with philippe wynne
Formed in 1955 at Ferndale High School, near Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., and originally known as the Domingos, the Detroit Spinners comprised of:
Henry Fambrough (b. 10th May 1935, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Robert 'Bobbie' Smith (b. 10th April 1937, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Billy Henderson (b. 8th September 1939, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 2nd February 2007, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A.)
Pervis Jackson (b. Pervis Angelo Jackson, 17th May 1938, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., d. 18th August 2008, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
and George Dixon...
...later...
with philippe wynne
Philippé Soul Wynn (a.k.a. Phillip Walker. b. 3rd April 1941, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 14th July 1984, Oakland, California, U.S.A.)
and G.C. Cameron (b. Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.)
The Detroit Spinners originally signed with the Tri-Phi label in 1961.
The groups name was changed to the 'Motown' and / or 'Detroit' Spinners, a change which was added in the U.K. to avoid confusion with the Spinners folk group).
The groups first gig saw them sharing the stage with the Four Ames in 1957.
The latter were later to become the Four Tops.
As with the U.K., the Domingoes had to change their name to accommodate a marketplace which had become frequented by various artists of similar names.
In this case this applied, with name similarities to the group's the Flamingo's and the Domino's.
The name 'the Spinners' were, actually, large hubcaps of several vehicles, fashionable in the States throughout the Fifties.
harvey fuqua
In 1961 the group joined the Tri-Phi imprint, a label owened by Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua, who later joined the group before the ensemble joined the Motown imprint in 1964, after Tri-Phi was taken under the Motown umbrella.
Although not a member, producer and songwriter Harvey Fuqua sang lead on the group's debut single, 'That's What Girls Are Made For', which reached number 5 in the U.S. R & B chart and reached the pop Top 30.
Edgar 'Chico' Edwards then replaced Dixon and Fuqua took the quintet to Motown in 1963.
'Sweet Thing' was released in 1966, whilst 'I'll Always Love You' became a minor U.S. hit in 1965.
1967, saw the release of Truly Yours' before G.C. Cameron replaced Chico in 1970.
motown spinners
The Spinners achieved a major success when the Stevie Wonder composition 'It's A Shame' reached the Top 20 in both the U.S.A. and the U.K. the same year.
In 1972, the group relocated to Atlantic at the suggestion of Aretha Franklin.
philippe wynne
However, lead singer G.C. Cameron, who had replaced Edwards, opted to remain at Motown and a new singer, Philippe Wynn, was added to the line-up.
With a new singer and, united with producer Thom Bell, the Spinners commenced a series of fine single releases that became classics of their era.
'I'll Be Around', 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love' (both 1972), 'One Of A Kind (Love Affair)' and 'Mighty Love Part 1' (both 1973) were each R & B chart-toppers, while 'Then Came You', a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, topped the U.S. pop chart.
'Ghetto Child' (in 1973) and 'The Rubberband Man' (in 1976) provided further success.
1975 saw the release of the albums 'New And Improved' and 'Pick Of The Litter', which contained he song 'Games People Play', a vocal collaboration between the group and backing singer, Evette Benson (informational source, Bobby Eli).
In 1976, the group released the album 'Happiness Is Being With The Spinners', which not only contained 'The Rubberband Man', but also contained the popular, 'Toni My Love'.
john edwards
A new lead singer, John Edwards, replaced Wynne when the latter left for Funkadelic in 1977, but the Spinners continued to enjoy hits, notably with 'Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl' in 1979, which reached number 1 in the U.K. and number 2 in the U.S.A.
The Michael Zager produced parent album 'Dancin' And Lovin' followed, with 'Body Language' and 'With My Eyes' highlighting.
A medley of 'Cupid' and 'I've Loved You For A Long Time' reached both countries' respective Top 10's in 1980, and came from the album 'Love Trippin', which also contained the songs 'I Just Want To Fall In Love' and 'Split Decision', popular with U.K. Soul Fans.
In 1981, the Spinners released the album 'Can't Shake The Feelin' for the Atlantic imprint, the album containing the single 'Knack For Me'.
'Grand Slam' followed in 1982 (containing 'Magic In The Moonlight') and in 1984, the group released the, Leon Sylvers produced album, 'Crossfire' (again for Atlantic), which contained the popular 'Love Is In Season'.
In 1989, the group signed for the Fantasy distributed Volt label releasing the album 'Down To Business'.
The new Millennium saw a new lease of life when the Elton John / Thom Bell collaboration, 'Are You Ready For Love?' became a hit song in the U.K.
The song originally appeared by the Spinners solely on their album 'From Here To Eternally' (on Atlantic Records, 1978/79) and on Elton John's 'Thom Bell Sessions' a couple of years earlier.
The Spinners were nominated for six Grammy Awards and they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the second star for a musical group consisting of Black people.
billy henderson
In 2004, Billy Henderson had to leave The Spinners after he tried to sue the corporation and the business manager of the group for financial reasons.
He died at the age of 67 from complications caused by diabetes in 2007.
Albums:
The Original Spinners (Motown 1967)
The Detroit Spinners (Motown 1968)
Second Time Around (V.I.P. 1970)
The (Detroit) Spinners (Atlantic 1973)
Mighty Love (Atlantic 1974)
New And Improved (Atlantic 1974)
Pick Of The Litter (Atlantic 1975)
(Detroit) Spinners Live! (Atlantic 1975)
Happiness Is Being With The (Detroit) Spinners (Atlantic 1976)
Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (Atlantic 1977)
Spinners / 8 (Atlantic 1977)
From Here To Eternally (Atlantic 1979)
Dancin' And Lovin' (Atlantic 1980)
Love Trippin' (Atlantic 1980)
Labor Of Love (Atlantic 1981)
Can't Shake This Feelin' (Atlantic 1982)
Grand Slam (Atlantic 1983)
Cross Fire (Atlantic 1984)
Lovin' Feelings (Atco 1985)
Down To Business (Volt 1989)
