Summer 70's Soul Jam

The Stylistics Bio

In 1966, “The Stylistics” formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by combining local high school rival singing groups, "The Percussions" and "The Monarchs". When members from each of the groups answered the then United States draft call and higher education endeavors after graduation, the remaining members under the guidance of English teacher, Beverly Hamilton joined forces and officially created the name “The Stylistics".

After working locally a few years in Pennsylvania’s tri-state vicinity, the group was approached by Bill Perry, a local record company executive. Bill asked if they would be interested in making a studio recording, and with no hesitation, they jumped at his offer. Finally, the group’s ultimate dream had come true.

By 1970, “You're a Big Girl Now", penned by the group’s then guitarist Robert “Doc” Douglas and Road Manager, Marty Bryant was recorded and “The Stylistics” were finally on the road to their much-deserved legendary success. The initial recording sessions cost Bill Perry a little over $500 to produce, which soon after resulted a record release in their hometown. Fortunately, before they knew it, the tune was picked-up in the tri-state area becoming a #1 hit in Philly, and several other cities up and down the east coast.

Bill’s next target was to promote the record nationally. However, he did not have the proper resources needed to make it happen, so he contacted Avco Records and a successful deal was signed. Rumor has it Bill personally received over $10,000 from this transaction, though the group never received a dime from this contract signing.

After the success of the single “You’re A Big Girl Now", Avco very aggressively set their sights on the group’s first album launch. Philly’s veteran hit producer Tom Bell was approached and hired to produce the group's first album simply entitled "The Stylistics". From that album came the birth of the group’s classic showstoppers, "Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart", "You Are Everything" and "Betcha By Golly Wow". To say the least, the success of their first album was phenomenal for that time, including an unheard total of six hit singles. Music industry’s Grammy Award nominations were a reality.

Now with the group’s talent and success engraved in stone, the ball rolled quickly with the release of their second studio album entitled Round Two, and now referred to as “the Philly sound with sweet love songs.”

Fast forward several decades, albums, cd releases, and group member changes, Herbert Murrell and second lead Airrion Love, the remaining original members of “The Stylistics” have remained friends since junior high school. They continue to travel the country and worldwide sharing their group’s music legacy.

The group’s many honors include the Philly Walk of Fame brass plaque embedded in cement on the Avenue of The Arts street in historical downtown Philadelphia. They also appear in an exhibit at the award-winning National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

The Spinners Bio

Timeless in a way that few other acts can claim, The Spinners are one of the most iconic and enduring groups in R&B history. With a towering legacy spanning over six decades, The Spinners have never lost their universal appeal, as evidenced most recently by the group’s long-awaited induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

The quintet created and came to define the smooth sound of Philadelphia Soul, channeling the highs and lows of romance and heartbreak into a catalog of classic hits, beloved across generations. Throughout the years the Spinners remained perched atop the Pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary Charts, with smash singles like “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” “Then Came You,” “The Rubberband Man'' and many more – earning six Grammy nominations, 18 Platinum and Gold Albums, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and selling millions of records worldwide in the process. Their legendary repertoire has earned a permanent place in the American songbook.

Though The Spinners epitomized the lush sound of Philly Soul in the 1970s, they got their start in Detroit at Tri-Phi Records (run by Harvey Fuqua of the Moonglows and his then-wife, Gwen Gordy), which later merged into Motown, in 1961. The Spinners signed with Atlantic Records in 1972, teaming up with producer Thom Bell in Philadelphia where the group blossomed under his production aegis. Having scored iconic hits while at Motown and Philly, they are the progenitors of the “MotownPhilly” soul sound.

The Spinners had another classic hit single, “Working My Way Back To You,” topping the Pop and R&B charts, earning the group its twelfth gold record. The “Love Trippin" album (1980) also included “Cupid,” one of the fastest-selling records in The Spinners’ illustrious career. The follow-up LP, “Labor of Love,” featured such stand-out tunes as “Yesterday Once More,” and “Long Live Soul Music.”

As the group enters its 70th year, they remain an integral part of the cultural zeitgeist. In having made national news in 2023 with a high profile donation of over 400 stage uniforms to the Motown Museum in May as well as an appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors in December, where they took the national stage with Mickey Guyton in tribute to the legendary Dionne Warwick, performing a stellar rendition of their chart-topping duet with Ms. Warwick, “Then Came You.”

A perennial fan favorite, the Spinners continue to perform to sold out crowds at home and abroad while maintaining a loyal coterie of die-hard aficionados. The Spinners have left an indelible impact in the annals of music history, and perhaps most importantly, on the hearts of millions of fans throughout the world.