New Birth
Formed by Tony Churchill and music-industry veteran Harvey Fuqua, New Birth was originally named the Nite-Liters. As the Nite-Liters, they enjoyed chart action with three R&B hits: "K-Jee," "Afro-Strut," and "Pull Together." Of the three, "K-Jee" was the most successful, peaking at number 17 during a 13-week run.
The roots of the band lie with Leslie and Melvin Wilson, who were gospel singers living in Muskegon, MI. After moving on to Detroit in the late '60s, their interest remained centered in gospel. Melvin Wilson eventually met the Nite-Liters, who at the time were backing Motown artists, and expressed the possibility that he and his brother Leslie could perform with them. As fate would have it, the two brothers became acquainted with former Marvelette Anne Bogan, who introduced them to Fuqua. He had three groups under his tutelage: Love Peace & Happiness (of which Leslie and Melvin became members), the Nite-Liters, and New Birth. All but two members of New Birth had left the group around this time, leaving just Londee Loren and Bobby Downs. The three groups toured, backed each other up, and ultimately merged into one, with New Birth the name of the new group.
Leslie, with his feisty vocals, and Melvin, with his more serene appeal, emerged as the primary lead singers. New Birth's first release was the R&B Top Ten single "I Can Understand It." Led by Leslie Wilson's intense vocals and reminiscent of Bobby Womack, the single zoomed up the charts, peaking at number four after only 12 weeks. In January of 1974 they released "It's Been a Long Time," one of their celebrated hits and another Top Ten entry. That single was followed by the classic, soulful ballad "Wildflower." During this time, the group was living in California, which presented problems; from egotism associated with the lights of Tinseltown to group-management problems, the band's best interests began to suffer. Consequently, New Birth terminated its affiliation with their founder and producer Fuqua, manager Jerry Weintraub, and RCA Records. In mid-1975 they signed with Buddah Records and immediately recorded their first and only number R&B one, "Dream Merchant." They recorded just one album for Buddah, however, before signing with Warner Bros. and later Ariola. In 1977, Leslie and Melvin Wilson left the group, and by 1979 the rest of the group had disbanded. However, in 1994, Leslie and Melvin re-formed the group and began performing at venues around the nation.
© Craig Lytle /TiVo
Discografia
12 álbum(ns) • Ordenado por Mais vendidos
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Behold The Mighty Army
Rock - Lançado por Rhino - Warner Records em 12/08/2008
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I'm Fallin'
Miscellaneous - Lançado por Stonehurst Records em 02/08/2010
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Love Potion
Rock - Lançado por Rhino - Warner Records em 01/01/1976
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rejuvenation (Digitally Remastered)
Soul - Lançado por Essential Media Group em 29/05/2012
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The Long And Winding Road & Other Favorites (Digitally Remastered)
Soul - Lançado por CW Music - EMG em 24/02/2009
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New Age (Digitally Remastered)
Soul - Lançado por Essential Media Group em 22/05/2012
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Into Tomorrow (Digitally Remastered)
Soul - Lançado por Essential Media Group em 05/06/2012
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Funk It Up
Funk - Lançado por Ten12 Entertainment em 22/01/2016
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The Long and Winding Road
Soul - Lançado por HHO em 20/12/2017
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Slow Driving
Soul - Lançado por Vanilla OMP em 06/12/2010
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I Am Blessed
Gospel - Lançado por Trio Records em 28/12/2004
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God's Children
Soul - Lançado por Stack-O-Hits em 05/01/2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo