The Three Degrees
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The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Valerie Holiday, Freddi Poole, and Jessie Wagner. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.
The original members were
The group's most stable line-up was from 1989 to 2010, with Cynthia Garrison joining Holiday and Scott. They achieved a final UK chart entry, reaching number 54 in 1998 with a dance cover of "Last Christmas". Garrison left the band at the end of 2010 due to health reasons, and was replaced by Freddi Poole in 2011. The group's 2016 album, Strategy: Our Tribute to Philadelphia, was their first studio album release with Pool as a member. Valerie Holiday is the longest serving Degree with almost 56 years of continuous service to her name. Helen Scott is the only member who was active during the Swan Records era. [3][4]
Career
1960s
The Three Degrees were formed around 1963 in Philadelphia according to founder member, the late Fayette Pinkney: "it's about '63, last year in high school...and it was fun!". They were discovered by producer and songwriter
When Scott left the group in 1966 to start a family,
1970s
By 1970, they were signed to Roulette Records and they released their first album, Maybe.[1] The title song, this time with Valerie Holiday taking the lead, took them to No. 4 on the US R&B chart. The singles, "I Do Take You" and "You're the Fool" followed, as did their second album, So Much Love. This success landed them a cameo appearance in the 1971 film, The French Connection, where they performed a cover of Jimmy Webb's "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon", filmed during one of their appearances at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City.[1]
In 1973, when their contract with Roulette ended, Barrett signed them to
Their first album for the Philadelphia International label, (at that time, Platinum certifications had not been assigned to singles).
The Three Degrees also recorded two live albums: one in
In 1976, the Three Degrees parted company with Gamble and Huff and moved to CBS Sony/Epic Records where they released the concept album, A Toast Of Love, purely for the Far East market, although a single of the title track was released internationally. In 1976, Fayette Pinkney was replaced by former band member Helen Scott.[1] The album, Standing Up For Love,[1] released in 1977 was their last release for CBS/Epic.
In 1978, The Three Degrees signed to
The group performed for future British monarch
1980s
In 1980, the compilation album Gold was released and became a UK Top 10 hit. Featuring one side of their hits on the Ariola label between 1978 and 1979, and one side of live recordings from their 1979 Royal Albert Hall television special, this would be the trio's second "best of" compilation to make the UK Top 10 in less than two years, after CBS released A Collection of their 20 Greatest Hits in early 1979 (which featured their pre-Ariola material, and peaked at number 8 in the UK Albums Chart).
Between 1982 and 1985, The Three Degrees released two albums on their own 3D label; Album of Love and Live in the UK.[1] On that label they also released "Liar", a single written by Sheila Ferguson.[1] A third BBC Television show was also recorded in 1982, titled Take 3 Degrees, which included performances of their greatest hits, and also songs that the group were performing in their latest show, such as "I Can't Turn You Loose" and "Celebration".
They returned to the UK
In 1986,
In a 2006 documentary interview, which featured Ferguson and Holiday speaking about their time together in the group, it was revealed that when Ferguson decided to leave the group, she spoke to the group members on a phone call about her decision instead of in person and both parties felt that the conversation ended abruptly. In addition, Holiday commented feeling upset that this specific conversation should have been in person and not on a phone call and said that it had been difficult to find a replacement for Ferguson. Since then, Ferguson has had limited contact with the members of the group and has never had any public appearances with The Three Degrees. In a 2011 interview on the British TV show, Lorraine, with The Three Degrees, they commented they may from time to time run into Ferguson in the United States. Often their encounters with Ferguson are only for brief moments; as Helen Scott had mentioned – it is like ships that pass in the night.[9][10][11]
1990s onwards
In December 1989, Cynthia Garrison replaced Wallace forming the longest running line-up of the group. In 1993, they were asked to record a new version of "When Will I See You Again" with
Scott, Holiday and Garrison continued to tour. They made their first US TV appearance in over 20 years in 2003 on the
In 2008, the group released the album Helen, Valerie, Cynthia: The Greatest Hits, which included completely new recordings of the group's biggest hits and some fan favourites.[13]
The group, together with Pinkney, received various honours during 2007 and 2008, through BEMA (The Black Entertainment and Music Association) and the City of Philadelphia for their contribution to music over five decades, creating, for the first time, The Four Degrees.
