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Philly Soul
Although
Philadelphia would not be a major force in soul music until the late 60s,
plenty of doo-wop, R&B and soul was recorded in the city from the 50s
onwards, some of which made a national noise. The most successful early
Philadelphia rock label, Cameo-Parkway, made a valid contribution to the link
between the 50s R&B/rock and the 60s soul with a series of dance-oriented
hits in the early 60s. The biggest was "The Twist", by Chubby
Checker, which launched the major dance craze of the rock era. As the
70s dawned, Gamble and Huff were big name producers, but had yet to establish
an empire with a durable label of their own. They achieved that goal
with the Philadelphia International, entering a distribution agreement with
CBS, which not only gave them much needed capital but also made it easier to
consistently enter the pop market. *
*Source ~
Music USA ~ The Rough Guide
< The
Ethics
Philadelphia
group led by
Ron Tyson*.
Later recorded as Love Committee.
Ron
Tyson (3rd from the left ) has been with the Temptations since 1983!
p
Chubby Checker
Born Ernest Evans on 10/3/41 in Philadelphia. Did impersonations of famous singers. First recorded for Parkway in 1959. Dick Clark's then-wife Bobbie suggested that Evans change his name to Chubby Checker due to his resemblance of a teenage Fats Domino. Cover version of Hank Ballard's "The Twist" started worldwide dance craze. On 4/12/64, married Miss World 1992, Dutch-born Catharina Lodders ("Loddy Lo") written for her. In the movies, Don't Knock the Twist and Twist Around the Clock.
Dee Dee Sharp
Born Dione LaRue on 9/9/45 in Philadelphia. Backing vocalist at Cameo Records in 1961. Married record producer Kenny Gamble in 1967, recorded as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. Also was in a group, Philadelphia International All Stars with Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, O'Jays and Archie Bell, doing "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto" in 1977 with all profits going to a 5-year charity project.
The Orlons
Vocal group from Philadelphia. Consisted of lead Rosetta Hightower, Marlena Davis, Steve Caldwell and Shirley Brickley (d:10/31/77, gunshot wound). David and Caldwell left in 1964 and were replaced by Audrey Brickley. Disbanded in 1968, when Hightower moved to England.
The Dovells
Pop vocal group formed
at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. Len Barry, lead singer.
Claudine Clark
Born on 4/26/41 in Macon, Georgia. Moved to Philadelphia when very young. First recorded for Herald in 1958. Also recorded for Swan as Joy Dawn.
Patti Labelle
Born Patricia Holt on 5/24/44 in Philadelphia. Began singing career as leader of the Ordettes which evolved into The Blue Belles. The quartet, formed in Philadelphia in 1962, included Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong. Birdsong left in 1967 to join The Supremes. Group continued as a trio. In 1971, group shortened its name to LaBelle. In 1977, group disbanded and Patti recorded solo. The Blue-Belles were credited on the label as the artists of "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" a 1962 hit which was actually recorded by the Starlets.
Barbara Mason
Born on 8/9/47 in Philadelphia. First recorded for
Crusader in 1964. Wrote all of the Artic label hits.
The Intruders
Group formed in Philadelphia in 1960. Consisted of Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, (d:12/25/94 age 55), Phil Terry and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards. First recorded for Gowen in 1961. Not to be confused with the white rock trio of the same name.
The Delfonics
Formed in 1965 in Philadelphia as the Four Gents. Consisted of William and Wilbert Hart, Ritchie Daniels and Randy Cain. First recorded for Moon Shot in 1967. Daniels left for the service in 1968, group continued as a trio. Cain was replaced by Major Harris in 1971. Harris went solo in 1974.
Eddie Holman
Born on 6/3/46 in Norfolk, Virginia. Attended Victoria School of Music in New York and Cheyney State College in Philadelphia.
O'Jays
Vocal group from Canton, Ohio; formed in 1958 as the Triumphs. Consisted of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. Recorded as the Mascots for the King label in 1961. Renamed by Cleveland DJ, Eddie O'Jay. Isles left in 1965. Massey left to become a record producer in 1971; Levert, Williams and Powell continued as a trio. Powell retired from touring due to illness in late 1975 (d:5/26/77); replaced by Sammy Strain, formerly with Little Anthony and the Imperials. Strain returned to his former group by 1993; replaced by Nathaniel Best. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff wrote many of the O'Jays' hits since 1969. Levert's son, Gerald and Sean are members of the trio Levert. Eddie Levert also records with son Gerald as a duo.
Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
Philadelphia group; The Blue Notes,
formed in 1954; Harold Melvin, Bernard Williams, Jesse Gillis, Jr., Franklin
Peaker and Roosevelt Brodie. First recorded for Josie in 1956. Numerous
personnel changes until 1970, when Teddy Pendergrass joined as drummer and
lead singer. Pendergrass went solo in 1976, replaced by David Ebo.
The Stylistics
The Three Degrees
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