GEEQUE PALACE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2012 | Page 3

WILLIAM HART (HEART OF THEDELFONICS CONT.

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,all artists in the mold of the Delfonics. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive & 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.Through the 1980s and the 1990s, 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 Ironman 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 this group recorded as the Delfonics. Major Harris toured with Frank Washington and Pat Palmer.[5] Wilbert also led a Delfonics group; members in the 1990s included Dr. Salaam Love (formerly in William's group) and Eban Brown (falsetto).[6] They were replaced by Greg Hil

(former bassist for Teddy Riley & New Edition) and Van Fields (who joined Eban in the Stylistics until 2011). One year after Greg joined the group, A good friend of Will told him about a talented first tenor named Joe Branch. Joe sang with a number of local groups including The Dynamics along with (Lillo Thomas). Will then asked Greg to bring Joe down to one of the rehearsals and the rest was history! Joe eventually replaced Van Fields as the new lead vocalist.The William/Johnny/Garfield lineup of the group was featured in concert on the DVD's The Big Show and '70's Soul Jam, whereas Wilbert Hart's group with Greg Hill and Joe Branch are featured on the DVD Old School Soul Party Live!, which was part of the PBS My Music series. Harris is also featured on the re-released DVD Blue Magic/Margie Joseph/Major Harris Live!, which was recorded in 1975.

Recent times

Garfield Fleming left the group, and a 2006 album, Best of Delfonics,[7] featured William, Johnny, and Major Harris. Johnny Johnson left shortly thereafter and joined The Fonics[8] 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 continues to tour with his Delfonics group (Joe Branch and Salaam Love) sometimes called "The Delphonics", "The New Delfonics" or simply billed as "Wilbert Hart." Wilbert's group released a CD in 2005 with Joe Branch and Greg Hill, Fonic Zone.[10] Wilbert Hart, Greg Hill and Joe Branch have been touring together for the past fifteen years. Along with touring, the trio recorded a single with Rick Ross entitled "Here For U