| Author | Message | ||
  jrlo (jrlo) 5-Doyen Username: jrlo Post Number: 224 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.126.212.8 |
My hubby and I were talking about his the other night, and how after several personnel changes we didn't even recognize groups like the Temps anymore. Are there any other groups besides the Tops that stuck with ALL members for 20 years or more? Another group that popped into my mind is The Pips....I know there must be a few more. The Dells?? The Dramatics? Help me people... | ||
Iris Smith (hellostranger) 2-Debutant Username: hellostranger Post Number: 23 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 68.76.84.240 |
you are right on The Dells, the Dramatics have had quite a few changes, even 2 sets of Drams at one point and time. I don't kknow if a 3rd. Impression replaced Curtis Mayfield, if so someone here can tell us that. The Gap Band, they have managed not to break up due to family feuds, Oh and how can I forget the Whispers, early on, very early there was a change, but after Marcus (last name escapes me) passed on, they been pretty stable as a foursome. I'm quite sure there are more, this is off the top of my head. Iris | ||
Galactus (galactus) 3-Pundit Username: galactus Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 207.144.253.114 |
Well, I know Leroy Hutson replaced Curtis when he went solo. And then Hutson, I believe, also left after an album and he was also replaced. Ironically, The Impressions were both Mayfield-less and Hutson-less when they got another hit ("Finally Got Myself Together"). | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 281 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.157.240.146 |
The Dells must hold the record - since their first record, back in 1953, there's only been one change in personnel when Johnny Carter took the place of Johnny Funches - and that was back in '61. Leroy Hutson didn't really stay long in The Impressions, about a year. He was replaced by Reggie Torian then they added another singer,Ralph Johnson to work for a while as a quartet before reverting to being a trio. Until Lawrence's death and Levi's illnesss the Tops were probably second only to the Dells in the longevity stakes - although they did have a temporary stand-in member when one of them was in the army - but that was before they joined Motown so we won't count that. If you don't count a member leaving and NOT being replaced - i.e. no new face to get used to - Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles / LaBelle must be in with a shout when you're talking about female groups. And the Shirelles. A female group lasting 20 years without a lineup change ? - can't think of one. Davie Davie | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 2869 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Hi Iris, That would be Marcus Hutson. Before that Grady Harmon left in 1973. However, The Whispers have been very stable. Yes, Marcus has passed on. When they were elected into the Vocal Harmony Group Hall Of Fame, Leavil dedicated the award to him & said that they wouldn't bother replacing him. I'll post the link when I find it again. Other than that statement, I found no mention of his passing anywhere, not on the site that books their shows, or on their website. None of the music websites has this info either, I don't understand that at all. | ||
1wicked (1wicked) 5-Doyen Username: 1wicked Post Number: 356 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.102.44.68 |
Davie....didn't that Impressions group you listed morph into Mystique ? | ||
Charise (mistrivia1) 6-Zenith Username: mistrivia1 Post Number: 645 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 198.81.26.46 |
Hey Juice!! I was trying to post, but got caught up in checking on something, that I forgot to hit the post button before I left the site, DARN!!! I was trying to inquire about Marcus Hutson, as I know that he hasn't been in the group since the early 90's. I have inquired about this on their web site a year a little over a year ago and could not find mention of it either. This is the 2nd time that I have heard that he has passed and it boggles my mind too, that there has never been any mention about his passing in JET, Ebony or radio. What year did he pass and what month. I don't understand that, either. I mean we as fans of these great soul groups should be informed when someone passes, I mean when you notice that someone is missing from a group, you get worried that something has happened to them physically or emotionally. I remember someone in the biz so to speak, telling me that Marcus had a drinking problem, this was around '95, I believe. Maybe it is too painful for the group,as I have never heard anything from them on this, but still we would like to know, not to be nosey, but because we do care. Planets Of Life was one of my favorite songs, because they all introduced themselves individually and said their birth signs  Yes, 2 big hits from The Impressions after Curtis were Finally Got Myself Together(I'm A Changed Man) & The Same Thing It Took. Haven't heard those in a looooooooong time!!! | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 282 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.157.157.23 |
1wicked, Ralph Johnson went on to form Mystique, yes, but the other members were not connected to the Impressions. Mystique stayed on Curtom but the Impressions left the label and moved to Atlantic who put them on the Cotillion subsidiary - Atlantic were at the time putting most of their black acts on Cotillion keeping the hallowed name of Atlantic for the likes of Twisted Sister and Ratt. Makes you sick doesn't it ? Davie | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 2873 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Hi Re Re, I'm in the process of finding about this now. It is indeed a mystery & for the life of me, I can't understand why there's virtually no mention of his passing. Not even on The Whispers web site. I'm searching for some info & I WILL find out something about it, trust me on that. The lack of info borders on neglect. It's like the little girl on Family Matters. She was there, suddenly she wasn't & everyone acted as though she never existed. In my mind, The Whispers are an important Soul group & any of their passing, merits a mention in some Soul magazine or website. This situation is simply crazy. | ||
Iris Smith (hellostranger) 2-Debutant Username: hellostranger Post Number: 24 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 68.76.84.240 |
I thought it was mentioned, but it looks like the bio has been changed to eliminate that info. I've search and can't find it mentioned. I did see on one site his B-Date memtioned for 2003, and that he was 60, but I thought he was long gone! I'm going to see if some of our post are still available at the Whispers' Yahoo site from 4 or 5 yrs ago, maybe it's mentioned there. Iris | ||
bee soul (bsoul) 2-Debutant Username: bsoul Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.134 |
I heard Marcus Hutson passed either early this year of last year. I don't know how he passed. Does anyone know why he left the Whispers? I remember back in 1990/91 when the More Of The Night album came out he was on the back album cover and he even performed with them on Soul Train when the perfomed their hit Innocent. However when the video for their next single on the album My Heart, Your Heart came out he was no longer with the group, and he didn't appear on the other Soul Train appearence. It was never mentioned why he left the group. Gordy Harmon was one of the original Whispers who sang on their early hits prior 1973 such as, Seems like I gotta do wrong, I only meant to wet my feet, Life and Breath, If you feel like coming home, Can't help but love you, and other early Whispers hit. He appeared with them several times on Soul Train prior to 1973. However in 1973 there was a apperence by the Whispers(without Gordy in which Walter told Don Corneilus that He was seriously injured in a accident and that they hope he would have a successful recovery. But on their next appearence in 1974, they introduced Leavil Degree as a new member(who is still with them today) and Gordy was never seen or mentioned again. Does anyone have any clue as to what has happened to him? Did he ever recover and did he ever perform again? |
