Artist:Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes f/Teddy Pendergrass
Song:Wake Up Everybody
Album:Super Hits
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes are probably best known for their 70s hits but they were around since the 50s. Melvin was born June 25, 1939 in Philadelphia. He originally formed the Blue Notes in 1954. They had some regional success but really hit it big when he hired Teddy Pendergrass as a drummer in 1969. Teddy was such a good singer that when lead singer John Atkins left in 1970, Melvin moved him up. Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff were just starting Philadelphia International records and they liked Pendergrass because he sounds a lot like Marvin Junior of The Dells. They signed Melvin and the group got the benefit of the production expertise of Gamble & Huff. If You Don't Me By Now became their only top 5 pop hit in 1973. They had several more hits including 1975's Wake Up Everybody. It was written by the veteran songwriting team of Gene McFadden & John Whitehead and it could just as easily have been a gospel song especially with Pendergrass's church trained voice. It's a great song. This Super Hits budget comp has all their hits. Pendergrass left the Blue Notes for a solo career in 1976. Sharon Paige & David Ebo replaced him and the Blue Notes moved to ABC Records. They had some success there but things died out and Melvin continued to tour until his death on Mar. 24, 1997 at age 57. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes still sound great today. Here's a video of Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.
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