At the group's inception Stargard's members were Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams. The vocal trio issued the "
Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" on the soundtrack of the 1977 feature film
Which Way Is Up? The
Norman Whitfield-penned track also was on Stargard's
self-titled debut
album released in 1978 on
MCA Records. The album rose to numbers 12 and 26 upon the
Top R&B Albums and
Billboard 200 charts respectively. As a
single "Which Way Is Up" rose to numbers 1, 12, & 21 on
Billboards Hot R&B Songs,
Dance Club Songs, and
Hot 100. "Which Way Is Up" also reached No. 19 on the
UK Singles chart. During 1978 Stargard released their second album entitled ''What You Waitin' For''. The LP's title track reached No. 4 on
Hot Soul Songs. The group then switched to
Warner Bros. Records where in 1979 their third LP
The Changing of the Gard, was issued. The album was co-
produced by
Verdine White of
Earth, Wind, & Fire. As a single "Wear It Out" rose to no. 4 on
Dance Club Songs. Stargard also lent background vocals to
Junior Walker's 1979 album
Back Street Boogie. Anderson went on to leave Stargard shortly after the release of
The Changing of the Gard. With now only Williams and Runnells in tow the duo released their Whitfield-produced fourth album entitled
Back 2 Back in 1980. Then they returned to MCA, upon which their fifth LP
Nine Lives was issued in 1982. Rochelle Runnells died in 2012. ==Media appearances==