The Whispers
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The Whispers are a R&B / dance vocal group from Los Angeles, California.
Contents |
[edit] Career
The Whispers formed in 1964 in Los Angeles. The original members included the twin brothers, Scotty (Wallace) and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. In 1973, Harmon was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree. The group scored many hits on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they hit #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1980 with "And the Beat Goes On" (not to be confused with Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On") / "Can You Do the Boogie" / "Out the Box".
The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a brief career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100 (it reached #7). The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
[edit] Band members
- Scotty Scott (born Wallace Scott, 23 September 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas).
- Walter Scott (born 23 September 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas).
- Marcus Hutson (born 8 January 1943, in St Louis, Missouri).
- Nicholas Caldwell (born 5 April 1944, in Loma Linda, California).
- Leaveil Degree (born 31 July 1948, in Los Angeles, California).
~TBC~
- Gordy Harmon (born [[]] [[]], in [[]]).
[edit] Album discography
- 1973 Planets of Life - Castle Records
- 1974 Bingo - Janus Records
- 1976 One for the Money - Soul Train
- 1976 The Whispers - Soul Train
- 1977 Open up Your Love - Soul Train
- 1978 Headlights - Solar Records
- 1979 Happy Holidays to You - CBS
- 1979 Whisper in Your Ear - Solar
- 1980 The Whispers - Solar
1. "Song for Donny" 2. "My Girl" 3. "Lady Can You Do the Boogie" 4. "And the Beat Goes On" 5. "I Love You" 6. "Out the Box" 7. "Welcome into My Dreams"
- 1981 Imagination - Solar
- 1981 Love Is Where You Find It - Sequel
- 1981 This Kind of Lovin' - Solar
- 1983 Love for Love - Capitol Records
- 1984 So Good - Solar
- 1987 Just Gets Better with Time - Solar
- 1989 Vintage Whispers - Solar
- 1990 More of the Night - Capitol
- 1990 In the Mood - Solar
- 1991 Somebody Loves You - Quicksilver
- 1993 Dr. Love - Quicksilver
- 1994 Beat Goes On - Unidisc
- 1994 Christmas Moments - Capitol
- 1995 Toast to the Ladies - Capitol
- 1996 The Whispers - Sequel
- 1997 Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface - Interscope Records
- 2006 For Your Ears Only
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | R&B Singles | UK Singles chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong" | #50 | #6 | - | Planets Of Life |
| 1971 | "There's A Love For Everyone" | - | #31 | - | |
| 1972 | "I Only Meant To Wet My Feet" | - | #27 | - | |
| 1972 | "Can't Help But Love You" | - | #35 | - | |
| 1973 | "Somebody Loves You" | #94 | #45 | - | |
| 1974 | "Bingo" | - | #40 | - | Bingo |
| 1974 | "A Mother For My Children" | #92 | #32 | - | |
| 1976 | "In Love Forever" | - | #40 | - | |
| 1976 | "Living Together (In Sin)" | - | #21 | - | |
| 1976 | "One For The Money (Part 1)" | #88 | #10 | - | |
| 1977 | "Make It With You" | #94 | #10 | - | |
| 1977 | "You're Only As Good As You Think You Are" | - | #91 | - | |
| 1978 | "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out" | - | #13 | - | Headlights |
| 1978 | "I'm Gonna Make You My Wife" | - | #54 | - | |
| 1979 | "A Song For Donny" | - | #21 | - | |
| 1980 | "And the Beat Goes On" | #19 | #1 | #2 | The Whispers |
| 1980 | "Lady" | #28 | #3 | #55 | |
| 1980 | "My Girl" | - | - | #26 | |
| 1981 | "It's A Love Thing" | #28 | #2 | #9 | |
| 1981 | "I Can Make It Better" | - | - | #44 | |
| 1983 | "This Time" | - | #32 | #81 | |
| 1983 | "Keep On Lovin' Me" | - | #4 | - | |
| 1983 | "Tonight" | #84 | #4 | - | |
| 1984 | "Contagious" | - | #10 | #56 | |
| 1985 | "Some Kinda Lover" | - | - | #91 | |
| 1987 | "And The Beat Goes On" (reissue) | - | - | #45 | |
| 1987 | "Rock Steady" | #7 | #1 | #38 | Just Gets Better With Time |
| 1987 | "In The Mood" | - | #16 | - | Just Gets Better With Time |
| 1987 | "Just Gets Better With Time" | - | #12 | - | Just Gets Better With Time |
| 1987 | "Special FX" | - | - | #69 | Just Gets Better With Time |
| 1987 | "No Pain No Gain" | - | - | #81 | Just Gets Better With Time |
| 1990 | "Innocent" | #55 | #3 | - | More of the Night |
| 1990 | "My Heart Your Heart" | - | #4 | - | More of the Night |
| 1991 | "I Want 2B The 1 4U" | - | #58 | - | More of the Night |
| 1991 | "Is It Good To You" | - | #7 | - | More of the Night |
| 1995 | "Make Sweet Love To Me" | - | #41 | - | Toast to the Ladies |
| 1995 | "Come On Home" | - | #60 | - | Toast to the Ladies |
[edit] Trivia
- "And the Beat Goes On" would later be sampled on Will Smith's 1998 song, "Miami".
- It can also be heard in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City; on the fictional radio station Fever 105; and is available on the game's aside selling merchandise of the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City soundtrack.
- Performed "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" on The Rippingtons' CD "Brave New World. The performance included samples of both "And the Beat Goes On" and "Rock Steady".
[edit] Reference
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
[edit] Awards & Recognition
The Whispers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | American rhythm and blues musical groups | Soul musical groups | American dance music groups | 1960s music groups | 1970s music groups | 1980s music groups | 1990s music groups | 2000s music groups | Musical groups established in 1964 | Soul Train
