musicradio77
07-17-2004, 12:51 AM
This week, our Motown 45th Anniversary Artists Avatar of the Week will feature a group from Detroit. The Spinners. In Great Britian they call it "The Detroit Spinners" because the name became so popular in England. The group began in 1957 as the group the Domingoes as producer and lead singer of the doo-wop group the Moonglows, Harvey Fuqua wanted to start their own label called Tri-Phi Records and then the Domingoes became the Spinners. Their first single "That's What Girls are Made For" with ex-Moonglows singer Harvey doing the lead. The single went to #27 Pop and #5 R&B and they had enough. In 1963, they absorbed Tri-Phi to Motown and then some personnel changes later to take in effect. And the singles for Motown's VIP label didn't do any much success at all. It wasn't until 1970 as the Spinners cracked their first single under the penned of the legendary Stevie Wonder, called "It's a Shame" and it was an R&B hit. As the early 70's went on, GC Cameron quit the group amd replaced with lead singer Phillipe Wynne and then came to Atlantic records in 1972. The Spinners met producer Thom Bell from Philadelphia and recorded their hit songs at the legendary Sigma Studios in Philly. Remember Thom Bell, he was producer for so many artists like the Delphonics, the Stylistics and other such R&B groups. They're first single was the A-side called "How Could I Let You Get Away" was a minor hit and then on the B-side of the 45 RPM record came "I'll Be Around" and it was a smash hit. Throughout the early to mid-70's, they enjoyed such great hits includes "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "One of a Kind (Love Affair)", "Mighty Love", "Then Came You", "Games People Play (They Just Can Stop It)" and "Rubberband Man". In the late 70's, the group had a few arguments with the producer and Phillipe left the group. Phillipe replaces John Edwards to release some singles like "Heaven and Earth" along with a pair of medleys like "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time". The Spinners would forever become legends and besides that they still performing. Sadly in 1984, Phillipe Wynne died of a heart attack at age 43.:(