Pieces of a Dream first started playing throughout the Tri-State area, and were soon featured on Temple University’s pioneering jazz radio station, WRTI-FM. Long before the “Young Lions” era of Wynton Marsalis, Lloyd and Harmon were swinging so hard as teenagers that the great Count Basie once proclaimed them “a tough act to follow.” But it was another jazz legend, the late Grover Washington Jr., the sax man who made Philadelphia his home, who helped Pieces of a Dream become the internationally known stars they are today.
After quickly becoming popular around Philadelphia, the trio landed a spot as the house band for a local television show called City Lights. Their experience widened as they played backup on the broadcasts to a wide variety of artists, and that’s where Washington first heard them. One day while the teenagers were playing at the Bijou (where Grover had recorded his Live at the Bijou album), he sat in with them to play “Mr. Magic.” Soon Washington announced that he was starting a production company and that Pieces of a Dream would be his first act. Lloyd was only a senior in high school when his first record came out.
From 1981 to 1984, Pieces of a Dream built their reputation with three albums on Elektra that would come to define the musical essence of the smooth jazz radio explosion: Pieces of a Dream, We Are One and Imagine This. Those seminal records yielded some of their earliest hits, including “Warm Weather,” “Mount Airy Groove” and “Fo Fi Fo.” Soon after completing Joyride, their last effort for Elektra, Pieces of a Dream moved to EMI/Blue Note and went on to record seven more albums. During this period, the group amicably parted ways with long time friend Cedric Napoleon.
In 2001, Pieces of a Dream signed with Heads Up International and celebrated their 25th anniversary with what was undoubtedly their best album in years, Acquainted with the Night. The group’s silver anniversary release featured guitarist Ronny Jordan, vocalist Maysa Leak, and saxophonists Gerald Albright and Kenny Blake. Highlights included compositions from Albright and Michael Bearden, along with remakes of “Mahogany” and “Upside Down.” Acquainted with the Night generated two top-five singles on R&R's NAC chart. The follow up album Love's Silhouette also scored top radio chart positioning and Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart top 10 status. Their April 2004 release, No Assembly Required, is sure to be another hit album in their long and illustrious career.
One of their former singers Norwood Young is now a cast member on the E! Cable channel's TV show High Maintenance 90210.
Addition - May 9,2009
Formed: 1975 in Philadelphia, PA
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Urban, Smooth Jazz
Group Members: Curtis Harmon, Ron Kerber, James K. Lloyd, Cedric A. Napoleon
Biography
Comprised of bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream were founded in 1975 in Philadelphia when the principal members were all teenagers. Originally somewhat jazz-oriented, Pieces of a Dream have mostly emphasized R&B, although they usually include a few jazz numbers in their performances. Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first three albums (all for Elektra during 1981-1983); they have since recorded for Manhattan and Blue Note. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the 1990s, preceding the four varied releases that appeared throughout the decade. A collection appeared at the turn of the century, but the band proved to still be going strong with 2001's Acquainted with the Night and 2002's Love's Silhouette. No Assembly Required was released in 2004 on Cleveland's Heads Up label, followed by 2006's Pillow Talk, also on Heads Up. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Fo-Fi-Fo
Pieces Of A Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lady reading palms
And she said to me
I wouldn't steer you wrong
She said oooh your lucky number, the number's fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
There are so many people
Who play the lotteries
They ask me what I feel
I just say oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo
Fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
But I'm not superstitious
And I don't believe in the fictitious
But astrologically is it my number today yeah
I was watching the game
Just the other day
When Moses Malone, he said to Dr. J.
