Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - A Cut Above The Rest!

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes were an American Music group and were popular in soul, doo-wop, disco and R&B music. The group was active from 1960 to 1997 and was originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group worked for Philadelphia International, CBS and ABC.

The group was formed in 1950’s and was name “The Charlemagnes”. The group had great singers like Teddy Pedergrass and Harold Melvin. In 1956, the group was renamed to The Blue Notes and had the lead singer as Harold Melvin, Jesse Gillis, Roosevelt Broadie, Bernard Williams, Jr. and Franklin Peaker.

Until 1960 the group recorded numerous songs under several labels but was not popular. In 1960 success started with “My Hero” which was a minor hit single and “Get Out (and Let Me Cry)” in 1965 which was an R&B hit single. After this one of the lead singers, Bernard left the group to start his own group “The Original Blue Notes” and was replaced by John Atkins in the group. Later Teddy Pendergrass was promoted to be the lead singer when John Atkins left the group in 1970.

The group now had Lloyd Parks, Bernard Wilson, Pendergrass, Lawrence Brown and Melvin and were signed by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Label in 1972. They gave numerous hits during this period from 1972. The most successful hit love songs included “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” in 1972, “The Love I Lost” in 1973, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” in 1975, “Wake Up Everybody” and “Bad Luck” in 1975 and “I Miss You” in 1972.

Their longest hit on the dance floor was “Bad Luck” which went on for eleven weeks. In 1974, even when the group was doing good, Melvin brought in Jerry Cummings who was in place of Lloyd Parks and another singer female, Sharon Paige was added to the group. In 1976, Pendergrass left the group and started his solo career until he was paralyzed in a car, accident in 1982. Melvin brought in David Ebo to replace Pendergrass and the band signed with ABC Records in 1977.

Over the years the group numerous albums which include “I Miss You” in 1972, “Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes” in 1972 which was US Pop No 53 and US R&B No 4, “Black & Blue” in 1973 which was US Pop No 57 and US R&B No 5, “To Be True” in 1975 which was US Pop No 26 and US R&B No1, “All-Time Greatest Hits” in 1976 which was US Pop No 51 and US R&B No 23.

During this period the group gave numerous hits including “Reaching for the World”. Most of the lead singers left in 1980 and the group signed with MCA Records. The group gave two unsuccessful albums after this.

The group starts having success in 1982 when Gil Sanders took over as the lead singer replacing David Ebo. The group gave several hits until Gil left in 1992. Melvin continued to tour with several lead singers until he had a stroke in 1996. He died on 24th March 1997 and Brown died on 6th April 2008 which marked the end of the group.

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