The Stylistics were formed in 1968 from the fragments of two Philadelphia groups, the Monarchs and the Percussions, by Russell Thompkins Jnr. (21 March 1951, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Airrion Love (b. 8 August 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), James Smith (b. 16 June 1950, New York City, USA), Herbie Murrell (b. 27 April 1949, Lane, South Carolina, USA) and Jam
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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
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Formed in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA, in 1968, this distinctive sweet soul trio comprised Al Goodman (31 March 1947, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; ex-Vipers and Corvettes), Harry Ray (b. 15 December 1946, Longbranch, New Jersey, USA, d. 1 October 1992; ex-Sounds Of Soul and Establishment) and William Brown (b. 30 June 1946, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA; ex-Broadways and Unique
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A self-contained R&B band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Sweet soul stand-up vocal groups were highly fashionable in the early 70s and Bloodstone, with their falsetto-led and vocally harmonized hits, were a part of the phenomenon along with the Moments, Chi-lites, and Stylistics, among others. Original members were Charles McCormick (lead vocal, bass guitar), Charles Love
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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
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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
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Formed in Chicago in 1960 and originally called the Hi-Lites, the group featured Eugene Record (23 December 1940, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 22 July 2005, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Robert Lester (b. 1942, McComb, Mississippi, USA), Creadel Jones (b. 1939, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) and Marshall Thompson (b. April 1941, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Imbued with the tradition of doo-
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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
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Formed in 1962 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, about 10 miles south of New York Citys borough of Manhattan, this enduring soul group enjoyed its greatest success during the 70s. The original members were lead vocalist George Smith, bass singer Winfred Blue Lovett (16 November 1943), tenor Edward Bivins (b. 15 January 1942), tenor Kenneth Kelley (b. 9 Janua
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Formed in Philadelphia, USA, in 1965 and originally known as the Four Gents, the Delfonics featured William Hart (17 January 1945, Washington, DC, USA), Wilbert Hart (b. 19 October 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Randy Cain (b. 2 May 1945, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) and Ritchie Daniels. An instigator of the Philly Sound, the above line-up evolved out of an earl
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This durable New York, USA-based soul group was formed as the Poets in 1964 by Donald McPherson (9 July 1941, USA, d. 4 July 1971, USA), Luther Simmons Jnr. (b. 9 September 1942, New York, USA) and Tony Silvester (b. 7 October 1941, Panama, d. 26 November 2006, USA). One of several groups using the name the Poets, the trio decided to become the Main Ingredient an
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9 August 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Mason first recorded for Crusader Records in 1964, but did not achieve success until she began recording for the Philadelphia-based Artic label the following year. With her voice sounding young and innocent in its thinness and flatness, Mason reached the US charts with the marvellous Yes, Im Ready (R&B num
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Five-piece vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1966 comprising Emanuel (EJ) Johnson, David Banks, Joe (Jobie) Thomas, Ed (Mickey) Clanton and Bobby Green. Their career did not take off, however, until they moved to Los Angeles in the 70s, signing to United Artists Records and releasing an excellent debut album and hitting the Top 30 of the pop charts with Gloria
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