THE SOUL GUY
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The Delfonics are a Philadelphia group, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include La-La (Means I Love You), Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Break Your Promise, I'm Sorry and Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love).
Their songs are written by lead vocalist and founder William Hart and have been used extensively in numerous film soundtracks, the most notable being Quentin Tarantino's movie, Jackie Brown, in which their music, La-La, and Didn't I Blow Your mind are used as a pivotal part of the plot to underscore the relationship between Robert De Niro, Pam Grier & Robert Forster.
The film helped create a border-line cult following for the songs and this group. Their songs have been sampled extensively by various Hip-Hop & Rap artists including: The Fugees (Ready Or Not), Lauryn Hill (for which she won a '97 Grammy), Nas, Boyz II Men, Missy Elliott and Will Smith's D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. These William Hart songs have been recorded by numerous performers including: Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Patti La Belle, New Kids on the Block, Todd Rundgren, Prince and Manhattan Transfer, among others
Brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the group with Randy (Rudy) Cain in high school in the early 1960s, eventually becoming known throughout the Philadelphia area by the mid-'60s and signing with Cameo Records. At Cameo, producer Stan Watson introduced them to producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. The group's first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove record label, featured the smash hit La-La (Means I Love You) in 1968. Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few years: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular hits were the Grammy-winning Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), (For The Love) I Gave To You, Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love), and Hey Love. Prior to the release of La-La (Means I Love You), they had a hit with He Don't Really Love You on the small Moonshot record label in 1966.
Randy Cain left the group in 1971, and in 1973 had a hand in formulating Blue Magic, best known for their classic Sideshow, when he brought singer-songwriter Ted Mills in to do some writing for W.M.O.T. (We Men Of Talent), and the remaining future members of Blue Magic came in for an audition. Cain was replaced by Major Harris; by then, however, Thom Bell had moved on to produce The Stylistics and later, The Spinners, all artists in the mold of the Delfonics. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive and Kicking, produced by Stan Watson. However, in the absence of Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career declined sharply, and with the exception of the aforementioned Hey Love and the minor hits When You Get Right Down to It, I Don't Want To Make You Wait and I Told You So, success eluded them after 1975. (For The Love) I Gave To You, although popular, was never released as a single. Most of their songs at this point were written by lead singer William Hart.
Brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the group with Randy (Rudy) Cain in high school in the early 1960s, eventually becoming known throughout the Philadelphia area by the mid-'60s and signing with Cameo Records. At Cameo, producer Stan Watson introduced them to producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. The group's first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove record label, featured the smash hit La-La (Means I Love You) in 1968. Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few years: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular hits were the Grammy-winning Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), (For The Love) I Gave To You, Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love), and Hey Love. Prior to the release of La-La (Means I Love You), they had a hit with He Don't Really Love You on the small Moonshot record label in 1966.
Randy Cain left the group in 1971, and in 1973 had a hand in formulating Blue Magic, best known for their classic Sideshow, when he brought singer-songwriter Ted Mills in to do some writing for W.M.O.T. (We Men Of Talent), and the remaining future members of Blue Magic came in for an audition. Cain was replaced by Major Harris; by then, however, Thom Bell had moved on to produce The Stylistics and later, The Spinners, all artists in the mold of the Delfonics. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive and Kicking, produced by Stan Watson. However, in the absence of Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career declined sharply, and with the exception of the aforementioned Hey Love and the minor hits When You Get Right Down to It, I Don't Want To Make You Wait and I Told You So, success eluded them after 1975. (For The Love) I Gave To You, although popular, was never released as a single. Most of their songs at this point were written by lead singer William Hart.
The group split around 1975 - one group featured Major and Wilbert, with new member Frank Washington, formerly of the Futures. (Major Harris also had major success with the solo recording Love Won't Let Me Wait. The other group featured William with new members.
Lineups would become confusing as members shifted between groups and multiple groups toured. Major Harris moved to William's group around 1980, with their third member being the returning Randy Cain. Frank Washington also switched from Wilbert's group, joining in 1985.
While the main recording lineup of the group was William Hart, Major Harris, and Frank Washington, they would tour as two separate trios with additional members added. One group was William, Randy Cain, and Garfield Fleming, and the other was Frank, Major, and Freddie Ingleton. William also toured with another two members, Johnny JJ Johnson and Pat Palmer and toured in Japan at least one time with Ingleton and Dr. Sallam Love.
While the main recording lineup of the group was William Hart, Major Harris, and Frank Washington, they would tour as two separate trios with additional members added. One group was William, Randy Cain, and Garfield Fleming, and the other was Frank, Major, and Freddie Ingleton. William also toured with another two members, Johnny JJ Johnson and Pat Palmer and toured in Japan at least one time with Ingleton and Dr. Sallam Love.
Through the '80s and the '90s, the Delfonics groups continued to perform. The William Hart/Major Harris/Frank Washington group made several recordings, including backing vocals on the track After the Smoke has Cleared, on the 1996 hip hop album Iron Man by Ghostface Killah. Their works continued to be sampled. Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. sampled Hey Love in his song Playa Hata, released in 1996, and that same year rapper Nas sampled their Walk Right Up To the Sun for his hit If I Ruled the World. Rapper Missy Elliott sampled Ready Or Not Here I Come in her hit Sock it 2 Me. Eazy-E, Gang Starr, and Ed OG have sampled Trying To Make a Fool of Me.
The groups reorganized in the late 1990s. William Hart started touring with Johnny Johnson and Garfield Fleming; this group recorded as the Delfonics. Major Harris toured with Frank Washington and Pat Palmer. Wilbert also led a Delfonics group; members in the 1990s included Dr. Sallam Love (formerly in William's group) and Eban Brown (falsetto).
The William/Johnny/Garfield lineup of the group was featured in concert on the DVDs The Big Show and "70's Soul Jam, whereas Wilbert Hart's group is featured on the DVD Old School Soul Party Live!, which was part of the PBS My Music series. Harris is also featured on the recently re-released DVD Blue Magic/Margie Joseph/Major Harris Live!, which was recorded in 1975.
Garfield Fleming left the group, and a 2006 album, Best of Delfonics, featured William, Johnny, and Major Harris. Johnny Johnson left shortly thereafter and joined The Fonics. William now leads a group with two new members. Frank Washington left around 2003 to join The Spinners as lead. His place was taken by Johnney Smalls, and this group (Major Harris/Pat Palmer/Johnney Smalls) also continues to tour.
Garfield Fleming left the group, and a 2006 album, Best of Delfonics, featured William, Johnny, and Major Harris. Johnny Johnson left shortly thereafter and joined The Fonics. William now leads a group with two new members. Frank Washington left around 2003 to join The Spinners as lead. His place was taken by Johnney Smalls, and this group (Major Harris/Pat Palmer/Johnney Smalls) also continues to tour.
Wilbert also has a group, sometimes called The Delphonics, The New Delfonics or simply billed as Wilbert Hart. Eban Brown went on to become the lead singer of The Stylistics. Wilbert released a CD in 2005, Fonic Zone.
Originally known as The Four Gents, The Delfonics classic line-up featured:
William Hart (Born January 17, 1945, in Washington, D.C.)
Wilbert Hart (Born October 19, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Randy Cain (Born Rudy Cain May 2, 1945, in Philadelphia) - (up to 1971)
Wilbert Hart (Born October 19, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Randy Cain (Born Rudy Cain May 2, 1945, in Philadelphia) - (up to 1971)
Major Harris (Born Major Harris III, February 9, 1947, in Richmond, Virginia) - (from 1971 to 1974)
