Detroit Emeralds

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The Detroit Emeralds were an American R&B singing group best known in the early 1970s.

The Emeralds formed as a vocal harmony group in Little Rock, Arkansas, and originally comprised four brothers, Ivory (b 14 September 1941), Abrim (“Abe”, 12 January 1945 - July 1982), Cleophus and Raymond Tilmon. After Cleophus and Raymond left, the remaining Tilmon brothers were joined by childhood friend James Mitchell. Moving to Detroit and expanding their name, the trio had their first R&B chart success on Ric-Tic Records with "Show Time" in 1968.

In 1970, they joined the Westbound label. When touring in Memphis, Tennessee, they recorded some demo tracks at the Hi studios, to which they then added vocals and strings back in Detroit. This approach worked and brought them another hit, "If I Lose Your Love", which was followed by a run of successes including "Do Me Right" and "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" which made #4 on the R&B chart and #24 on the pop chart in 1972. The song for which they are now best remembered, "Feel The Need (In Me)", was not a hit until later in the US, but made the top five in the UK in 1973.

By 1974, the group was falling apart, and at one point there were two groups using the name. Abe Tilmon formed one new group with the Detroit Emeralds name, while James Mitchell formed another group, the Floaters. Both Emeralds groups stayed active on the oldies and cabaret circuit for some years, Abe Tilmon dying in 1982.