The stylistics

The Stylistics is a 70s American soul band.

The stylistics
basic information
Genre	R&B Soul
A country	USA
Where from	Philadelphia
Label	Avco , H&L
Composition	Herbie Murrell Airrion Love Jason sharpe Harold "Iben" Brown
Former the participants	Russell Tompkins, ml. James dunn James smith Raymond Johnson Wayne Fields
official site

Formed in 1968 in Philadelphia, former members of The Monarchs and The Percussions , namely: Russell Thompkins Jr. (Russell Thompkins Jr .; March 21, 1951) - vocals; James Smith (James Smith, June 16, 1950, New York, USA) - vocals; James Dunn (James Dunn; February 4, 1950, Philadelphia, PA, USA) - vocals; Airrion Love (August 8, 1949) - vocals and Herbie Murrell (April 27, 1949, Lane, South Carolina, USA) - vocals.

In the same 1968, these five dark-skinned vocalists debuted at the small company Sebring with the single “You're A Big Girl Now”. Soon the entire circulation of this publication was purchased by Avco. Thanks to her promotion, the record hit the top list. Also, the leadership of "Avco" gave the group under the creative supervision of composer and producer Tom Bell - the creator of the hit sound of The Delfonics. The talented promoter immediately noticed that the new wards better cope with the lyrical soul and, together with the author of the texts - Linda Creed, composed for Stylistics a series of easily perceived works.

In the period 1971-72, the American charts performed by Stylistics got, for example: “You Are Everything”, “Betcha By Golly Wow” and “Im Stone In Love With You”. All these hits were characterized by Tompkins' hot vocals, reinforced by the polyphony of partners and inventive instrumental. The 1974 work, “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” soared to second place in the American and British charts.

However, the group soon stopped working with Bell, leaning toward a lighter repertoire. But despite the decline in popularity in the United States, the group gained considerable success in the UK, for example, the singles “Sing Baby Sing”, “Cant Give You Anything (But My Love)” (both 1975) and “16 Bars” (1976) as well as the compilation of “The Best Of The Stylistics”. However, all the same, in general, the new repertoire of the group was considered a parody of the old sound.

In 1978, James Dunn, due to deteriorating health conditions, was forced to leave his colleagues. In the same year, the group moved to Mercury, and in 1980 they entered into an agreement with TSOP / Philadelphia International. Records at the new company again resembled the old days, but this time the financial and legal problems of Philadelphia International became an obstacle. Later records that were made for Streetwise appeared from time to time on the rhythm and blues chart, but the band’s golden years passed irrevocably.

In the 1990s, Stylistics revived and continued as a trio.