Honey Cone | |
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Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1969–1973 2014 (Soul Train Cruise) |
Labels | |
Members | Edna Wright (1969–73) Carolyn Willis (1969–73) Shelly Clark (1969–73) |
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul all–girl vocal group, who are best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, "Want Ads". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.
Honey Cone was formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1969. They were the newly created Hot Wax Records' first signing to the fledgling label. The trio had previous musical experience with Willis a member of Girlfriends, Clark an ex-member of the Ikettes, and Wright a member of a gospel group, the Cogics. Wright and Willis were also "part-time" members of Love's group, The Blossoms.
They had been singing together for a short while when they were spotted by Eddie Holland in 1969 who had recently left Motown Records along with Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier to form their own music organization Holland-Dozier-Holland. Holland named the act "Honey Cone" for a favorite flavor of ice cream. At first, group members rejected the name, but Holland prevailed and the ladies soon embraced its distinctiveness. Although the group was based in Los Angeles, their recordings were recorded in Detroit. Martha & the Vandellas and The Marvelettes — two of the female vocal groups who represented Motown Records' sound in the 1960s — were among Honey Cone's main influences, as the group favored a blend of sweetness and grit in their own sound.