The Dramatics
| The Dramatics | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Detroit, United States |
| Genres | Rhythm & blues, soul, pop |
| Years active | 1964 – present |
| Labels | Volt Records, ABC Records |
| Associated acts | Snoop Dogg |
| Website | http://www.thedramatics.org |
| Members | Larry "L.J." Reynolds Donald Albert Leon Franklin Winzell Kelly |
| Past members | Ron Banks (deceased) Larry "Squirrel" Demps Willie Ford William "Wee Gee" Howard (deceased) Elbert Wilkins (deceased) Lenny Mayes (deceased) Michael Brock Larry Reed Roderick Davis Craig Jones Steven Boyd Harley K. Brown Robert Ellington James Mack Brown (deceased) |
The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics) are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1964. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get", both of which were Top 10 Pop hits, as well as their later 1993 collaboration Doggy Dogg World with Snoop Dogg, a top 20 hit on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40.
The Dramatics originally formed in 1964, recording as the Dynamics in 1965. Their first release in 1965 entitled "Bingo" was recorded for the late Ed Wingate's Wingate record label, a division of Golden World Records in Detroit, Michigan. Due to a misprint, Wingate changed the name of the group from The Dynamics to The Dramatics in 1966 for the group's second release, Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo. By 1967, Motown had absorbed the entire Golden World Records operation. The Dramatics then moved to another local Detroit label, Sport Records, where they garnered their first minor hit single, "All Because of You."
The Dramatics originally signed for Stax Records of Memphis, Tennessee in 1968, but moved on after one unsuccessful release. However, producer Don Davis re-signed them to Stax subsidiary, Volt in 1971 after the group had teamed up with Detroit writer-producer, Tony Hester. They broke through with the first release recorded with Hester, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get", which Hester offered them after seeing the group perform in a Detroit nightclub. The song went into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9 and climbing to #3 in the R&B chart. "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971.
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