Artist:The Spinners
Song:I'll Be Around
Album:The Very Best Of The Spinners
The Spinners were one of the most popular Philly Soul groups of the 70s. Except that the group is from Detroit and their roots are in Motown. But a prominent Philly producer and a key personnel change vaulted them to a long run at the top of the charts. They started as The Domingoes in a Detroit area high school in 1957. They were Bobbie Smith, Pervis Jackson, George Dixon, Billy Henderson & Henry Fambrough. Harvey Fuqua of The Flamingos signed them to his Tri-Phi label and renamed then The Spinners. They had a couple of hits but Motown bought Tri-Phi in 1965. G.C. Cameron had replaced Dixon by this time. The Spinners made several records at Motown but didn't catch on and were dropped in 1972. Phillipe Wynne came over from The JB's to replace Cameron as lead singer. The Spinners signed with Atlantic and hooked up with veteran Philly Soul producer Thom Bell. At the time, he was best known for producing The Delfonics but he would become one of the top producers of the 70s. He gave The Spinners a very lush sound featuring lead vocals by Wynne & Smith. I'll Be Around was the first of several chart topping hits. Wynne left in 1977 to go solo and was replaced by John Edwards. The Spinners had a few more hits and faded in the 80s. Wynne had moderate solo success and died of a heart attack while on tour in Oakland on July 14, 1984 at age 43. The Spinners continue to tour the oldies concert circuit. Billy Henderson died on Feb. 2, 2007 at age 65. This comp has all their hits. Here are The Spinners performing Rubberband Man on American Bandstand. They are very smooth.
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