He said oooh our lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
You know sometimes you win
And there are times you lose
But there is always the chance
That luck will smile on you
And oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
But I'm not superstitious
And I don't believe in the fictitious
But astrologically is it my number today yeah
You know sometimes you win
And there are times you lose
But there's always a chance
That luck will smile on you
And oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4, 4-5-4
Hey hey hey yeah
There are so many people
Who play the lotteries
And sometimes they ask
They ask me what I feel
I just say oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, Fo-fi-fo
The song "Fo-Fi-Fo" by Pieces Of A Dream appears to be about luck and fortune. The lyrics describe a visit to a palm reader who tells the singer that their lucky number is "fo-fi-fo," which is represented by the numbers 4-5-4. Despite claiming to not be superstitious or believe in the fictitious, the singer seems to be drawn to this idea of having a lucky number.
The song also references famous basketball players Moses Malone and Dr. J, who apparently believe in the concept of lucky numbers and share the same fo-fi-fo number. The chorus repeats the phrase "my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo" several times, driving home the idea that luck plays a significant role in our lives.
Perhaps the song is meant to convey the idea that while we may not believe in superstition or fate, we still hope that luck will smile on us and lead us to success. It also touches on the idea of the lottery and gambling, where luck is often seen as the determining factor.
Line by Line Meaning
I once went to see
I visited a palm reader
A lady reading palms
I saw a woman who reads palms
And she said to me
She spoke to me
I wouldn't steer you wrong
She assured me of my fortune being told accurately
She said oooh your lucky number, the number's fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
She told me that my lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4'
There are so many people
There are numerous individuals
Who play the lotteries
Who participate in lotteries
And sometimes they ask
They inquire
They ask me what I feel
About what I believe
I just say oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo
I just share that my lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo'
Fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
Or specifically, '4-5-4'
But I'm not superstitious
I don't have superstitious beliefs
And I don't believe in the fictitious
I don't believe in things that are untrue or imaginary
But astrologically is it my number today yeah
However, numerologically it could be my lucky number today
I was watching the game
I was observing the game
Just the other day
Recently
When Moses Malone, he said to Dr. J.
Moses Malone spoke to Dr. J.
He said oooh our lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
He mentioned that their lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4'
You know sometimes you win
Sometimes you are victorious
And there are times you lose
And sometimes you lose
But there is always the chance
Nonetheless, there is always a possibility
That luck will smile on you
That fortune may favor you
And oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo
And my lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo'
Fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4
To be precise, '4-5-4'
You know sometimes you win
Sometimes you emerge victorious
And there are times you lose
But there are times you don't
But there's always a chance
There's always an opportunity
That luck will smile on you
That fortune may favor you
And oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4, 4-5-4
And my lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo, 4-5-4, 4-5-4'
Hey hey hey yeah
Vocals
There are so many people
Numerous individuals
Who play the lotteries
Who participate in lotteries
And sometimes they ask
And sometimes they inquire
They ask me what I feel
They ask for my opinion
I just say oooh my lucky number, the number is fo-fi-fo
Just that my lucky number is 'fo-fi-fo'
Fo-fi-fo
Specifically 'fo-fi-fo' for my luck
Contributed by Jake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trentdavis733
I am 55 years old, and have been feeling this groove for the last 3 1/2 decades!!
@Fitdude58
Good stuff bruh!! Believe dat!!💯💯👊🏿👊🏿
@BigDHarlem
56 here, with the same feeling!
@dGb_music
Just got the used wax.. for Fo-99.
@branchcovidian754
Song is about that old.
@birdw
Dont blame u bro. This jam and video are awesome. THEY did a great job coming up with the scheme in the video. And the music and song awesome
@christopherbober
Very talented group. I remember hearing this song in the cold Chicago winter of January 1984. Wow, what a smooth song. Why didn't this group make more hits? Outstanding. Bulls fan, but I liked it when the Sixers won in 1983!
@GoldenLarkVoice
Chicago Native here ... I heard this on Video Soul in 1989... I was about 9 years old then... love this song!
@Djbfs
I’m hearing this song in the cold Berlin winter of January 2024. It just came on the radio. Wow, indeed a very smooth song. The best songs are those with the most beautiful memories.
@feroniafreeman
Chicago here🖐🏼 listening to this now let's me know that my musical taste back then as a preteen was impeccable!