Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes Biography

Harold Melvin, lyricist, arranger, and choreographer, was born on June 25, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Melvin began singing doo-wop with a vocal ensemble called the Charlemagnes as a youngster in 1953, despite being a self-taught pianist. The following year, in 1954, he formed the Blue Notes, a quintet that included Bernard Williams, Roosevelt Brodie, Jesse Gillis, Jr., and Franklin Peaker.

The Blue Notes’ first song, “If You Love Me,” was published for Josie Records in 1956. However, it was only popular in some parts of the country. The Blue Notes’ record “My Hero” was a small hit for Val-ue Records in 1960, and Landa Records’ “Get Out (and Let Me Cry)” was an R&B hit in 1965.

The Cadillacs, whose teenage percussionist was Theodore “Teddy” Pendergrass, went on tour with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1972. Another Philadelphia native, Theodore DeReese Pendergrass, was born on March 26, 1950. Melvin hired Pendergrass as the Blue Notes’ percussionist, and when the lead singer left, he replaced him with Pendergrass. The Philadelphia International label, directed by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, signed the Blue Notes when Pendergrass was promoted to lead singer.

I Miss You, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ first album on the Philadelphia International label, was released in 1972. It featured Pendergrass as the lead vocalist on a single of the same name that became a trademark recording for the group. However, another song on the album, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” topped the US R&B chart and reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, selling over one million copies. It was later named one of the “Songs of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition, the group was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1973.

The next single, “The Love We Lost,” reached #21 in 1973. It also went on to sell over a million copies. In the following year (1974), their single “Satisfaction Guaranteed” reached #32 and Bad Luck (Part 1) reached #12, and in 1976, their single “Satisfaction Guaranteed” reached #32 and #12, respectively. The group’s famous ballad “Wake up Everybody” (from the same-named album) was published in 1975, but it reached #23 in 1977 and sold over one million copies. In 1976, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” was released and reached #5 on the R&B chart, selling around 250,000 copies. Although Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes continued to release records until 1984, it was their final top hit. In an ironic twist, the title may have unwittingly announced Teddy Pendergrass’ exit as a solo artist in 1975. This was his final song as the primary singer.

Harold and Ovelia Melvin had four children together. On March 24, 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harold Melvin, who led Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes through the overlapping genres of soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco from the 1950s through the 1970s, died of stroke complications. He was 57 years old at the time.

Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes Discography

Talk It Up (Tell Everybody)
All Things Happen in Time
The Blue Album
Now Is the Time
Reaching for the World
Wake Up EverybodySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
To Be TrueSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Black & BlueSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I Miss YouSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes A Music Group?

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes is an R&B/soul music group formed in Philadelphia in 1953. The group’s original lineup featured lead singer Harold Melvin, keyboardist Lawrence Helpful Hanks Williams Jr., guitarist Billy Stewart, bassist James Damon “Butch” Ingram, and drummer Emanuel Ralph “Tasty” Tastee Lee. The group is best known for their hit songs “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” and “Wake Up Everybody”. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Who Were The Singers In The Blue Notes?

The Blue Notes were a South African jazz and R&B group formed in the early 1960s. The original lineup consisted of singers Neville Nash, Lloyd McNeill, and Derek Heatley, along with instrumentalists Chris McGregor, Mongezi Feza, Louis Moholo, and Johnny Dyani. The group was one of the first to fuse jazz and African music, and their sound was immensely popular in South Africa. The Blue Notes recorded a number of albums and toured internationally before disbanding in the 1970s. Nash, Heatley, and Moholo went on to form the group Sisters with Blondie Makhene.

Who Was The Lead Singer Of Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes?

The lead singer of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes was Harold Melvin. Harold Melvin was a soul singer who was known for his smooth, deep voice. He was the lead singer of the group from its inception in 1954 until his death in 1997. The group’s biggest hit song was “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

How Many Album Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes Has?

The Philadelphia-based R&B group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes released a total of 13 albums between 1972 and 2003. The band’s most successful album was 1973’s “Black and Blue,” which reached the top spot on the Billboard R&B chart and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Other notable albums include 1975’s “To Be True” and 1982’s “I Miss You.

Most Searched For Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes Songs

Don’t Leave Me This Way (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Wake Up Everybody (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The Love I Lost (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
If You Don’t Know Me by Now (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Bad Luck (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
You Know How to Make Me Feel so Good (feat. Sharon Paige)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I Miss You (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Hope That We Can Be Together Soon (feat. Sharon Paige)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Get Out (And Let Me Cry)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Keep On Lovin’ You (feat. Teddy Pendergrass)SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon