Heavily influenced by LaBelle and The Pointer Sisters, Stargard was a female R&B trio best remembered for performing the theme song to the Richard Pryor film “Which Way Is Up?’. The group’s original three woman line up consisted of Debra Anderson, Rochelle Runnells and Janice Williams. The group didn’t go for the breathy, girlish vocals the Supremes and the Three Degrees were known for, instead favoring robust, aggressive belting and brought a gospel like passion to it’s disco, soul and funk. Stargard was signed to MCA Records when its first single, the ultra funky “Theme From Which Way Is Up?” (written and produced by Norman Whitfield), reached number one on the R&B charts. Their debut album was released in early 1978, and later that year the label released the groups sophomore album ‘What You Waitin For”. The album’s titled track became another Top Ten R&B hit. However, after that, Stargard lost it’s commercial  momentum. Stargard left MCA for Warner Bros. and released its third album “The Changing Of The Guard”. The album contained the single “Wear It Out”, produced by Verdine White and Robert White. Unfortunately, the album didn’t do as well as it should have. In 1980, Debra Anderson left Stargard and the group continued as  a duo. The Norman Whitfield produced “Back 2 Back” was released followed by “Nine Lives”, which was produced by Rochelle Runnells. Neither album received a great deal of attention and in 1983, Stargard broke up.