Pinkney died on June 27, 2009, in a hospital in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, after a short illness at the age of 61. Her 1979 solo album, One Degree, was re-released on CD shortly after her death.[14]
In 2009, the group released their first studio album in over ten years, Undercover 2009. It contained a selection of eight cover versions of classic songs by ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Bee Gees.[15] The following year they released a new single "Holding Back".[16]
In January 2011, Freddi Poole replaced Cynthia Garrison who was suffering from Piriformis syndrome.
In 2016, the Three Degrees released their first studio album with member Freddi Poole entitled Strategy: Our Tribute To Philadelphia, through Cherry Red Records.[17]
The Holiday/Scott/Garrison version of The Three Degrees was the longest running formation of the group (1989–2010).
Solo material is available from Fayette Pinkney, Sheila Ferguson, Valerie Holiday, and Freddi Poole, and Tabitha King.
During 2022 and 2023, Tabitha King had replaced Helen Scott who suffers from COVID-19 and is now unable to perform.[18]
Cynthia Garrison died on January 22, 2024, at the age of 64.[19] Singer Jessie Wagner replaced King in March 2024, after King left to pursue a solo career.[20]
Members timeline
Worldwide Discography
- Maybe (1970)
- The Three Degrees (1973)
- International (1975)
- Take Good Care Of Yourself (1975) UK.
- With Love (1975) Benelux.
- So Much Love (1975)
- The Three Degrees Live (1975)
- The Three Degrees Live in Japan (1975)
- A Toast of Love (1976)
- Standing Up for Love (1977)
- New Dimensions (1978)
- 3D (1979)
- Album of Love (1982)
- The Three Degrees Live in the UK (1984)
- …And Holding (1989)
- Out of the Past, into the Future (1993)
- Christmas with the Three Degrees (1998)
- Undercover 2009 (2009)
- Strategy – Our Tribute to Philadelphia (2016)
Filmography
- The French Connection (1971)
- Sanford and Son (Season 3, Episode 4 titled “Presenting the Three Degrees” aired October 5, 1973) [21]
- Birds of Prey (2020)
See also
- List of funk musicians
- List of disco artists (S-Z)
- List of people from Philadelphia
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Biography by Ed Hogan". AllMusic. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "The Three Degrees". Visitbirmingham.com. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ "YouTube Live: Helen Scott of The Three Degrees". Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "1970s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 7: My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me To The Doctor) to They Say It's Gonna Rain on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "THREE DEGREES – Interview ('Be My Baby' 2006)". YouTube.
- ^ "Three Degrees' UK Tour 2011 (24 Dates)". YouTube.
- ^ "Sheila Ferguson takes on the iconic role of Mama Morton in the hit musical Chicago". Express.co.uk. February 2, 2022.
- ^ "The Three Degrees "Be My Baby", documentary about the Girl Group Story [2006]". YouTube.
- ^ "Three Degrees : discography". 3degrees.eg2.fr. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "iTunes – Music : Greatest Hits Of The Three Degrees by Cynthia Garrison, Helen Scott & Valerie Holiday". itunes.apple.com. October 7, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2009 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – The Three Degrees – Undercover 2009 by The Three Degrees". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "The Three Degrees announce a new album Strategy: Our Tribute To Philadelphia to be released on 4 March on SoulMusic Records". Cherryred.co.uk. January 5, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ^ "Three Degrees veteran has room for one man". www.henleystandard.co.uk.
- ^ Rizik, Chris. "Cynthia Garrison, long time member of the Three Degrees, dies". Soul Tracks. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ "Meet the New Degree 😁". Instagram.
- ^ "TV Guide Website". Tvguide.com. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
Further reading
- The Three Degrees in-depth interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2011
- The Three Degrees interview, 'Yuzu Melodies' April 2013
- Clemente, John (2000). Girl Groups — Fabulous Females That Rocked The World. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 276. ISBN 0-87341-816-6
External links
- Official website
- The Three Degrees at AllMusic
- The Three Degrees discography at Discogs
- The Three Degrees discography at MusicBrainz
- The Three Degrees at IMDb