Amii Stewart was a popular American disco and soul singer best known for her 1979 hit song “Knock on Wood,” a disco remake of Eddie Floyd’s original 1966 R&B hit of the same name. Born January 29, 1956, in Washington, D.C. to Joseph Stewart II … Read MoreAmy Paulette “Amii” Stewart (1956- )
Peaches & Herb is an American vocal duo. Herb Fame was born Herbert Feemster on October 1, 1942, in Southeast Washington, D.C., and has remained “Herb” since the duo was created in 1966. Francine “Peaches” Hurd Barker was born on April 28, 1947, in Washington, D.C., … Read MorePeaches & Herb (1966- )
R&B singer and lyricist Gary U.S. Bonds was born Gary Levohn Anderson Jr. on June 6, 1939, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Irene Anderson, a piano teacher, and Gary Anderson Sr., a professor at Hampton Institute. The family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, when he was 2 … Read MoreGary U.S. Bonds/Gary Levohn Anderson, Jr. (1939- )
The doo-wop ensemble Fred Parris & the Satins was founded by baritone Fredericke Lee Parris in 1953 in New Haven, Connecticut. Originally called the Scarlets, the name was changed in 1954. It initially was composed of Parris, tenors Sylvester Hopkins and Nathaniel Mosely Jr., baritone … Read MoreFred Parris & the Satins (1953- )
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, an interracial and international R&B band, began when Thomas (Tommy) Chong invited Bobby Taylor, whom he had met in San Francisco, California, to become the lead singer for the Canadian group the Calgary Shades in 1961. The ensemble included Chong … Read MoreBobby Taylor & the Vancouvers (1966-1988)
LeVert was a popular R&B group composed of Marc Gordon (1964-2010), Gerald Levert (1966-2006) and Sean Levert (1968-2008). Sean and Gerald were sons of Eddie LeVert, the popular lead singer and founder of the R&B group The O’Jays. Influenced by their father’s illustrious career in … Read MoreLeVert (1983-2006)
Shep and the Limelites were a doo-wop group of the early 1960s. Doo-wop groups became popular among Black singers in major urban areas like New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore because many young singers at the time didn’t have access to instruments or music lessons. They … Read MoreShep and The Limelites (1961- )
In 1961 the Royalettes, an all-female doo-woo quartet, was formed in Baltimore, Maryland. The group’s original members were sisters Sheila Ross Burnett, 17, lead singer, and Anita Ross Burnett, 16, from the Mount Holly Street neighborhood in West Baltimore, where both girls had been singing … Read MoreThe Royalettes (1961-1969)
Tavares, a band of brothers, was a rhythm and blues and funk and soul group. They have also been known as The Tavares Brothers of Cape Verdean heritage (near Senegal) and Chubby & The Turnpikes. They comprised six of seven sons and one daughter of … Read MoreTavares (1969-1976)
The Exciters were one of the first girl groups to have a no. 4 hit on the U.S. pop chart in 1962 and no. 5 on the R&B chart in 1964. Their first hit single “Tell Him” sold over a million records. The original members … Read MoreThe Exciters (1961-1974)
