The Impressions › Similar Artists

Curtis Mayfield - 100% match to The Impressions

3 June 1942, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 26 December 1999, Roswell, Georgia, USA. As songwriter and vocalist with the Impressions, Mayfield established an early reputation as one of soul music’s most intuitive talents. In the decade between 1961 and 1971, he penned a succession of exemplary singles for his group, including ‘Gypsy Woman’ (1961), ‘It’s Read more

Jerry Butler - 99% match to The Impressions

8 December 1939, Sunflower, Mississippi, USA. Jerry, older brother of Billy Butler, moved to Chicago as a child and was later part of the city’s burgeoning gospel circuit. He subsequently joined several secular groups, including the Roosters, an aspiring trio of Sam Gooden and Richard and Arthur Brooks. Butler then suggested they add his friend, Curtis Mayfield, on guit Read more

Carla Thomas - 90% match to The Impressions

21 December 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The daughter of Rufus Thomas, Carla first performed with the Teen Town Singers. ‘‘Cause I Love You’, a duet with her father, was released on Satellite (later Stax Records) in 1960, but the following year she established herself as a solo act with ‘Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)’. Leased to Atlantic Records, the Read more

James Carr - 81% match to The Impressions

13 June 1942, Coahoma, Mississippi, USA, d. 7 January 2001, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Carr grew up in Memphis where he sang gospel in the Sunset Travellers and the Harmony Echoes and was discovered by Memphis gospel-group mentor Roosevelt Jamison. This budding manager and songwriter brought Carr to the Goldwax Records label, run by Quinton Claunch. It took four singles to de Read more

The Dramatics - 80% match to The Impressions

This R&B vocal group was formed in Detroit in 1964 as the Sensations. They changed their name to the Dramatics in 1965 and originally comprised lead Larry Reed, Rob Davis, Elbert Wilkins, Robert Ellington, Larry Demps (23 February 1949) and Ron Banks (b. 10 May 1951, Detroit, Michigan, USA). Ellington quickly dropped out. The Dramatics were a typical 60s stand-up vocal g Read more

William Bell - 80% match to The Impressions

William Yarborough, 16 July 1937, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Having recorded in 1957 as part of the Del Rios, Bell emerged on the fledgling Stax Records with ‘You Don’t Miss Your Water’ (1961), a cornerstone in the development of country R&B. Military service sadly undermined his musical career, and on its resumption he found the label bursting with competit Read more

David Ruffin - 77% match to The Impressions

18 January 1941, Meridian, Mississippi, USA, d. 1 June 1991. The younger brother of Jimmy Ruffin and the cousin of Melvin Franklin of the Temptations, David Ruffin was the son of a minister, and began his singing career with the gospel group the Dixie Nightingales. He combined the roles of vocalist and drummer in the doo-wop combo the Voice Masters from 1958, before signing Read more

The Dells - 77% match to The Impressions

A US soul vocal and close harmony group formed in 1953 as the El-Rays, when the members - Johnny Funches (18 July 1935, d. 23 January 1998; lead), Marvin Junior (b. 31 January 1936, Harrell, Arkansas, USA; tenor), Verne Allison (b. 22 June 1936, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago, Illinois, USA; tenor), Mickey McGill (b. 17 February 1937, Chicago Read more

Eddie Floyd - 75% match to The Impressions

25 June 1935, Montgomery, Alabama, USA. A founder member of the Detroit-based Falcons, Floyd was present on both their major hits, ‘You’re So Fine’ (1959) and ‘I Found A Love’ (1962). He then recorded solo for Lupine in Detroit and Safice in Washington, DC, before moving to Memphis in 1965 to join the Stax Records organization. He first made his mark Read more

The Staple Singers - 73% match to The Impressions

This well-known US family gospel group was formed in 1951 by Pops Staples (Roebuck Staples, 28 December 1914, Winona, Mississippi, USA, d. 19 December 2000, Dolton, Illinois, USA) and four of his children, Mavis Staples (b. 10 July 1939, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Cleotha Staples and Pervis Staples, who was later replaced by Yvonne Staples. The group fused an original presenta Read more

O.V. Wright - 71% match to The Impressions

Overton Vertis Wright, 9 October 1939, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, d. 16 November 1980, USA. One of deep soul’s most impressive stylists, O.V. Wright’s first recordings were in the gospel tradition and it was while a member of the Harmony Echoes that he became acquainted with Roosevelt Jamison. This aspiring songwriter penned the singer’s secular debut, ‘Tha Read more

The Spinners - 68% match to The Impressions

Eddie Kendricks - 67% match to The Impressions

17 December 1939, Union Springs, Alabama, USA, d. 5 October 1992, Alabama, USA. Kendricks was a founder member of the Primes in the late 50s, an R&B vocal group that moved to Detroit in 1960 and formed the basis of the Temptations. His wavering falsetto vocals were an essential part of the group’s sound throughout their first decade on Motown Records. He was singled Read more

The Intruders - 67% match to The Impressions

Formed in Philadelphia, USA, in 1960, Eugene ‘Bird’ Daughtry (29 October 1939, Kinston, North Carolina, USA, d. 25 December 1994), Phil Terry (b. 1 November 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Robert ‘Big Sonny’ Edwards (b. 22 February 1942, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) and Sam ‘Little Sonny’ Brown (b. Samuel Brown, d. April 1995) enjoye Read more

The O'Jays - 65% match to The Impressions

The core of this long-standing soul group, Eddie LeVert (16 June 1942, Birmingham, Alabama, USA) and Walter Williams (b. 25 August 1942, USA), sang together as a gospel duo prior to forming the Triumphs in 1958. This doo-wop-influenced quintet was completed by William Powell (b. 20 January 1942, USA, d. 26 May 1977), Bill Isles and Bobby Massey and quickly grew popular aroun Read more