The Three Degrees

The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group, which were originally formed in circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Although 15 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Valerie Holiday, Helen Scott and Freddie Pool. Holiday has been a member since she first joined in 1967, while Scott has been a permanent member since 1976, having been in the group from 1963 to 1966. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.

For other uses, see The Three Degrees (disambiguation).
The Three Degrees
Holiday, Ferguson and Pinkney in 1974
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresPhiladelphia soul, R&B, disco
Years activec. 1963–present
LabelsPhiladelphia International, Epic, Ariola, various
Associated actsMFSB
Websitewww.thethreedegrees.com
MembersHelen Scott (1963–66, 1976–present)
Valerie Holiday (1967–present)
Freddie Pool (2011–present)
Past membersFayette Pinkney (1963–1976)
Linda Turner (1963)
Shirley Porter (1963)
Janet Harmon (1963–1967)
Sheila Ferguson (1966–1986)
Sundray Tucker (1967)
Sonia Goring (1967)
Miquel Brown (1986)
Vera Brown (1986–1987)
Rhea Harris (1987–1988)
Victoria Wallace (1988–1989)
Cynthia Garrison (1989–2010)

The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. Porter and Turner were soon replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott. The line-up from 1967 to 1976 was Pinkney, Valerie Holiday and Sheila Ferguson, who would go on to sing lead on most of the group's biggest hits. This line-up topped the US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single "When Will I See You Again", which was a huge international hit, reaching the Top 5 in seven countries, including number two in the US and topping the UK Singles Chart.[2] When Pinkney left the group in 1976, she was replaced by a returning Helen Scott. This line-up had four UK Top 20 hits, including "Woman in Love", which reached number three in 1979. Ferguson left for a solo career in 1986.

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 Freddie Pool in 2011. The group's 2016 album, Strategy: Our Tribute to Philadelphia, was their first studio album release with Pool as a member. Holiday and Scott have now been members of the group together for over 40 years, with Holiday having been a permanent member for over 50 years.

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 Richard Barrett,[1] who produced the original line-up on their first song, "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)", for Swan Records, in 1965.[1] Turner and Porter both left the group, leaving Fayette Pinkney the only original member. They were replaced by Helen Scott and Janet Harmon in early 1963.[1] Barrett also became manager of Sheila Ferguson, who had been friends with Scott since high school.[1] Barrett signed Ferguson to Swan Records in 1965.[1] The Three Degrees released a number of singles, including "I'm Gonna Need You" and a cover version of "Maybe" in 1966.

When Scott left the group in 1966 to start a family,[1] Ferguson filled in for her. She remained for 20 years and was lead singer on most of the group's best-selling tracks. The group reciprocated with backup vocals on her solo recordings.[1] Harmon left by 1967 and after a couple of ladies came and went, was eventually replaced by Valerie Holiday.[1] Barrett signed them to recording contracts over the next three years with Warner Bros., Metromedia, and Neptune record labels,[1] the latter owned by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who would work with the group five years later. The group's close harmony singing made them a popular nightclub act, but a hit record still eluded them.

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 #4 on the US R&B charts. 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 (filmed during one of their appearances at the Copacabana nightclub in New York, where they performed a cover of Jimmy Webb's "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon"), as well as an engagement at the Riviera in Las Vegas along with Engelbert Humperdinck.[1]

In 1973, when their contract with Roulette ended, Barrett signed them to Philadelphia International Records under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, where they had their greatest successes.[1] The first song they recorded for the label was with the studio band MFSB, titled "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", which was the theme song for Soul Train.[1] In October 1973, the group also made an appearance on the American television sitcom Sanford and Son (season 3, episode 4), singing their song "I Didn't Know".[1]

Their first album for the Philadelphia International label, The Three Degrees, spawned three hits: "Dirty Ol' Man" (which went gold in the Netherlands and Belgium), "Year Of Decision" (which made it to #13 in the UK Singles Chart),[3] but it was the third single, "When Will I See You Again", that propelled the trio into the mainstream. It topped the UK Chart for two weeks in August 1974 (the first time this had been achieved by an all-female group since The Supremes in 1964,[3]) and became the fourth best-selling single of the year.[4] It also reached #2 in the US, where it sold over two million copies and earned the trio a gold record in December 1974[1][2][2] (at that time, Platinum certifications had not been assigned to singles).

