The Delfonics
(Read all about The Delfonics after the video)
The Delfonics are an American R&B/Soul vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Delfonics were most popular in the late–1960s and early–1970s. Their most notable hits include "La-La (Means I Love You)", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Break Your Promise", "I'm Sorry", and "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)". Their hit songs were primarily written/composed by lead vocalist and founding member William 'Poogie' Hart and arranged/produced by songwriter and producer Thom Bell.
Their songs have been used in film soundtracks, including Quentin Tarantino's 1997 movie Jackie Brown,
in which "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind"
underscore the pivotal relationship between the characters played by Pam Grier and Robert Forster. Their songs "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" and "Funny Feeling" were used in the video game Grand Theft Auto V on the fictional radio station The Lowdown 91.1. Their songs have been sampled by various hip-hop and rap artists including: The Wu-Tang Clan, Fugees, Deltron 3030, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Boyz II Men, Missy Elliott and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. In addition, their songs have been covered by numerous other performers, including Aretha Franklin, The Jackson 5, Patti LaBelle, New Kids on the Block, Fugees, Todd Rundgren, Prince, Swing Out Sister and The Manhattan Transfer.
Background
Original group members were William and Wilbert Hart, Ritchie Daniels, and Randy Cain, whom they met at Overbrook High School
in the 1960s. The Delfonics' first recording, "He Don't Really Love
You", was for Moon Shot Records in 1966. Daniels was drafted and left
for the service in 1968. At Cameo, producer Stan Watson introduced them
to producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. With Cameo they recorded a popular tune called "You've Been Untrue". The group's first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove record label, featured the smash hit "La-La (Means I Love You)" in 1968. The single sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few years: The Sound of Sexy Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular hits were the Grammy-winning
"Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "(For The Love) I Gave To You",
"Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)", and "Hey Love". The
Delfonics and Bell had to work with a basic budget on the first creation
as Thom explained "When I took them into the studio we didn't have any
money to pay for string players and an orchestra so I played most of the
instruments myself!" - a far cry from the full classical productions
from 1968 to the beginning of the seventies.[2] "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" also sold a million copies and by March 1970 received a gold disc from the R.I.A.A..[1]
Randy Cain left the group in 1971, and in 1973 had a hand in formulating Blue Magic,
best known for their classic "Sideshow," when he brought
singer-songwriter Ted Mills in to do some writing for W.M.O.T. (We Men
Of Talent), and the remaining future members of Blue Magic came in for
an audition. Cain 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 & 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. ("(For The Love) I Gave To You", although
popular, was never released as a single.) Most of their songs at this point were written by lead singer William Hart.
1975 disbanding
The group split around 1975; one group featured Major and Wilbert, with new member Frank Washington,
formerly of the Futures. (Major Harris also had major success with the
solo recording "Love Won't Let Me Wait"). 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 featured
William, Randy Cain, and Garfield Fleming, and the other consisted of
Frank, Major, and Freddy Ingleton. William also toured with another line
up consisting of himself, Johnny ("JJ") Johnson and Pat Palmer,[3] and toured in Japan at least one time with Ingleton and Dr. Salaam Love.[4]
Later career: 1980–99
Through
the 1980s and the 1990s, the Delfonics groups continued to perform. The
William Hart/Major Harris/Frank Washington group made several
recordings, including backing vocals on the track "After the Smoke is Clear", on the 1996 hip hop album Ironman by Ghostface Killah. Their works continued to be sampled. Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. sampled "Hey Love" in his song "Playa Hata", released in 1997, and in 1996 rapper Nas sampled their "Walk Right Up To the Sun" for his hit "If I Ruled the World." Rapper Missy Elliott sampled "Ready Or Not Here I Come" in her hit "Sock it 2 Me." Rapper Ghostface Killa sampled "La La Means I Love You" in his hit "Holla". Eazy-E, Gang Starr, and Ed OG have sampled "Trying To Make a Fool of Me."
The groups reorganized again in the late–1990s. William Hart began
touring with Johnnie Johnson and Garfield Fleming; this group recorded
as the Delfonics. Major Harris toured with Frank Washington and Pat
Palmer.[5]
Wilbert also led a Delfonics group; members in the 1990s included
Salaam Love (formerly in William's group) and Eban Brown (falsetto).[6]
They were replaced by Greg Hill (former bassist for Teddy Riley &
New Edition) and Van Fields. Van left the Delfonics to sing with The
Stylistics. Greg Hill brought Joe Branch down to one of the rehearsals
and Joe was hired as the new lead vocalist. 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 line-up featuring Greg Hill and Joe Branch is featured on the DVD Old School Soul Party Live!, which was part of the PBS My Music series. Harris is also featured on the re-released DVD Blue Magic/Margie Joseph/Major Harris Live!,
which was recorded in 1975. The current line-ups are William Hart,
Johnnie Johnson, and Garfield Fleming, and, Wilbert Hart, Joe Branch and
Salaam Love.
Recent years
Major Harris passed away on November 9, 2012. The Delfonics were featured on the Unsung TV series on TV One in 2013.
Greg Hill departed from Will Hart's Delfonics and formed The
Delfonics Revue. Greg was replaced by Salaam Love. Wilbert Hart
continues to tour with his Delfonics group, sometimes called "The
Delphonics", "The New Delfonics" or simply billed as "Wilbert Hart."
Wilbert's group released a CD in 2005 called Fonic Zone featuring himself, Greg Hill & Joe Branch .[7] Along with touring, the trio recorded a single with Rick Ross entitled "Here For U". Greg Hill is currently touring as "Greg Hill & The Delfonics Revue". Greg Hill Delfonics Official Site
As of 2016, William Hart's Delfonics, Wilbert Hart's Delfonics and
Greg Hill's Delfonics Revue are touring with their own Delfonic units.
The name "The Delfonics" is owned by founding member William "Poogie"
Hart. Official website for William "Poogie" Hart & the original Delfonics
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