Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band is a soul and funk band that was best known for their 1973 hit song “Express Yourself.” The group consists of members Charles Wright, Al McKay, Benorce Blackmon, Gabe Flemings, Melvin Dunlap, James Godson, Big John … Read MoreCharles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (1962- )
The Sylvers, an R&B family vocal ensemble, was officially formed in the Watts section of Los Angeles, California in 1971. The four older siblings, however, had performed and recorded earlier as the Little Angels. The group members comprised singer Olympia Ann Sylvers, born October 13, … Read MoreThe Sylvers (1971-1985)
The R&B doo-wop ensemble Brenda & the Tabulations began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1966. They comprised vocalist/ lyricist Brenda J. Payton (Hill), born in the city on October 24, 1945, composer/ guitarist Eddie L. Jackson, born in 1947 in Forest City, North Carolina, Maurice Coates … Read MoreBrenda & the Tabulations (1966-1987)
The Monotones were a six-member American doo-wop group in the 1950s. Though they recorded other songs, they had only one hit single, “The Book of Love,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 100 chart in 1958. The teenagers lived in Baxter Housing Project and … Read MoreThe Monotones (1957-1962)
R&B doo-wop and balladeer duo Don & Juan hail from Long Beach, New York. They are pianist, vocalist Roland “Don” Anderson Trone, who was born on July 2, 1936, in Birmingham, Alabama, and reared in Long Beach, and composer, lyricist, and vocalist Claude “Juan” Johnson, … Read MoreDon & Juan (1962-2002)
The Floaters began as an R&B quartet, with co-founders Larry Cunningham who was born on June 23, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, and James Mitchell Jr., formerly lead singer with the Detroit Emeralds, who was born on May 27, 1949, in Perry, Florida. The lineup also … Read MoreThe Floaters (1976-1982; 1990-2019)
The Three Degrees, the Philadelphia Sound female singing group, was formed in 1963 at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They included Fayette Regina Pinkney (born January 10, 1948, Philadelphia) who was the lead singer long with Shirley Porter, and Linda Turner. However, the latter … Read MoreThree Degrees (1963- )
Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) is an R&B ensemble from Boston, Massachusetts, and comprises Ricky Bell (born September 18, 1967), Michael Bivins (born August 10, 1968), and Ronnie DeVoe (born November 17, 1967). The trio were original members of the New Jack Swing R&B ensemble, New … Read MoreBell Biv Devoe (1989- )
The Detroit Emeralds, an R&B/ soul vocal ensemble, was formed in 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, by two brothers and a childhood friend. However, they were originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. The members were brothers Ivory Tilmon (born September 14, 1941), composer/ lyricist Abrim Tilmon (born … Read MoreDetroit Emeralds (1966-1978)
The Philadelphia International Records house band, MFSB (“Mother Father Sister Brother”), was initially an all-male multicultural R&B ensemble comprising more than thirty resident studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios. They played the music and occasionally sang backup with many soloists and groups, including … Read MoreMFSB (1972-1985)
