THE DELFONICS ( a.k.a. Delphonics)
Formado na Philadelphia, Pennsylvania em 1965 com o nome de "The four gents", por William Hart, Wilbert Hart, Randy Cain e Major Harris, os "Delfonics" ficaram reduzidos a um trio com a saída de Harris. Sua história é exatamente igual à de dezenas de grupos similares: sucesso local, primeira gravação, estrelato e uma enormidade de modificações na sua estrutura com inumeráveis idas e vindas de vocalistas de e para outros grupos. Prá quem gosta de "quebra-cabeças" será divertido tentar desatar o "nó -górdio" proveniente do "troca-troca" entre componentes dos Delfonics e outros grupos. Prá não estragar a brincadeira, deixei intacto o texto original que colhi na Web.
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THE DELFONICS ( a.k.a. Delphonics)
Classic line-up: formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1965 and originally known as The Four Gents, The Delfonics classic line-up featured: William Hart (born 17 January 1945, in Washington, D.C., U.S.), Wilbert Hart (born 19 October 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.), Randy Cain (born Rudy Cain 2 May 1945, in Philadelphia) - (up to 1971) and Major Harris (born Major Harris III, 9 February 1947, in Richmond, Virginia) - (from 1971 to 1974).
Brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the group with Randy (Rudy) Cain in high school in the early 1960s, eventually
becoming known throughout the Philadelphia area by the mid-'60s and signing with Cameo Records. At Cameo, producer Stan Watson introduced them to producer Thom Bell, who Bell dreamed of creating a Philadelphia version of Motown and struck gold with the Delfonics, whose first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove record label, featured the smash hit "La-La (Means I Love You)" in 1968. Randy Cain left the group in 1971. and was replaced by Major Harris; by then, however, Thom Bell had moved on to produce The Stylistics and later, The Spinners, all artists in the mold of the Delfonics. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive and Kicking, produced by Stan Watson. However, in the absence of Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career declined sharply, and with the exception of the aforementioned "Hey Love" and the minor hits "When You Get Right Down to It", "I Don't Want To Make You Wait" and "I Told You So", success eluded them after 1975. The group split around 1975 - one group featured Major and Wilbert, with new member Frank Washington. The other group featured
William with new members. Lineups would become confusing as members shifted between groups and multiple groups toured. Major Harris moved to William's group around 1980, with their third member being the returning Randy Cain. Frank Washington also switched from Wilbert's group, joining in 1985. While the main recording lineup of the group was William Hart, Major Harris, and Frank Washington, they would tour as two separate trios with additional members added. One group was William, Randy Cain, and Garfield Fleming, and the other was Frank, Major, and Freddie Ingleton. William also toured with another two members, Johnny ("JJ") Johnson and Pat Palmer, and toured in Japan at least one time with Ingleton and Dr. Sallam Love. Through the '80s and the '90s, the Delfonics groups continued to perform. The William Hart/Major Harris/Frank Washington group made several recordings. The groups reorganized in the late 1990s- William Hart started touring with Johnny Johnson and Garfield Fleming; this group recorded as the Delfonics. Major Harris toured with Frank Washington and Pat Palmer. Wilbert also led a Delfonics group; members in the 1990s included Dr. Sallam Love (formerly in William's group) and Eban Brown (falsetto).
The William/Johnny/Garfield lineup of the group was featured in concert on the DVD's "The Big Show" and "'70's Soul Jam," whereas Wilbert Hart's group is featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series.
Recent times: Garfield Fleming left the group, and a 2006 album, Best of Delfonics, featured William, Johnny, and Major Harris. Johnny Johnson left shortly thereafter and joined The Fonics. William now leads a group with two new members. Frank Washington
left around 2003 to join The Spinners as lead. His place was taken by Johnney Smalls, and this group (Major Harris/Pat Palmer/
Johnney Smalls) also continues to tour. Wilbert also has a group, sometimes called "The Delphonics", "The New Delfonics" or simply billed as "Wilbert Hart". Eban Brown went on to become the lead singer of The Stylistics. Wilbert released a CD in 2005, Fonic Zone.
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MINHA OPINIÃO - mais um dos notáveis grupos vocais negros da era "Motown", os Delfonics deixaram sua marca registrada em algumas músicas, e é difícil se ouvir a belíssima composição de Burt Bacharach/Hal David, "Alfie" sem associa-la de imediato ao "falsetto"de William Hart. Uma das características que mais me agradavam nos Delfonics era a sua capacidade de montar acordes de três vozes de grande beleza, tal como "aquele" último de Alfie. Também são marcantes as suas "renditions" a "The Shadow of your smile" e "The look of love".
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THE DELFONICS - LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU
Audio CD (June 5, 2001)
Original Release Date: 1968
Format: Original recording remastered
Label: Buddha
THE DELFONICS:
William Hart
Wilbert Hart
Randy Cain
TRACKS/FAIXAS
1. I'm Sorry
2. Break Your Promise
3. The Shadow Of Your Smile
4. Hurt So Bad
5. Losing You
6. Alfie
7. La La-Means I Love You
8. You're Gone
9. The Look Of Love
10. Can You Remember
11. A Lover's Concerto
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