Dynamic Superiors

Last updated

The Dynamic Superiors are an American, Motown group from Washington, D.C., United States.

Contents

The group formed in 1963 with members Tony Washington (lead), George Spann (first tenor), George Peterback, Jr. (second tenor), Michael McCalpin (baritone), and Maurice Washington (bass). [1] They recorded a 45 released on the New York SUE label in 1969, "I'd Rather Die". The song was written by the group’s bass singer Maurice Washington (brother of lead singer Tony). They were discovered by Motown executive, Ewart Abner, at a 1972 DJ convention in Atlanta and signed to the label. [1] After a slight name change to The Dynamic Superiors it was another two years before Motown released a record by the group. The songs on their first two albums were mostly written by Ashford & Simpson. [1] They recorded with moderate success throughout the 1970s. One of their best selling hits was "Shoe Shoe Shine" in 1975. [1] They were unique in that Tony Washington was openly gay, [2] and sometimes dressed in drag onstage. [2] The group's last recording came in 1980.

Original lead singer Tony Washington died in 1989. [2]

Original member George Spann joined The Flamingos in 2001. The group was then reformed by George Spann in 2006, following the break-up of the Flamingos. The other members were three of the other Flamingos members: Larry Jordan, Earnest "Just Mike" Gilbert, and James Faison.

In 2010, Universal Music's subsidiary, Soul Music.Com Records, finally released The Dynamic Superiors' first two Motown albums, The Dynamic Superiors and Pure Pleasure on CD for the first time, in a 2-for-1 set (SMCR2 5003). [3]

Discography

All albums recorded on Motown Records, unless otherwise noted

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Temptations</span> American rhythm and blues group

The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s to mid 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flamingos</span> American doo-wop group

The Flamingos are an American doo-wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid-to-late 1950s and are best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as being one of the finest and most influential vocal groups in pop and doo wop music history. In 2001, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Delfonics</span> American R&B/soul group

The Delfonics were an American R&B/soul vocal group from Philadelphia. The Delfonics were most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include "La-La ", "Didn't I ", "Break Your Promise", "I'm Sorry", and "Ready or Not Here I Come ". Their hit songs were primarily written by lead vocalist and founding member William "Poogie" Hart, and arranger and producer Thom Bell. Wilbert Hart is the last surviving founding member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Diamond (singer)</span> Scottish singer-songwriter (1951–2015)

James Aaron Diamond was a Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for his three top 5 hits: "I Won't Let You Down" (1982), as the lead singer of PhD; and his solo performances "I Should Have Known Better", a United Kingdom No. 1 in 1984, and "Hi Ho Silver", the theme song from Boon, which reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Spinners (American group)</span> American soul music vocal group

The Spinners are an American rhythm and blues vocal group that formed in Ferndale, Michigan, in 1954. They enjoyed a string of hit singles and albums during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with producer Thom Bell. The group continues to tour, without any original members, after Henry Fambrough retired in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashford & Simpson</span> American songwriting and recording duo

Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting, production, recording duo composed of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Contours</span> American band signed to Motown Records

The Contours are an American rhythm and blues vocal group.that recorded for Motown Records .They are known their 1962 smash hit single "Do You Love Me", which sold over 1 million copies and became a major hit again in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Undisputed Truth</span> American musical group

The Undisputed Truth was an American Motown recording act assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques. Joe "Pep" Harris served as main lead singer, with Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Joyce Evans on additional leads and background vocals.

George Curtis Cameron is an American soul and R&B singer perhaps best known as the lead singer of The Spinners on their 1970 hit "It's a Shame" and for his 1975 hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". He is credited with having "six different voices."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Main Ingredient</span> American soul and R&B group

The Main Ingredient was an American soul and R&B group which had a run of hits in the 1970s, including their 1972 million-selling song "Everybody Plays the Fool".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Persuasions</span> American a cappella group

The Persuasions were an American a cappella group that formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1962, singing under corner streetlights and in subway corridors. Their style combined gospel, soul, early rock, and jazz into melodic five-part harmonies. Since being discovered by Frank Zappa, the Persuasions have released 23 studio albums to date.