The Three Degrees also recorded two live albums: one in Leicester in the UK, and the other in Tokyo in Japan, and released both in 1975. The trio's second studio album for the Philadelphia label, The Three Degrees International, was marketed internationally under different titles and in various languages. In Continental Europe, it was called With Love, and it spawned the hit single "Take Good Care Of Yourself", which reached the UK Top 10. The UK release of the album was actually titled Take Good Care Of Yourself and peaked at #6 in the UK Album Chart, their highest ever chart placing for an album there.[3] Two other songs from the album were big successes in Japan: "Midnight Train" and "Nigai Namida", the latter having been recorded in Japanese.

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 dating Lou Rawls, and when the groups manager found out he was not happy and gave Pinkney an ultimatum, "it's the group or him", Fayette chose Lou, so was fired from the group, and was replaced by former band member Helen Scott. When her relationship fell apart and she split from Lou Rawls, Fayette decided to return to full-time education. The ladies had already started to record some tracks with Fayette for their next LP.[1] Thus, the album, Standing Up For Love,[1] released in 1977, actually features four Degree voices, with Fayette, Sheila, and Valerie performing on some tracks and Valerie, Sheila, and Helen appearing on others. This album would be their last release for CBS/Epic.

In 1978, The Three Degrees signed to Ariola Records in Europe and the US and began working with Giorgio Moroder, who had become famous as a disco producer following his work with Donna Summer. Further success was to follow, and they released two disco-styled albums on Ariola (New Dimensions in 1978, and 3D in 1979) which delivered four UK Top 20 hits between them: "Givin' Up Givin' In", "Woman In Love"(originally recorded by Twiggy in 1977), "The Runner" and "My Simple Heart". The group performed for Prince Charles at his 30th birthday party in 1978, and were guests at the pre-wedding party for his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.[1] Their own television special, The Three Degrees at The Royal Albert Hall (aka An Evening with The Three Degrees), was recorded in October 1979 in which the trio were backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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 1978–79, 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 #8 in the UK Album 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 charts in 1985 with "The Heaven I Need" which was produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman on Supreme Records, though the single narrowly missed the UK Top 40.[1]

In 1986, Miquel Brown filled in for Scott while the latter was pregnant. That same year Ferguson decided to leave the group.[1] Scott and Holiday replaced her with Vera Brown of The Ritchie Family in 1986, and then Rhea Harris in 1987. In 1989, Scott and Holiday, along with new recruit Victoria Wallace, recorded the album Three Degrees ... And Holding on Ichiban Records.[1] A single, "A Tender Lie" was also released. Following the album, the group recorded a live CD at London's Dominion Theatre, with Billy Paul and Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes in 1989.[1] The group followed this with another tour of the UK and Japan at the end of the year.

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 Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking). He supplied three tracks for their album Out of the Past Into the Future, marking their return to Ariola Records and their most successful album for 15 years, Two further singles were released from the album, the re-recording of "Dirty Ol' Man" and new song "Hurry Hurry". In 1996 they released a new best of album, Best & New Hits: When Will I See You Again, which included four re-recorded hits and six new songs.[5] A seasonal album, Christmas With The Three Degrees, was also recorded in 1998. This album included a cover of Wham's "Last Christmas", which was released as a remixed dance single which gave the group their 15th (and final) UK top 60 single, reaching #54.

Scott, Holiday and Garrison continued to tour. They made their first US TV appearance in over 20 years in 2003 on the PBS show, Rhythm, Love, and Soul with Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls and Mary Wilson. They were also part of the 'Best Disco In Town 2004 Tour' with The Pointer Sisters, Chic, The Emotions, and Evelyn "Champagne" King. They also took part in the 2007 'Best Disco In Town' tour of the United Kingdom in May 2007.

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.[6]

The group, together with founder member Fayette 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.

Fayette Pinkney died on June 27, 2009, in Lansdale Hospital, Pennsylvania, after a short illness, at the age of 61.[7]

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.[8] The following year they released a new single "Holding Back".[9]

In January 2011, Freddie Pool replaced Cynthia Garrison, who was suffering from Piriformis syndrome, as the Degrees had touring commitments to fulfill.

In 2016 The Three degrees released their first full-length studio album with member Freddie Pool entitled Strategy: Our Tribute To Philadelphia, through Cherry Red Records.[10]

The Holiday/Scott/Garrison version of The Three Degrees was the longest running formation of the group (1989–2010).

