of drug abuse, died inhaling a toxic amount of freon from the air conditioning unit outside his apartment building. In 2009, Treston Irby survived being shot five times at a club appearance. Russell Neal was charged with first degree murder of his girlfriend in 2014. This leaves Marcus Sanders as the only member unscathed.
In the fall of 1990, Hi-Five released their debut single - I Just Can't Handle It. The single did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it did hit #3 on the R&B charts. For the video, the group is seen all over their hometown dancing and hanging out. Hi-Five would top the Hot 100 with their next single - I Like The Way (The Kissing Game).
I Just Can't Handle It was filmed in Waco, TX
Location: The Elite Cafe
Address: 2132 S Valley Mills Drive, Waco, TX
Today it is the Magnolia Table, which apparently has the best burger in town...
Location: The Waco Suspension Bridge
Address: University Parks Drive b/w Washington Avenue & Franklin Avenue, Waco TX
Location: The Train Tracks
Address: just east of Franklin Avenue, Waco, TX
Locations Visited: October 2019
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteRIP Tony Thompson. I was working in a record store in an urban area when this single came out and holy hell it sold like crazy.
ReplyDeleteThey definitely had song good songs.
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