The Dramatics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2014) The Dramatics Origin Detroit, United States Genres Rhythm & blues, soul, pop Years active 1964 – present Labels Volt Records, ABC Records Associated acts Snoop Dogg Members Willie Ford Harley K. Brown Larry L.J. Reynolds Winzell Kelly Michael Brock Past members Ron Banks (deceased) Larry Squirrel Demps Larry Reed Roderick Davis Elbert Wilkins (deceased) William Wee Gee Howard (deceased) Lenny Mayes (deceased) Craig Jones Steven Boyd Harley K. Brown Robert Ellington James Mack Brown (deceased) The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics) are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1964. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs In the Rain and Whatcha See is Whatcha Get, both of which were Top 10 Pop hits.[1] Contents [hide] 1 Career 2 Discography 2.1 Studio albums 2.2 Live albums 2.3 Compilation albums 2.4 Singles 3 References 4 External links Career[edit] The Dramatics originally formed in 1964, recording as the Dynamics in 1965. Their first release in 1965 was entitled Bingo and the B-side was entitled Somewhere. It was recorded for the late Ed Wingates Wingate record label, a division of Golden World Records in Detroit, Michigan. Wingate changed the name of the group had a mis-print was called the Dynamics to The Dramatics in 1966 for the groups second release: Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo, the B-side was entitled: Baby I Need You, also released on the Wingate Records label. By 1967, Motown had absorbed the entire Golden World Records operation, including their publishing: Myto Music BMI, The Golden World, Ric Tic, and Wingate Record labels, as well as recording artists. The Dramatics moved to Sport Records where they garnered their first minor hit single, All Because of You. The Dramatics signed to Stax-Volt Records in 1968. However, the group did not break through until their 1971 single, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get, which broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9.[1] Their first million selling disc Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971.[1] Their members at this time were Ron Banks (who died of a heart attack on March 4, 2010, at the age of 58),[2] William Wee Gee Howard (who died of a heart attack on February 22, 2000, at the age of 49), Elbert Wilkins (who died of a heart attack on December 13, 1992, at the age of 45), Willie Ford, Larry Demps and keyboardist James Mack Brown (who died on November 28, 2008, at the age of 58). Shortly after the success of their first album, Howard and Wilkins left the group. They were replaced by Larry James L.J. Reynolds, Harley K. Brown and Leonard Lenny Mayes. Through the 1970s, the group appeared on Soul Train and continued to have hits, including the #1 R&B hit, In the Rain, Toast to the Fool, Me and Mrs. Jones (originally by Billy Paul), Im Going By The Stars In Your Eyes and Be My Girl. In the Rain also sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] Many of the Dramatics songs were written by Tony Hester, a Detroit writer/producer who was shot to death in a street robbery in 1980.[citation needed] The group continues to tour and presently consists of Reynolds, Harley K. Brown, Ford, Winzell Kelly and Michael Brock, who replaced Mayes (who died of lung cancer on November 8, 2004, at the age of 53).[citation needed] The Dramatics were officially inducted into the R&B Music Hall of Fame at Cleveland State Universitys Waetejen Auditorium on Saturday August 17, 2013.[citation needed] Discography[edit] Studio albums[edit] Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications (sales thresholds) Record label US [3] US R&B [3] CAN [4] 1971 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get 20 5 — Volt 1973 A Dramatic Experience 86 11 — 1974 The Dells Vs. The Dramatics 156 15 — Cadet Dramatically Yours [A] — 36 — Volt 1975 The Dramatic Jackpot [A] 31 9 89 ABC Drama V 93 10 — 1976 Joy Ride 103 11 — 1977 Shake It Well 60 10 — US: Gold [5] 1978 Do What You Wanna Do 44 6 72 US: Gold [5] 1979 Anytime, Anyplace — 15 — 1980 10½ 61 14 — MCA The Dramatic Way — 38 — 1982 New Dimension — 40 — Capitol 1986 Somewhere in Time (A Dramatic Reunion) — — — Fantasy 1989 Positive State of Mind — 80 — Volt 1990 Stone Cold — — — 1994 Mellow Drama — — — Groovesville 1997 A Dramatic Christmas: The Very Best Christmas of All — — — Fantasy 1999 If You Come Back to Me — — — Volt 2002 Look Inside — — — BBEG — denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. A Album credited to Ron Banks & the Dramatics. Live albums[edit] Live (1988, Stax) Greatest Hits Live (2002, Stax) Compilation albums[edit] The Best of the Dramatics (1974, Volt) Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs (1998, Hip-O) Shake It Well: The Best of the Dramatics 1974-1980 (1998, MCA) Say the Word: Their Greatest Love Songs, Vol. 2 (1999, Hip-O) Ultimate Collection (2000, Hip-O) 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dramatics (2005, Hip-O) The Very Best of the Dramatics (2007, Stax) Greatest Slow Jams (2014, Stax) Singles[edit] Year Single Peak chart positions US [3] US R&B [3] CAN [4] 1965 Bingo — — — 1966 Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo — — — 1967 All Because of You — 43 — 1969 Your Love Was Strange — — — 1971 Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get 9 3 44 Get Up and Get Down 78 16 — 1972 In the Rain 5 1 31 Toast to the Fool 67 18 — 1973 Hey You! Get Off My Mountain 43 5 — Fell for You 45 12 — 1974 And I Panicked — 49 — Choosing Up on You (A-Side) — 30 — Door to Your Heart (B-Side) 62 25 — Highway to Heaven [B] — — — Dont Make Me No Promises (A-Side) — 63 — 1975 Tune Up (B-Side) — 74 — Me and Mrs. Jones [B] 47 4 78 Love Is Missing from Our Lives (with The Dells) — 46 — (Im Going by) The Stars in Your Eyes [B] 81 22 — Youre Fooling You 87 10 — 1976 Treat Me Like a Man — 49 — Finger Fever — 23 — Be My Girl 53 3 65 1977 I Cant Get Over You 101 9 99 Shake It Well 76 4 — 1978 Ocean of Thoughts and Dreams 106 17 — Stop Your Weeping — 22 — Do What You Want to Do — 56 — 1979 I Just Wanna Dance with You — 35 — Thats My Favorite Song — 40 — 1980 Welcome Back Home — 9 — Be with the One You Love — 79 — Get It — 59 — Youre the Best Thing in My Life — 26 — 1982 Live It Up — 40 — Treat Me Right — 62 — 1986 Luvs Calling — — — One Love Ago — 61 — When Love Is Over — — — 1988 Born to Be Wild — — — We Are the Champions (with Thomas Hearns) — — — 1989 Bridge Over Troubled Water — 93 — 1990 Ready 4 Love — — — 1996 Try Love Again — 82 — 1997 The Golden Horn — — — 1998 Saying Goodbye — — — — denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. B Single credited to Ron Banks & the Dramatics. References[edit] ^ Jump up to: a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 292 & 312. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. Jump up ^ McCollum, Brian (2010-03-04). Dramatics founder Ron Banks dead at 58. freep. Retrieved 4 March 2010. ^ Jump up to: a b c d US Charts > The Dramatics. Billboard. Retrieved 2013-03-31. ^ Jump up to: a b CAN Charts > The Dramatics. RPM. Retrieved 2013-03-31. ^ Jump up to: a b US Certifications > The Dramatics. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2013-03-31. External links[edit] The Dramatics at AllMusic The Dramatics at Soul Express
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:26:40 +0000
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