The Originals, often called "Motown's best-kept secret", were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm for Real", "The Bells", and the disco classic "Down to Love Town." Formed in 1966, the group originally consisted of baritone singer Freddie Gorman, tenor/falsetto Walter Gaines, and tenors C. P. Spencer and Hank Dixon. Ty Hunter replaced Spencer when he left to go solo in the early 1970s. They had all previously sung in other Detroit groups, Spencer having been an original member of the (Detroit) Spinners and Hunter having sung with the Supremes member Scherrie Payne in the group Glass House. Spencer, Gaines, Hunter, and Dixon were also members of the Voice Masters. As a member of the Holland–Dozier–Gorman writing-production team, Gorman was one of the co-writers of Motown's first number 1 pop hit "Please Mr. Postman", recorded by the Marvelettes. In 1964 the Beatles released their version and in 1975 the Carpenters took it to number 1 again. In 2006, "Please Mr. Postman" was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lakeside is an American funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit "Fantastic Voyage".

New Birth is an American funk and R&B group. It was originally conceived in Detroit, Michigan, by former Motown songwriter/producer Vernon Bullock and co-founded in Louisville, Kentucky, by him with former singer and Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua and musicians Tony Churchill, James Baker, Robin Russell, Austin Lander, Robert "Lurch" Jackson, Leroy Taylor, Charlie Hearndon, Bruce Marshall and Nathaniel "Nebs" Neblett (1946–2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Tops</span> American vocal quartet

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel the Motown label to international fame. The group's repertoire has included aspects of soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.

<i>Renaissance</i> (The Miracles album) 1973 studio album by The Miracles

Renaissance is a 1973 album by R&B group The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was the first album by the group not to feature original lead singer Smokey Robinson on lead vocals, instead featuring him as executive producer. Robinson was replaced by lead singer Billy Griffin.

<i>The Dynamic Superiors</i> (album) 1975 studio album by The Dynamic Superiors

The Dynamic Superiors is the debut album for The Dynamic Superiors on Motown Records. Released in 1975, it contains the hits "Shoe Shoe Shine" and "Leave It Alone". After a 35-year wait, in 2010, this album was finally released on CD in a 2-for-1 set with The Superiors' second Motown album, Pure Pleasure, not by Motown, but by Universal's Soul Music.com imprint. Selected Tracks for the group's 2 album CD release. The album was arranged by Leon Pendarvis, Arthur Jenkins, Paul Riser and Richard Tee. It was written and produced by the husband-and-wife team of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson with Dick Ellescas credited for the cover illustration.

<i>Pure Pleasure</i> (Dynamic Superiors album) 1975 studio album by The Dynamic Superiors

Pure Pleasure is the second album from The Dynamic Superiors on Motown Records. It was released in 1975. After a 35-year wait, in 2010, this album was finally released on CD in a 2-for-1 set with The Superiors' first Motown album, The Dynamic Superiors, not by Motown, but by Universal's Soul Music.com imprint. The album was arranged by Horace Ott, Al Gorgoni, William Eaton and Paul Riser. The cover photography is by Olivier Ferrand.

"Can You Jerk Like Me" is a 1964 R&B song by Motown Records group The Contours, issued on its Gordy Records subsidiary. It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #47, and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, reaching #15. A single-only release, it did not appear on any original Contours studio album, as the group only had one album release during their five years on the label, 1962's "Do You Love Me ".

Bobby Eli was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 757. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 How An Openly Gay D.C. Soul Singer Made Motown History By Ally Schweitzer, WAMU 88.5, Sept 24, 2014
  3. "The Dynamic Superiors 2010 CD Review - CD & DVD Reviews". Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2020-04-20.