Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
| Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
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| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1954–1996 2003 (christmas album) 2013 & 2015 (soul train cruises) |
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| Associated acts | |
| Past members |
Harold Melvin |
Harold Melvin
Bernard Williams
Don Haney
Roosevelt Brodie
Jesse Gillis Jr.
Franklin Peaker
John Atkins
Teddy Pendergrass
Lawrence Brown
Bernard Wilson
Lloyd Parks
Jerry Cummings
Sharon Paige
David Ebo
Dwight Johnson
William Spratelly
Gil Saunders
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American R&B/Soul vocal group, 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, the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976, although they performed and recorded until Melvin's death in 1997. However, the remaining members of the Blue Notes have reunited twice for two Soul Train Cruises, one in 2013 and another one in 2015, during the fourth sailing. Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing, the Blue Notes' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International. In 2013 and 2015, The group reunited when The Centric Network presented the Soul Train Cruise, and The Blue Notes reunited for both events, although they only performed during the fourth sailing in the 2015 event.
The group formerly known as The Charlemagnes took on the name "The Blue Notes" in 1954, with a lineup consisting of lead singer Franklin Peaker, Bernard Williams, Roosevelt Brodie, Jesse Gillis, Jr., and Harold Melvin. The group recorded for a number of labels without success from its inception into the 1960s. The 1960 single "My Hero" was a minor hit for Val-ue Records, and 1965's "Get Out (and Let Me Cry)" was an R&B hit for Landa Records. During this period, the group's lineup changed frequently, with Bernard Wilson leaving the act to start a group called "The Original Blue Notes", and Harold Melvin bringing in new lead singer John Atkins. In 1970, the group recruited Teddy Pendergrass as the drummer for their backing band. Pendergrass had been a former member of Philadelphia R&B group The Cadillacs (not the New York group that had hits in the late 1950s) and was promoted to lead singer when John Atkins quit the same year.
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