TOP SONGS

“Kiss & Say Goodbye”

“Shining Star”

“There’s No Me Without You”

Biography:

THE MANHATTANS were originally: Winfred “Blue” Lovett, Richard Taylor, Kenny Kelley, George “Smitty” Smith and Sonny Bivins. Blue and Smitty were out front as the group’s strong lead singers. Blue was also the group leader and an outstanding songwriter whose compositions with producer Joe Evans gave the group a string of hits on Carnival Records during the mid 1960s.

When Smith became ill in 1970, Phil Terrell stepped in as temporary lead singer until a permanent replacement could be found. In the fall of that same year, Gerald Alston, whose style paid homage to the legendary Sam Cooke took over as lead singer. More a pop singer than either Lovett or Smith, Alston’s incorporation into the group enabled THE MANHATTANS to break out of their mold as “doo-woppers” and achieve major national success on Starday/King Records with a Teddy Randazzo love song entitled “A Million To One”. In 1972, Blue Lovett’s “One Life To Live” reached the top 20 R&B charts. With Alston handling all lead vocals and Lovett providing smooth spoken introductions, THE MANHATTANS moved to Columbia Records in 1973 where they collaborated with producer Bobby Martin on a string of hit ballads including, “There’s No Me Without You”, “We Never Danced To A Love Song” and “Hurt”. The most notable of these ballads was Blue Lovett’s “Kiss And Say Goodbye”, a platinum selling #1 pop and R&B hit in 1976. In that same year, THE MANHATTANS teamed up once again with producer Randazzo to record “Feels So Good”, “You’re My Life” and “There’s No Good In Goodbye”. In 1977, they performed at President Jimmy Carter’s Inaugural Ball and since then have received their share of platinum and gold singles, albums, and other industry kudos; most notably a 1980 Grammy for “Shining Star” written and produced by Leo Graham.

In 1985, THE MANHATTANS, wanting to enhance their show by adding a female vocalist to the act, chose Regina Belle after being introduced to her by legendary New York DJ Vaughn Harper. Spending two years touring with THE MANHATTANS, she appeared on the Bobby Womack-produced single, “Where Did We Go Wrong” (a duet with Gerald Alston). She also contributed to The Manhattans 1986 Columbia Records album, “Back To Basics”. A year later she was signed to the label as a solo artist.

After 16 years with Columbia Records, lead singer Gerald Alston took his turn as a solo artist with Motown Records; while Blue Lovett, due to doctor’s concerns regarding his health, decided to turn his attention towards producing and grooming new artists. The late 1980’s found THE MANHATTANS pursuing individual interests within the industry.

In 1993, all that changed. With their 30th anniversary approaching in 1994, it was the perfect time to reunite. So, along with new members Troy May and David Tyson, a reunion tour was born.

On February 25, 1999 THE MANHATTANS were inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

In 2003, THE MANHATTANS released their first studio album in fifteen years featuring the beautiful ballad “Turn Out The Stars” which became one of the year’s best songs.

On August 15, 2012, THE MANHATTANS celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Now that’s history……

Bio courtesy of www.letsjustkissandsaygoodbye.com

TOP SONGS

“Ready or Not”

“Heat of The Moment”

“Gonna Love You Right”

Biography:

Grammy and American Music Award nominees After 7 (Melvin Edmonds Kevon Edmonds and Keith Mitchell) best known for their dynamic and distinctive R&B sound, marked a 32 year musical milestone in 2021.

In 1988, these three talented young men from Indianapolis, Indiana were brought to Virgin Records by the legendary hit-making duo Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds – Kevon and Melvin’s younger brother.

Their self-titled debut album went Platinum producing two #1 Billboard R&B singles and Certified Gold “Can’t Stop” and “Ready or Not.”

