The Friends of Distinction

The Friends of Distinction
The Friends of Distinction in 1973.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, pop, soul, sunshine pop, psychedelic soul
Years active	1968–present (until 1975 in original incarnation)
Labels	RCA Records
Members	Harry Elston Floyd Butler Jessica Cleaves Barbara Jean Love Charlene Gibson

The Friends of Distinction were an American vocal group best known for their late 1960s hits, "Grazing in the Grass", "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", and "Going in Circles". Founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, The Friends of Distinction also included Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Jean Love (plus Charlene Gibson, who replaced Love during her pregnancy).

The Friends of Distinction formed in 1968 in Los Angeles with original members Floyd Butler (June 5, 1937 – April 29, 1990), Harry Elston (born November 4, 1938), Jessica Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014), and Barbara Jean Love (born July 24, 1941). Butler and Elston had worked together in The Hi-Fi's in the mid 1960s, often opening for Ray Charles. Other members of the Hi-Fi's were Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore, who would later co-found The Fifth Dimension.

The Friends of Distinction were discovered by American football player Jim Brown, who also discovered Earth, Wind & Fire, and were signed to RCA Records.

The Friends' first major hit, "Grazing in the Grass", was an Elston-sung vocal cover version of an instrumental hit by Hugh Masekela, with lyrics written by Elston. Released in March 1969, this gold record went Top 5 on both the pop and soul charts in the U.S., peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June. The follow-up ballad "Going in Circles" also charted highly, hitting #15 in November.