Producer Marshall Jefferson and singer Byron Stingily comprise the house music collective currently known as Ten City. After being signed to Atlantic Records, they released the classic album Foundation, which contains several hit dance singles such as “Devotion” and “Right Back to You.”

Stingily became a solo artist and re-recorded the song “That’s the Way Love Is” to success in 1999. He returned to working with Jefferson in 2021 and they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album that year. In 2024 the duo from the Windy City debuted an uplifting track titled “Be Free.” 

The talented vocalist tookMarshall a break in the studio to chat about his upcoming gig and how house music brings people together. 

Windy City Times: Were you born in Chicago?

Byron Stingily: Yes, on the West Side of Chicago. I went to Holy Trinity High School. 

WCT: Where did the name Ten City come from?

BS: When we were signed to Atlantic Records I had already put out some music under the name of Ragtyme and had a song called “I Can’t Stay Away.” The reps there didn’t like that name. 

At that time the big solo artists were Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson. I am an introvert and didn’t see myself as a solo musician like they were, so I possibly limited myself a bit. I thought the concept of a group would be stronger. 

Marshall suggested the name be Intensity, since we would make some intense dance music. I thought it was a corny name, so I took the I and N off to make it Ten. In sports, that is a perfect score and it will represent utopia as a perfect place. House music is welcoming for all people and embraces everyone. Ten City is a place for everyone to come together and that is the whole concept of it. It was a compromise between Marshall and I. The record company thought it was catchy. 

WCT: There were two members of the original group named Byron. Wasn’t that confusing?

BS: Some people called me Big Byron and him Lil Byron. He’s outgrown that though. Originally it was Byron Burke, Herb Lawson, Marshall Jefferson and myself. 

WCT: You started very young in the music business, didn’t you?

BS: Yes. I knew what I wanted to do since I was very small. I heard Michael Jackson as a kid and I could sing just like him back then. I did great imitations of many people I listened to on the radio. I knew I wanted to be a songwriter above anything else. 

WCT: You are known for singing falsetto so that makes sense. 

BS: Yes, but I can sing like Barry White as well! 

WCT: Oh, you’ve got a range…

BS: So far I have a range. I lost my singing voice for a while but it has returned. 

WCT: What exactly is deep house?

BS: When we originally came out, much of house music playing at the time was known as Jack Trax. Chip E. was one of the pioneers back then. We came out with Fingers Inc. and we had lyrics. We were described as deep house because it was deeper and more thought-provoking. 

I don’t like it when people label house music in that way. House was originally just the best of dance music. We called it punk-out music or new wave at that time, so artists like The B-52s, Kraftwerk and David Bowie were part of that scene. 

Now there are many subgenres like acid house and garage house. The one thing we set out to do was bring people together, and now all of these labels divide it.

WCT: The LGBTQ+ community continues to use house music to unite everyone and keep the genre alive. You must have seen many queer fans over the years at your shows.

BS: Over the years I have played at some great places like Le Queen in France and Heaven in England. I remember being at the very first show that RuPaul did before his record came out. 

House music has ended some of the homophobia and stereotypes presented in many spaces. It’s about coming out for a good time!

WCT: Do you ever stop and think about how your legacy has affected listeners?

BS: I performed at a music festival in South Africa in front of 20,000 people and our album went gold there. When I performed “Devotion” and “That’s the Way Love Is,” people were crying because they said that music meant liberation to them. I hope we can continue to touch as many hearts and lives in the future. 

WCT: What are your thoughts on the remix of the track “That’s the Way Love Is?”

BS: Honestly, I didn’t want to do it at first. I wouldn’t have minded if someone else came along to sample it, but as an artist when you re-create something it’s like trying to capture a moment in time. It can be hard to be judged by my past work.

When someone creates a song, it is equivalent to giving birth to a child. So how can someone re-birth their baby? That’s how I look at it. 

In 2001, when we relaunched Ten City, the head of the record label came to Chicago to have lunch. He wanted Marshall and I to be involved in re-doing “Devotion” and “That’s the Way Love Is.” He went on to say I could do whatever I wanted after that. I thought it was a fair compromise and I had creative freedom on other songs. 

Judgment was nominated for a Best Dance/ Electronic Album Grammy and a few other accolades. 

WCT: What can longtime fans expect at this upcoming Metro show?

BS: I will be able to present the music as I have always wanted to. Ten City will be a live band with strings, horns and drums. So many times dance artists come into a venue with a backing track and it’s all about the DJ. 

I want this to be a night about the music and hearing it live. Nothing is like the experience of hearing a band playing off of each other, even with imperfections. There will be background singers and lots of dancing. 

We have had a band in other countries before, but I have never been able to do that fully here in America. I want this to be a launch of even greater things. 

WCT: With a live band then you can improvise as an artist and go longer if the crowd is feeling a vibe. 

BS: Yes, the drummer can perform a solo in the moment. There can be a call and response with all the interaction that comes along with that. 

It says Ten City and Friends, so I will have Curtis McClain come out and sing “Move Your Body.” Harry Dennis will perform, plus a few other Chicago artists as surprise guests to create a great experience. 

WCT: Who would you like to collaborate in the future with that you have not yet?

BS: I have always wanted to work with Nile Rodgers of Chic. While some house music extremists might give me a hard time, I wouldn’t mind working with David Guetta or Calvin Harris.

WCT: Many modern DJs admire house music like Diplo.

BS: Yes, Ten City meets Diplo would be so cool!

WCT: What’s in the future for Ten City?

BS: We are working on a new album now and we just did a song with a Chicago group called Drama. We just did a remake of Eddie Kendricks’ song “He’s a Friend.”

I am going to sing half of the songs and also bring in some younger artists for the other half. As I grow older, I want to introduce house music to a whole new generation. 

Ten City and friends take over the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., on Nov. 22, 2024, for an over-18-year-old concert starting at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at metrochicago.com.