Their sophomore project, “Takin’ My Time” was Certified Gold. In addition, After 7 released 2 singles – “Nights Like This” used in the film soundtrack “The Five Heartbeats” and “Not Enough Hours In The Night” from the TV soundtrack “Beverly Hills 90210”. Their 3rd album “Reflections” of which the lead single, “Till You Do Me Right” charted another Top 10 hit.

After a 20 year hiatus from the studio, the group members came together and recorded with the writing and production team of Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and Daryl Simmons. They released the landmark album TIMELESS which landed five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Urban AC Charts.

In May 2019, the group mourned the sudden loss of Melvin Edmonds, the father of the gifted and talented Jason Edmonds who stepped in to continue the legacy in both live concerts and recordings until July 2019. It was then that vocalist, Danny ‘SkyHigh’ McClain joined Kevon Edmonds and Keith Mitchell to create a masterful woven tapestry of music for SRG-ILS/RoseWorks. The first single: Bittersweet will hit the airwaves this spring followed by the May 2021 highly anticipated album titled UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

After 7 is a NAACP Image Award recipient and has received countless of other awards and accolades. The group will continue to reach the hearts of fans worldwide and bring their message of passion and love through their music.

Bio courtesy of www.after7music.com

TOP SONGS

“Rubberband Man”

“Could It Be I’m Falling IOn Love”

“Sadie”

Biography:

Timeless in a way that few other acts today are, The Spinners are one of the most iconic and enduring groups in R&B history. With a towering legacy spanning over six decades, The Spinners have never lost their universal appeal… And this Summer, they return with their first all-new original album in nearly 40 years– the aptly-titled, Round the Block and Back Again.

The band both created and came to define the singularly smooth sound of Philadelphia Soul, channeling the highs and lows of romance and heartbreak into a catalogue of classic hits, beloved across generations. Throughout the years the Spinners have topped both the Pop and R&B charts with smash singles like, “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” “Then Came You,” “The Rubberband Man” and many more– earning six Grammy nominations, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and selling millions of records worldwide in the process.

Though The Spinners popularized, and came to embody, the lush sound of Philly Soul in the 1970s, they got their start in Detroit at Motown, in 1954. After a brief time there, The Spinners signed with Atlantic Records in 1972, teaming up with producer Thom Bell in Philadelphia, where the band blossomed under his masterful watch.

In 1979, The Spinners completed their first collaboration with producer Michael Zager, and by early 1980, the single, “Working My Way Back to You,” was topping Pop and R&B charts giving the group its 12th gold record. The Love Trippin’ album’s release included “The Cupid Medley,” one of the fastest-selling records in The Spinners’ career. The follow-up album, Labor of Love, featured such stand-out tunes as “Yesterday Once More,” and “Long Live Soul Music.”

Four decades later, The Spinners haven’t skipped a single beat– as Round the Block and Back Again makes wonderfully clear. Melding intricate harmonies with breathtaking vocal acrobatics, the upcoming album, slated for release August 27, shows The Spinners at their soulful, multi-octave best.

Timely yet timeless, Round the Block and Back Again is a triumphant return. From the classic jazz of “Show Me Your Heart” to the very relevant ode to love in the age of COVID, “Missing Your Embrace”…The 2021 Spinners navigate the sands of time as seamlessly–and smoothly–as ever. Preston Glass, the album’s producer, studied at the feet of Thom Bell– and it shows…He knows precisely how to make what’s vintage feel contemporary, and vice versa.

Says Glass of working on the record, “I wanted to emphasize to the listener that these guys are ‘the real deal’ – (still today, with a virtually new line-up)… And the phrase, ‘Round The Block And Back Again’ came to my mind when describing this project and these gentlemen….It was so inspiring for me to produce and write songs for this new album….and I was so honored that original member, Henry Fambrough, still leading the group through its vocal paces, gave the stamp of approval to do so.”

