The Weather Girls are an American female duo whose best-known line-up comprised Martha Wash and Izora Armstead.

Formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California, Wash and Armstead began their musical careers as Two Tons O' Fun, the female backup duo for disco singer Sylvester.

The duo changed their name to The Weather Girls and were launched into somewhat more mainstream recognition following the release of the single, "It's Raining Men" (1982), which became their first number-one song on the US Dance Chart and their biggest hit.

Over the course of a decade, the Armstead and Rhodes released three albums: Double Tons of Fun (1993), Think Big!, and Puttin' On the Hits (1999).

[5] In February 1976, Wash auditioned as a backup singer before American singer-songwriter Sylvester and his manager Brent Thomson.

Impressed with her vocal performance, Sylvester inquired if she had another large black friend who could sing, after which she introduced him to Izora Rhodes.

Although he referred to them simply as "the girls", Wash and Rhodes formed a musical duo called Two Tons O' Fun.

[11] The song also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,[12] and became certified Silver-status for sales exceeding 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

[13] "It's Raining Men" received a nomination at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards (1983) for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

[15] It reached number 4 on the Black Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Shortly after the album, The Weather Girls disbanded and Wash took up a solo career and also began working as a session vocalist.

[16] After a three-year hiatus and Wash pursuing her solo career, Armstead reformed The Weather Girls with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes and relocated to Germany in 1991.

While touring the club circuit, the album's third single "We Shall All Be Free" peaked at number 80 on Germany's music chart.

The album also contained a cover version of Sylvester's 1979 disco hit "Stars", recorded as a duet with Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville.

In 1999, The Weather Girls released their eighth studio album Puttin' On The Hits, which contained a collection of covered disco songs.

In 2012, The Weather Girls released "It's Raining Men 2K12", a newly recorded version of their 1982 hit, produced by Sebo Reed.

[23] The campaign was reported widely and The Weather Girls' version reached number 21 on the first day of the chart week.