The Spinners hailed from Detroit, had roots in 1950s doo wop, and started out in the mid-'60s Motown scene, but they ultimately became known as the ultimate '70s Philly soul vocal group. Famed producer Thom Bell mated their soulful harmony blend with…

Although formed in 1958, The O'Jays failed to find major success until the early '70s when they signed to the Philadelphia International label. Under the direction of producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the group (along with label mate Harold Melvi…

Formed in Philadelphia in 1954, the Blue Notes - Harold Melvin (b. 25 June 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 24 March 1997, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Bernard Wilson, Jesse Gillis Jnr., Franklin Peaker and Roosevelt Brodie - began life…

Formed in 1962 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, about 10 miles south of New York City's borough of Manhattan, this enduring soul group enjoyed its greatest success during the 70s. The original members were lead vocalist George Smith, bass singer Winf…

Marvin Gaye began his career in the late 1950s, singing with various R&B vocal groups. Soon he moved on to work as a session drummer and vocalist at Motown. Gaye's own '60s albums are marked by propulsive, high-energy R&B, and duets with Mary Wells a…

In the early 1970s, Bill Withers created a completely fresh mixture of southern R&B, folk, singer/songwriter pop, and soul music, which he employed to great effect on several classic hit singles. Several of Withers' songs have become pop standards, c…

The Temptations were the most successful R&B vocal group of the 1960s, their popularity rivaled only by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. Despite several stylistic and line up changes (lead singers Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin both went on to …

Al Green's passionately regal voice, flying over the supple grooves of the Willie Mitchell-led Hi Records house band, was the very definition of both Memphis soul and early-1970s R&B. Green was a virtual hit machine for the first half of that decade,…

A semi-successful Motown vocal group in the early '60s, The Isley Brothers' historical importance would be assured if only for their original version of "Twist and Shout," and the fact that they provided Jimi Hendrix with one of his first big breaks.…

Immaculate choreography, flawless harmonies, and the instantly recognizable lead vocals of Levi Stubbs made the Four Tops one of the best and longest-running groups to come out of Berry Gordy's Motown hit factory in the 1960s. Their interpretations o…

The Stylistics were formed in 1968 from the fragments of two Philadelphia groups, the Monarchs and the Percussions, by Russell Thompkins Jnr. (b. 21 March 1951, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Airrion Love (b. 8 August 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylva…

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 consisted of lead Larry Reed, Rob Davis, Elbert Wilkins, Robert Ellington, Larry Demps (b. 23 February 1949) and Ron…

From 12-year-old multi-instrumentalist prodigy to groundbreaking adult songwriter and producer, Stevie Wonder is one of the handful of pop musicians who just about everybody agrees is possessed of genius. His 1960s recordings were great straight-up R…

b. Paul Williams, 1 December 1934, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Although Paul had been an active singer in the Philadelphia area since the 50s, singing in jazz clubs and briefly with Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, it was not until he met produ…

Earth, Wind & Fire was the brainchild of musical Renaissance man Maurice White, a successful ex-session drummer who recorded with everyone from Chuck Berry to John Coltrane. Essentially an R&B group, Earth, Wind & Fire expanded its sound to include e…

A giant both artistically and physically, Barry White had a basso profundo voice and lusty, soulful songs that are probably responsible for more procreation than a thousand fertility clinics. Songs like "Never Never Gonna Give You Up" and "Can't Get …

Protégées of producer/songwriter Richard Barrett, Fayette Pickney, Linda Turner and Shirley Porter scored a US hit with their first single, "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)", in 1965. This Philadelphia-based trio, sponsored by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, secure…

This Philadelphia, USA-based vocal quintet comprised Theodore "Ted" Mills (lead), Vernon Sawyer (tenor, baritone), Wendell Sawyer (baritone), Keith Beaton (tenor) and Richard Pratt (bass). Produced by Norman Harris, a Philly sweet soul veteran, the g…

Formed in Chicago in 1960 and originally called the Hi-Lites, the group featured Eugene Record (b. 23 December 1940, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Robert Lester (b. 1942, McComb, Mississippi, USA), Creadel Jones (b. 1939, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) and Mar…