The Monitors (American band)

The Monitors
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B, Soul, Pop, Motown
Years active	1964–1971, 1980s
Labels	Thelma, Motown, Motorcity
Associated acts	Richard Street & the Distants, The Temptations
Past members	Richard Street Warren Harris Sandra Fagin John "Maurice" Fagin Darrell Littlejohn Herschel Hunter Leah Harris

The Monitors were an American vocal group who recorded for Motown Records in the 1960s. The group, which consisted of lead singer Richard Street, Sandra Fagin, John "Maurice" Fagin, and Warren Harris, had two minor hits, "Say You" (#36 R&B), and then a cover of the Valadiers' "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)", which reached #21 on the Billboard R&B Chart, and #100 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart.

Harris and Street were school friends of Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin. Street became a member of the Distants with Williams and Franklin, but left before the group merged with the Primes to become The Temptations. Street recorded on Thelma Records, as Richard Street & the Distants, releasing the unsuccessful single "Answer Me", produced by Norman Whitfield, and also worked as a songwriter and as a member of another group, the Peps. Street and Harris then formed a group together with Sandra and John Fagin.

Their first release, as The Majestics, was to have been "Hello Love" on Motown's V.I.P. label in 1964, but release was cancelled. A year later, "Say You" was released initially as The Majestics, but a name change to The Monitors was made after it was found there was another group already recording as The Majestics for another company. "Say You" reached #36 on the Billboard R&B chart. "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" was their third release and reached #100 on Billboard's Pop Chart in 1966. The song explores the feelings felt by many young men, as they were drafted into the army to serve in the Vietnam War. Two more singles appeared on V.I.P., "Since I Lost You Girl" (November 1966) and "Bring Back The Love" (January 1968). They were switched to Motown's Soul label with "Step by Step (Hand in Hand)" in the summer of 1968, but this was to be their final single with Motown. However, they also released an album, Greetings! We're The Monitors, in 1968.

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