The Whispers

Harvey Perry

In a week that we lost Motown arranger Gil Askey (5-4-14) & Jazz musician Wayne Henderson (9-04-14,) we give thanks for the Citizen Award that was given on Friday here in Birmingham to Harvey Parry, who was just 15 months old when  he had to have both his legs amputated after contracting meningitis. The eight-year-old from north London has now become one of the most successful disabled athletes for his age. His success has earned him one of this year's Rotary Young Citizen Awards. More about his life so far at this address.

Bob's RS issue

Bob Marley, The Ultimate Guide to His Music and Legend, Rolling Stone Special Collectors Edition, 2014. This Rolling Stone Special Collectors Edition spotlights BOB MARLEY. It's crammed with photos and text...a must-have keepsake for any fan of this
remarkable Jamaican musician and "jamming" legend! Chapters : Introduction, How Bob Marley Changed the World, An Encounter With the Legend, Visiting Bob Marley's Jamaica, One Love, Bob Marley's 50 Greatest Songs, & The Living Legacy. Book stands until June 26.

Stevie back in UK soon!

Stevie Wonder will be  playing live at the Calling Festival on Clapham Common, Sunday 29th June. Yes, it's been confirmed, 63 year old Stevie will be headlining a new strand of the Hard Rock Calling event which takes place on Clapham Common from Saturday 28th June to Sunday 29th June. Organiser, Toby Leighton Pope commented, "We're thrilled to welcome Stevie Wonder to Calling Festival. His music is timeless and this show will be one of the highlights of the summer! Happy birthday is you were born today, you share this day with; Al Green, Peobo Bryson, Wayne Lewis (Atlantic Star) & Lester Chambers (Chambers Bros.)


 Sundays play list, for 13th April 2014 



 Hour One 
Teena Marie - Dayja Vu
Anita Baker - Angel
Kenny G - If I Ain't got You
Toni Braton/Babyface Take It Back
Tania Marie -Come With Me
Kenny Lattimore - What Must I Do
Rhonda Dorsey - Chocolate Sound
LaToya London - Scandalous
Sharon Jones/Dap Kings - We Get Along
Joe - Closer
Maze - I Wan't To Feel I'm WAnted
Gerry Woo - Help Yourself
CeLow Green - My Kind Of People
Dylan Janet Colins - Could It Be

Hour Two
The Whispers x3
1 Lady 2 Say Yes 3 Never To Late

Eloise Whitiker - Falling In Love
Terri Wells - I'll Be Around
St. Gernaine - Sure Thing
Sister Sledge - Easier To Love
Lionel Richie - Love Will Find Away
Patrice Rushen - Hung It Up
Dianna Ross - It's My House

The Whisper Biography:

Formed in the Watts section of Los Angeles, California, USA in 1964, soul group the Whispers were originally comprised of Nicholas Caldwell (Born 5 April 1944, Loma Linda, California, USA), twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott (Born 23 September 1943, Fort Worth, Texas, USA), Marcus Hutson (Born 8 January 1943, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) and Gordy Harmon. The group recorded its first single, "It Only Hurts For Awhile", for Dore Records but it was not until 1969 that they reached the R&B charts with "Time Will Come", on the Soul Clock label. Their first Top 10 soul record, "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong", followed in 1970 and the group switched to Janus Records for the next four years, during which time Leaveil Degree (Born 31 July, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA) replaced Harmon. In 1975 the group switched labels again, to Soul Train, and scored such hits as "One For The Money" and "Make It With You", a remake of the Bread pop hit. The Soul Train label evolved into Solar Records in 1978, where the Whispers stayed for 10 years, reaching their commercial peak. Emphasizing lush arrangements and sweet vocal harmonies, the group earned hits with the US number 1 R&B single "And The Beat Goes On", which also reached number 2 in the UK pop chart. The group continued their success in the US R&B charts with six Top 10 entries; "Lady" (1980), "It's A Love Thing" (1981, also a UK Top 10), "In The Raw" (1982), "Tonight" (1983), "Keep On Lovin' Me" (1983), "Contagious" (1984), and another R&B number 1 and their only US Top 10 pop entry, "Rock Steady", in 1987. Maintaining the same line-up, the group signed to Capitol Records in 1990, releasing More Of The Night, which still stressed a refined, slick soul sound. In 1993 the Scotts began recording as Walter & Scotty, releasing the My Brothers Keeper album. They carried on working with the Whispers, however, who chalked up 30 years in the music business the following year.