Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) and You Are Everything later in ’71 preceded the breathtaking Betcha By Golly, Wow, a sterling example of symphonic Philly soul (Bell was its arranger/producer) that blasted up to #2 R&B and #3 pop as it went gold.
Bell enlisted lyricist Linda Creed as his writing partner, the pair creating a string of lush ballads spotlighting Russell’s stratospheric tenor. It proved a #7 R&B seller in early 1971.ĪVCO bosses Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore convinced producer/arranger Thom Bell to work with the group (he’d been doing identical duty with The Delfonics, whose William ‘Poogie’ Hart boasted a similarly limitless range as Thompkins). The Stylistics signed their first pact with Sebring Records and released their debut single You’re A Big Girl Now, which stirred up enough local business to interest AVCO Embassy in acquiring the rights. The Monarchs contributed Thompkins, James Smith, and tenor Airrion Love, while The Percussions coughed up baritone Herb Murrell and James Dunn. The Stylistics were the result of a 1968 merger of two groups competing at a talent show at Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin High School.
was the Philadelphia quintet’s not-so-secret weapon, giving them a major edge that they rode during a streak of 13 Top Ten entries between 1971 and ’75.
Born March 21, 1951, Russell Thompkins, Jr. Of all the sweet-singing soul groups dominating the early ‘70s airwaves, none boasted a creamier sky-high lead tenor than The Stylistics.
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