A Timeline of phillysoul
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1959 Thom Bell joins The Romeos, a Philly harmony group featuring a young Kenny Gamble. 1963 Session pianist Leon Huff moves from New York to Philly to work for local label Cameo-Parkway (artist roster includes Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker and Bob Seger). 1967 Gamble and Huff write and produce their first Top Five hit: the Soul Survivors? "Expressway to Your Heart." 1968 Thom Bell forms the Philly Groove label, for which The Delfonics record the #4 hit "La La Means I Love You." 1970 Gamble and Huff form Philadelphia International Records. Bell joins the label as an arranger, writer, producer and musician. The Delfonics release the top ten hit "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (Compiler's Delight). Gamble and Huff produce A Brand New Me, Dusty Springfield's follow-up to Dusty in Memphis. 1972 Seminal Philly International releases: Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones," The O'Jays? "Back Stabbers," Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "If You Don't Know Me By Now," The Spinners "Could it Be That I'm Falling in Love," "Betcha by Golly, Wow" by the Stylistics. 1973 The O'Jays "Love Train." 1974 MFSB's number one hit "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)." The song would become the theme song for Soul Train. Philly vocal group Labelle (formerly Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles) records in New Orleans with Allen Toussaint manning the boards, yielding the classic "Lady Marmalade." 1975 Philly International is charged with payola. Gamble is fined $2,500; Huff is acquitted. The O'Jays William Powell is diagnosed with cancer and leaves the group. Sammy Strain replaces him the next year. 1976 Local boys Daryl Hall and John Oates have their first number one hit with "Rich Girl" for RCA Records. The two would eventually amass a total of six number ones together, and become the most successful duo in rock 'n' roll history. Singer Teddy Pendergrass leaves the Blue Notes for a successful solo career. He would be one of the few Philly International alumnus to have significant success in the disco era and after. The Jacksons (Epic), the first post-Motown release from Gary, IN's favorite family is released. The album is produced by Gamble and Huff, who also wrote half the songs. 1977 William Powell dies. Thom Bell records Elton John. Three songs from the sessions are released in '79 (including the top ten hit "Mama Can't Buy You Love"); the rest come out in 1989. 1982 Teddy Pendergrass car smashes into a highway divider on Lincoln Drive, seriously damaging his spinal cord. The crash leaves Pendergrass confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down and with only limited use of his arms. 1983 Patti LaBelle releases I'm in Love Again, the last Philly International album to reach gold status. 1984 After an extended period of physical therapy, Teddy Pendergrass releases Love Language, his first album since his accident. 1985 At RFK Stadium, Pendergrass makes his first live appearance since his accident at Live Aid. I Get Hot, the first album from LeVert, is released. The group consists of Gerald and Sean Levert, sons of O'Jay Eddie Levert, and their friend Marc Gordon. 1986 Philly rapper Schoolly D releases his first album, pioneering gangsta rap. 1988 He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper is released by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. DJ Cash Money wins DJing competitions at the New Music Seminar, American Mix Championships and London's Disco Mix Club (DMC). 1991 Boyz II Men debut Cooleyhighharmony, featuring the top ten hit "Motownphilly." 1993 The Roots release Organix, their first commercial album. The O'Jays play at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden. They perform a fantastic gospel version of Dylan's "Emotionally Yours," which they had recorded on their 1991 album of the same name. 1998 King Britt releases When the Funk Hits the Fan, a critically acclaimed concept album taking place in Philly, 1977. The album enticingly mixes hip-hop, soul, house and jazz. Local label Ruffhouse releases the phenomenally successful Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which includes performances by local producer/organist James Poyser. 1999 James Poyser at Axis Studios produces tracks for D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Common. Philly International begins to release material by new artists for the first time in 10 years (though they're waiting for the right distribution deal). |
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