A fan favorite drawing large crowds to sold out performances both at home and abroad, The Spinners have left an indelible impact, not only on music history– but on the hearts of millions of fans throughout the world. Today, Fambrough is joined onstage by Jessie Peck, Marvin Taylor, Ronnie Moss, and CJ Jefferson; a soul-infused 4-piece band, led by Keith Ferguson, backs them up. The group is currently on tour throughout the continental U.S. as well as Hawaii throughout the Summer and Fall.

TOP SONGS

“If You Don’t Know Me By Now”

“Love I Lost”

“Bad Luck”

Biography:

The Legendary BlueNotes (formerly Harold Melvin & The BlueNotes) featuring “Sugar Bear” is one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group’s repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes.

Arthur Aiken, better known as Sugar Bear, “Lead Singer” of the-then-(The Original Legendary Blue Notes featuring Sugar Bear with (Lawrence (pop pop) Brown, Bernie Wilson and Lloyd Parks of the newly formed, “The Legendary Blue Notes/Original Blue Notes”. He has been singing all the Blue Notes songs in the same Teddy Pendergrass if not better sultry voice for over forty years.

While other members of the group decided to go their separate ways, Arthur remained with Larry, Lloyd and Bernie as the lead singer.

Just before Lawrence (Pop pop) Brown passed, he made Art promise that he would keep the group going at all cost: Art kept his promised and enlisted Gregory G-Man Boyd, who at the time was their road manager, as his partner to help him keep his word to Larry as he prepared to go home to glory. The two of them mutually agreed that G-man would be the manager and handle the business end. He continues to do this today. Together him and his partner/manager have put together the perfect group consisting of Sonny (Twinkle Toes) King, Roger (Smooth) Banks and Frank (Love) Lee. So while Gregory G-man Boyd handles the business end, Art a.k.a. Sugar Bear concentrates on what he enjoys most (entertaining fans with his voice):

The group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International label (PIR) between 1972 and 1977, although they performed and recorded until Melvin’s death in 1997, Sugar Bear and Gregory G Man Boyd maintained their partnership. Later the group performed with Harold Melvin’s daughter as Trudy Melvin’s Blue notes and the Legendary Blue Notes twice for the Soul Train Cruises, one in January 2020, the Ultimate cruise in February 2020. Before they could perform again, they were first hit with Trudy Melvin’s passing then immediately after, Covid 19 came along and prevented the group from completing their tour. But now!!!

The Blue Notes are on their way back……Strong

TOP SONGS

“Gloria”

“Where Do We Go from Here”

“Sunshine”

Biography:

The smooth and melodious soul group Enchantment was active by the late ’60s, but waited ten years for popular success with the Top 40 hit “Gloria.” Formed in 1967 at Pershing High School in Detroit — with members including Emanuel “E.J.” Johnson, Joe Thomas, Dave Banks, Ed “Mickey” Clanton, and Bobby Green.

Enchantment continued their hit-making ways in the late ’70s with a string of hits: “Where Do We Go from Here,” “Forever More,” “Moment of Weakness,” “Enchanted Lady.” The group continued to perform regionally as well as around the nation.

TOP SONGS

Love On A Two-Way Street

Special Lady

Biography:

Formerly known as The Moments this group has become a household name whenever you mention the words classic love songs. Their catalogue of hits contains multiple million record sellers like “Love On A Two-Way Street”, “Special Lady”, Look At Me I’m In Love”, Sexy Mama” and more are just a few that still captivates their fans at concerts

With the passing of original members Harry Ray and Al Goodman, long time member Billy Brown is still keeping their legacy alive in the hearts and souls of their fans all over the world along Kevin Owens and Larry “Ice” Winfree.

TOP SONGS

“In the Rain”

“Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”

“Be My Girl”

BIOGRAPHY:

The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics) are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962.

They are best known for their 1970s hit songs “In the Rain” and “Whatcha See is Whatcha Get”, both of which were #1 R&B and Top 10 Pop. Their other classic hits includes “Be My Girl”, “I Can’t Get Over You”, “Get Off My Mountain”, Me & Mrs Jones” and more.