Cover versions
  • Big Fun covered "The Heaven I Need" on their 1990 album, A Pocketful of Dreams.
  • Mirrorball sampled "Giving Up, Giving In" as "Given Up", and this was released as a single in 1999. It reached #12 in the UK Singles Chart.
  • Sheena Easton covered "Giving Up, Giving In" on her album Fabulous, and released the track as single in 2000. It reached #54 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]
  • The Nolans also covered "Giving Up, Giving In" on their album, I'm In The Mood Again (2009).
  • UK girl group, Bananarama, covered "The Runner" on their album, Viva (2009).
  • Erasure covered "When Will I See You Again" on their album, Other People's Songs.[12]
  • Hong Kong Cantopop singer Priscilla Chan (陳慧嫻) covered "When Will I See You Again" into a Cantonese version entitled "幾時再見?!" (lit. "When Will I See You Again?!") on her album, 秋色 (lit. "Autumn Colours"), in 1988.

Members timeline
1963 1963–66 1966–67 1967 1967 1967–76 1976–86 1986 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–2010 2011–present
Fayette Pinkney Helen Scott Miquel Brown Helen Scott
Linda Turner Janet Harmon Sundray Tucker Sonia Goring Valerie Holiday
Shirley Porter Helen Scott Sheila Ferguson Vera Brown Rhea Harris Victoria Wallace Cynthia Garrison Freddie Pool
  • Sundray Tucker (Cindy Scott) had a brief spell with the trio in 1967 (alongside Ferguson and Pinkney) as did Sonia Goring of The Chantels, who also stood in for some shows during the same year before being replaced by Valerie Holiday, who has now been active in the group for over 50 years.
  • Miquel Brown filled in for Scott while she was pregnant in 1986 (alongside Ferguson and Holiday). Scott returned to the group before Ferguson decided to leave later that year and was replaced by Vera Brown of The Ritchie Family.

