Is New Edition the only black soul/r&b/funk group or band with more than 3 members that has more than 50% of them as capable or quality lead singers?

How far we going back? Cause I think there has been more. I think Smokie Robinson said pretty much all the original temptations could have handled leads.


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....and outside of Johnnie and Ralph, can any other NE members actually hold it down live?


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Yeah..Also, their were other groups as well that more that one that can lead sings as well...The good ol days when R&B was good!!
 
godofwine said:
Funny shit is, Johnny Gill wasn't brought into the group to replace Bobby, Johnny Gill was brought to the group to replace Ralph
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Yep, I remember that...The record label told Ralph he had to come back for that album before he do his solo music!!..The original members was moving along with Ralph and have Johnny and Ricky do the main singing in the group!!.
 
Don Coreleone said:
There wouldn't have been a Jackson 5, but there would have been a Jackson band of some type. The success would have came later but I believe they would have still been a success. People forget that Michael was a late addition to the Jackson brothers and that Jackie, Jermaine and Tito were already practicing I can't remember if Marlon was in it. Micheal Jackson was just on a another level. I believe Joe Jackson(put some respect on that man's name) would have made them successful with or without Micheal.
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I get what you are stating, but what happened to the other group members after Michael left? The other members didn't entirely own the 80s as Michael did. Jermain had a couple of albums...but not like Mike. It's like taking Lionel Richie from the commodores.
 
Pack Rat said:
I get what you are stating, but what happened to the other group members after Michael left? The other members didn't entirely own the 80s as Michael did. Jermain had a couple of albums...but not like Mike. It's like taking Lionel Richie from the commodores.
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If Jermaine's last name was Jones/Brown/ whatever, he'd be a bigger star. He's a damn talented vocalist and guitar player in his own right who had some hits. Just had to live in his little brother's shadow. Janet had an easier path to stardom because she's a woman and great entertainer. Easy in the eyes too.
 
Off the top of my head,

Tavares
Perri
Sly & Family Stone
Enchantment
The Escorts
Bloodstone
Windy City
True Reflections
The Drifters
The Persuaders
The Modulations
The Originals


I could go on but my fingers are starting to hurt from typing
 
Lou_Kayge said:
I would argue that for the criteria I listed, yes. When they have the full 6 member line-up, they have 4 quality lead singers:Ralph,Bobby, Ricky and Johnny. 4 out of 6 is 67%. That has to be the highest amount among black groups with 4 or more members. Who else?
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Dru hill has Sisqo, jazz and Tao/woody/scola
 
I could name quite a few groups from this current era that do. Some a few may have not heard of.

One being Ahmir
 
I saw Cameo at B.B. King's on my 50th birthday about 6 years ago. I think they had about 8 or 9 guys on stage. I wanna say 3-4 guys: Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins, Aaron Millls and I think Charlie Singleton each sang lead on one song. That was about 40%-50% of the group. Still a relatively high#. Not as high as NE's 60% without Bobby and 67% with him.
 
The Spinners always had three lead singers: Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough, and Philippe Wynne. A lot of their tunes featured all three guys, but some featured mostly one.

Bobby Smith leads: I'll Be Around; Could it Be I'm Falling in Love; Games People Play.

Henry Fambrough leads: I Don't Want to Lose You; Just As Long As We Have Love; Ghetto Child.

Philippe Wynne Leads: Sadie, I'm Coming Home; Rubberband Man.

There are others but this is off the top of my head.
 
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Pack Rat said:
I get what you are stating, but what happened to the other group members after Michael left? The other members didn't entirely own the 80s as Michael did. Jermain had a couple of albums...but not like Mike. It's like taking Lionel Richie from the commodores.
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I think its a case of the one negro at a time syndrome. That held the brothers back and Michael despite what most people think was a damn good businessman. Did that fact keep music executives away from the other members of the family. Like someone said Janet had an easier road because she's a woman. Maybe it was other issues that held them back. I've listened to the album Jackie put out in the 90s it's a decent album. Randy Jackson wrote and produced many of the hits the Jacksons had post Motown and he's supposed to be the most talented musician of all the brothers. Marlon had a number one single in the late 80s and at the time his dance moves were compared to Micheal's. Tito is a respectable blues artist at this point. Like someone pointed out Jermaine has had a decent career as an artist, producer and executive. If I'm not mistaken he's credited with finding Switch and the Debarge family. Rebie is supposedly the best singer in the family and she had a hit in the 80s. Even Latoya had a hit single in the 80s.














People really sleep on how bad this family really is. Michael was just a supremely talented dude.
 
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