The Communards were a British synth-pop duo formed in London in 1985. They consisted of Jimmy Somerville and Richard Coles. They are most famous for their cover versions of "Don't Leave Me This Way", originally by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, and of the Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye".
Theodore DeReese Pendergrass was an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. He was born in Kingstree, South Carolina. Pendergrass lived most of his life in the Philadelphia area, and initially rose to musical fame as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. After leaving the group in 1976, Pendergrass launched a successful solo career under the Philadelphia International label, releasing five consecutive platinum albums. Pendergrass's career was suspended after a March 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. Pendergrass continued his successful solo career until announcing his retirement in 2007. He died from respiratory failure in January 2010.
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes was an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s, the group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes, the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976, although they performed and recorded until Melvin's death in 1997. Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing, the Blue Notes' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International. The remaining members of the Blue Notes have reunited for Soul Train Cruises in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
McFadden and Whitehead were an American R&B duo, best known for their signature tune "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". They wrote and produced some of the most popular R&B hits of the 1970s, and were primarily associated with the Gamble and Huff record label, Philadelphia International Records.
To Be True is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in February 1975. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff.
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit after being released as a single in September 1972, topping the US R&B chart and peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was subsequently covered by American singer Thelma Houston in 1976 and British duo the Communards in 1986, with both versions achieving commercial success.
"Wake Up Everybody" is an R&B song written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen.
"Hope That We Can Be Together Soon is a song written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, which was originally recorded by Dusty Springfield as "Let's Get Together Soon" for her 1970 album, A Brand New Me. The track was produced by Gamble and Huff.
Teddy Pendergrass is the debut solo album from the American R&B/soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1977.
Teddy is the third album by the American musician Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1979.
Live! Coast to Coast is a live album by the R&B crooner Teddy Pendergrass. It was recorded in Philadelphia in 1978 and Los Angeles in 1979. It did rather well on the Billboard album charts, reaching #33 Pop and #5 R&B.
Black & Blue is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in September 1973. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff.
I Miss You is the debut album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, released on Philadelphia International in August 25, 1972. Produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, the album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.
Gil Saunders was an American soul singer who came to fame as lead singer with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
Lloyd Parks is an American R&B/soul singer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He is an original member of the Philadelphia International Records group, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Lloyd is noted for his high tenor and falsetto vocal leads and harmonies. He is also a founding member of the Epsilons who backed Arthur Conley on his Atco Records hit single "Sweet Soul Music".
Bernard Wilson was a second tenor and baritone R&B, funk and soul music vocalist, who was a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and thus helped to define the “Sound of Philadelphia” in the 1970s.
Collectors' Item: All Their Greatest Hits! is a compilation album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in July 1976. It includes all of their biggest hits with the label recorded between 1972 and 1975, such as "If You Don't Know Me by Now", "The Love I Lost", Bad Luck", and "Wake Up Everybody". Many of the songs were in extended versions. The album, produced by Gamble & Huff, sold over a million in the USA. The UK album release also included the track, "Satisfaction Guaranteed" which had been a big hit for the group there.
Reaching for the World is the fifth album by American vocal group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. This, their debut album for the ABC Records label, was recorded in 1976 and released in 1977. This is the first album without Teddy Pendergrass, David Ebo was his replacement. Also joining the Blue Notes were Dwight Johnson and William Spratley. On release it reached #56 in the US Billboard 200 and #15 on the US R&B Charts. The lead single was "Reaching For The World" which reached #74 on the US Billboard 100 and #6 on the US R&B Charts. Then "After You Love Me, Why Do You Leave Me", featuring Sharon Paige, reached #102 in the US Billboard 100 and #15 on the US R&B Charts. Hostage Parts 1&2 was chosen as the final single, but failed to chart.
David Ebo was an American singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1976, Harold Melvin was looking for a lead singer for his group, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes after Teddy Pendergrass left, eventually hiring Ebo to replace Teddy. Joining the Blue Notes, Ebo sang lead on four albums starting with Reaching for the World and ending with All Things Happen In Time (1981). He sang lead on songs like Reaching for the World, Hostage, and Prayin'. In 1982, Ebo left the group and was replaced by Gil Saunders. In 1985, he released his only solo album "I'd Rather Be By Myself" on Domino Records under his last name, Ebo. The title track peaked at no. 37 on the charts. Ebo died on November 30, 1993, from bone cancer at 43 years old, 21 days after his 43rd birthday.
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