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[13]		 US R&B
[13]		 AUS
[14]		 CAN
[15]		 GER
[16]		 NLD
[17]		 UK
[18]
1970 Maybe 139 16 — — — — — Roulette
1973 The Three Degrees 28 33 46 55 31 — 12 Philadelphia International
1975 International 99 31 84 — — — 6
1976 A Toast of Love — — — — — — — CBS/Sony
1977 Standing Up for Love — — — — — — — Epic
1978 New Dimensions 169 — 97 — — 32 34 Ariola
1979 3D — — — — — — 61
1982 Album of Love — — — — — — — 3D
1989 …And Holding — 76 — — — — — Ichiban
1993 Out of the Past, into the Future — — — — — — — BMG Ariola
1998 Christmas with the Three Degrees — — — — — — — Marathon Media Int'l
2009 Undercover 2009 — — — — — — — Reader's Digest
2016 Strategy - Our Tribute To Philadelphia — — — — — — — Cherry Red
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Record label
US
[13]		 US R&B
[13]
1975 The Three Degrees Live in Japan — — Philadelphia International
1976 The Three Degrees Live 199 34
1985 Live in the UK — — 3D
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US R&B
[13]		 UK
[13]
1975 So Much Love 56 — Roulette
1979 A Collection of Their 20 Greatest Hits — 8 Epic
1980 Gold — 9 K-Tel
1994 Very Best of the Three Degrees — — BMG Int'l
The Complete Swan Recordings — — Sequel
1995 The Roulette Years — —
1996 The Best of the Three Degrees: When Will I See You Again — — Legacy
2002 Super Hits — —
2008 Helen, Valerie, Cynthia: The Greatest Hits[6] — — Essential Media Group
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[13]		 US R&B
[13]		 US A/C
[13]		 AUS
[14]		 BEL
[20]		 CAN
[15]		 IRE
[21]		 GER
[16]		 NLD
[17]		 UK
[18]
1965 "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)" 80 — — — — 14 — — — — N/A
"I'm Gonna Need You" — — — — — — — — — —
"Close Your Eyes" 126 — — — — — — — — —
"Eve of Tomorrow" (with Tony Mammarella) — — — — — — — — — —
1966 "Look in My Eyes" 97 — — — — — — — — —
"Maybe" — — — — — — — — — —
"Tales Are True" — — — — — — — — — —
"Love of My Life" — — — — — — — — — —
1968 "Contact" — — — — — — — — — —
1969 "Down in the Boondocks" — — — — — — — — — —
"Feeling of Love" — — — — — — — — — —
1970 "What I See" — — — — — — — — — —
"Melting Pot" — — — — — — — — — —
"Maybe" (re-recorded version) 29 4 — — — 48 — — — — Maybe
"I Do Take You" 48 7 12 — — 61 — — — — N/A
1971 "You're the One" 77 19 — — — — — — — — Maybe
"There's So Much Love All Around Me" 98 33 — — — — — — — — N/A
"Ebb Tide" — — — — — — — — — —
1972 "Trade Winds" — 46 — — — — — — — —
"I Wanna Be Your Baby" — — — — — — — — — —
"I Won't Let You Go" — — — — — — — — — —
1973 "Dirty Ol' Man" — 58 — — 1 — — 34 1 — The Three Degrees
1974 "Year of Decision" — 74 — — 9 — — 27 8 13
"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" (with MFSB) 1 1 1 12 — 1 — 5 18 22 Love Is the Message
"Love Is the Message" (with MFSB) 85 42 — — 28 37 — 16 — —
"When Will I See You Again" 2 4 1 2 2 5 2 27 3 1 The Three Degrees
"Get Your Love Back" — — — — — — — 26 21 34 International
1975 "I Didn't Know" — 18 — — — — — — — — The Three Degrees
"Take Good Care of Yourself" — 64 24 69 23 — 8 — 20 9 International
"Long Lost Lover" — — — — — — — — — 40
"Free Ride" — — — — — — — — — — The Three Degrees Live
1976 "A Toast of Love" — — — — — — — — — 36 A Toast of Love
"What I Did for Love" — — — — — — — — — — Standing Up for Love
1977 "Standing Up for Love" — — — — — — — — — —
"We're All Alone" — — — — — — — — — —
1978 "Giving Up, Giving In" — 39 — — 7 88 — — 8 12 New Dimensions
1979 "Woman in Love" — 27 50 56 — — 6 — — 3
"The Runner" — — — — 6 — 11 — 6 10
"The Golden Lady" — — — — — — — — — 56 The Golden Lady
"Jump the Gun" — — — — — — — — — 48 3D
"My Simple Heart" — — — — — — 12 — — 9
1980 "Without You" — — — — — — — — — —
"Starlight" — — — — — — — — — —
1983 "Liar" — — — — — — — — — 97 N/A
1985 "The Heaven I Need" — — — — — — — — 33 42
"This Is the House" — — — — — — — — — —
1989 "Tie U Up" — — — — — — — — — — …And Holding
"Make It Easy on Yourself" — — — — — — — — — —
"Lock It Up" — — — — — — — — — —
1993 "When Will I See You Again 93" (with Thomas Anders) — — — — — — — 37 — — N/A
"Dirty Ol' Man 93" — — — — — — — — — —
"Hurry Hurry" — — — — — — — — — — Out of the Past into the Future
1998 "Last Christmas" (with Alien Voices) — — — — — — — — — 54 N/A
2010 "Holding Back" — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography
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See also

References
  1. "Biography by Ed Hogan". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  2. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 558. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "1970s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  5. "Three Degrees : discography". 3degrees.eg2.fr. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  6. "iTunes - Music : Greatest Hits Of The Three Degrees by Cynthia Garrison, Helen Scott & Valerie Holiday". itunes.apple.com. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  7. Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2009 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  8. "iTunes - Music - The Three Degrees - Undercover 2009 by The Three Degrees". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  9. "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  10. "The Three Degrees announce a new album Strategy: Our Tribute To Philadelphia to be released on 4 March on SoulMusic Records". Cherryred.co.uk. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 177. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. Robert L. Doerschuk (2003-01-28). "Other People's Songs - Erasure | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  13. "US Charts > The Three Degrees". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  14. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. "CAN Charts > The Three Degrees". RPM.
  16. "GER Charts > The Three Degrees". Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  17. "NL Charts > The Three Degrees". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  18. "UK Charts > The Three Degrees". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  19. "UK Certified Awards Search > The Three Degrees". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  20. "BEL Charts > The Three Degrees". Ultratop. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  21. "IRE Charts Search > The Three Degrees". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  22. "US Certifications > MFSB". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  23. "US Certifications > The Three Degress". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  24. "TV Guide Website". tvguide.com. Retrieved May 14, 2020.

Further reading
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