Featured in the Guinness World Records as the longest-running female vocal group in history, The Three Degrees are pleased to announce their first extensive UK headline tour in four years, with twenty dates across the country, kicking-off at Weston Super Mare Playhouse Theatre, 21st January. Tour dates below.

Celebrating an incredible 50 years in the business, the threesome has retained all three of their major qualities; their beauty, their sparkling choreography, and their precise vocal harmonies. Consisting of original members Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday along with Freddie Pool, The Three Degrees has become one of the most internationally popular and long lasting Soul groups in history.

Their influence and popularity has played an important role in bringing Soul music to the world and they continue to be considered around the globe as one of the most important ambassadors of American Soul Music, more than five decades after its birth and they show no signs of slowing down.

Featured in the Guinness World Records as the longest-running female vocal group in history, The Three Degrees are pleased to announce their first extensive UK headline tour in four years, with twenty dates across the country, kicking-off at Weston Super Mare Playhouse Theatre, 21st January.

Celebrating an incredible 50 years in the business, the threesome has retained all three of their major qualities; their beauty, their sparkling choreography, and their precise vocal harmonies. Consisting of original members Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday along with Freddie Pool, The Three Degrees has become one of the most internationally popular and long lasting Soul groups in history.

Formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1963, The Three Degrees were brought together by veteran writer and producer, Richard Barrett, who produced the band’s first hit Gee Baby, for Philly-based record label, Swan Records. With various changes in band personnel, Barrett began the process of molding the trio into a regional favourite, training them extensively and booking them at record shops and talent contests throughout the US.

In 1970, they signed with the New York-based Roulette Records and had a top 5 hit with the remake of The Chantels song Maybe, with Valerie Holiday on lead vocals and her unforgettable rap. During this time, the trio made a cameo appearance in the movie The French Connection, portraying themselves, in a cabaret scene.

In 1972, in a major career move, the trio signed with Gamble and Huff’s acclaimed label Philadelphia International Records. They made an immediate splash with the disco hit Dirty Ol' Man before joining with MFSB (the Philadelphia International house band) to record the Soul Train theme tune, TSOP, which became a No.1 hit. The following year, they would record their signature song, the sophisticated ballad, , one of the greatest songs ever to come from Philadelphia, and the group's biggest international hit.

Releasing one album on Epic Records in 1976, two years later, they teamed up with Giorgio Moroder (of Donna Summer fame), on Ariola Records and a new string of hits helped the threesome to make some of their biggest strides with hits such as Giving Up, Giving In, The Runner, My Simple Heart, and the ballad Woman In Love.

The trio were bigger than ever in the UK. Prince Charles would later proclaim The Three Degrees his favourite group and they were fondly labelled by the British Press as "Charlie's Angels." The trio was asked to perform for many charity events hosted by several members of The Royal Family and in 1978 they were asked to perform at the 30th birthday celebration for Prince Charles, at Buckingham Palace. In 1981, they were invited guests at the wedding reception of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

Ever since, The Three Degrees have constantly toured all over the world, occasionally recording but always working. “For us, it is still exciting and we still enjoy our work,” says Holiday. “We are blessed with a wide age group appeal….from fifteen to sixty-five.” Scott goes on to add, “We have opened a lot of doors for other entertainers. In some cases, we may not have always succeeded but we have never given up. It still amazes me when we see teenagers singing along with our songs. And yet we still have the fans who have grown with us.”

The influence and popularity of The Three Degrees has played an important role in bringing Soul music to the world and they continue to be considered around the globe as one of the most important ambassadors of American Soul Music, more than five decades after its birth and they show no signs of slowing down.

Tour dates:

JANUARY

Wed 21st WESTON SUPER MARE Playhouse Theatre
Thur 22nd EASTLEIGH Concorde Club
Fri 23rd EXETER Corn Exchange
Sat 24th WEYMOUTH Pavilion
Mon 26th HAYES Beck Theatre
Wed 28th LEEDS City Varieties
Thur 29th SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn
Fri 30th POTTERS BAR Wylotts


FEBRUARY

Sun1st SKEGNESS Butlins
Mon 2nd CHESTERFIELD Winding Wheel Theatre
Tues 3rd BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex Theatre
Thur 5th HIGH WYCOMBE Swan Theatre
Fri 6th LONDON Millfield Arts Centre
Sat 7th EASTBOURNE Hippodrome Theatre
Sun 8th LINCOLN Theatre Royal
Tues 10th WAKEFIELD Theatre Royal
Wed 11th MALVERN Forum Theatre
Thur 12th CANNOCK Prince Of Wales Theatre
Fri 13th CLACTON Princess Theatre
Sat 14th BARKING Broadway Theatre