By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 06:19 pm:

i'm always hearing of some of my favorite
70's group members that are no longer alive.
i'm always surprised to know that.so does
anybody know of a member of a 70's group that is
no longer with us

By medsua9e (66.73.13.3) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

Nile Rogers of Chic

I don't know his name, but the heavy set guy who sung with the %th Demention.

Sweet James (Epps) of the Fantastic Four (whole world is a stage).

If I think of anyone else, I'll holla back.

By Vandelron (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:34 pm:

Niles Rogers is alive and well. Bernard Edwards died.

By Scratcher (65.132.76.226) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:55 pm:

Too many to mention really but here's a few: William Powell (O'Jays), Clarence "Satch" Satchell (Ohio Players), all of the New York based Topics ("Hey Girl, Where Are You Going"; "All Good Things Must End"), Brenda Payton (Brenda & the Tabulations), Philly players and writers: Ron Baker, Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Harold Melvin, Randy Brown, Ronald White (Miracles), Barbara Acklin, Harry Ray, Roger, Van McCoy, William "Wee Gee" Howard, Tony Hester, Ronnie Dyson, and on and on.

By Mark Speck (65.56.217.168) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:51 am:

One of the Tilman brothers in the Detroit Emeralds, I believe it was Abe.

Best,

Mark

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:58 am:

SCRATCHER: BRENDA OF THE TABULATIONS...I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT GROUP TODAY...TIP OF MY TONGUE!!!...GOOD CALL!!!...STU

By snowbird (65.238.58.106) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

70's singers gone....Sylvester, Sharon Redd, "Turn the Beat Around" girl, can't think of her name, Diane Taylor of Love Unlimited (Barry White's girl group).

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:35 pm:

GREETINGS: MEDSUA9E MENTIONED SWEET JAMES OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR (IT'S AN EVIL WIND THAT BLOWS NOWHERE)!!!...I PERFORMED ON SOME SHOWS WITH THE FANTASTIC FOUR...AND THE DETROIT EMERALDS (THEY WERE RELATED)...AND I MUST SAY THAT AS FAR BACK AS THE MID-LATE 60'S...JAMES DID NOT LOOK TO BE THE PICTURE OF HEALTH!!!...HE WAS VASTLY OVERWEIGHT...AND I REMEMBER... USED TO SWEAT PROFUSELY WHILE PERFORMING...NOT SIGNS OF LONGEVITY...BUT THAT GUY COULD CERTAINLY SING...AND WAS ALWAYS A VERY FINE GENTLEMAN WHENEVER I SAW HIM!!!...STU

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:39 pm:

medusa9e:
Ron Townson of the 5th Dimension died in 2001.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By medusa9e (66.73.0.223) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 04:39 am:

Ok,

I could be wrong, but the article I read had said it was Nile Rogers had passed away.

Sorry....

By Eli (151.197.40.49) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:28 am:

It was Bernard Edwards. He died in Japan while on a promo tour for his solo album.
Nile is just fine, thank you.

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:43 am:

Hank Ballard
Yvonne Fair
Florence Ballard
Frankie Lymon
Vicky Sue Robinson (for Snowbird)
"Smokey" Scott of The Persuaders
Tammi Terrell
Marvin Gaye

I'll come up with some more later

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By RD (63.188.33.80) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

Charles Stodghill another Persuader, who previously sung with the Topics, is also gone. If I remember correctly he was murdered in a bar in New York while defending one of his old buddies from the Topics.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

I didn't know Vicki Sue Robinson had died! When
and why?

By sdl (63.72.98.2) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 05:03 pm:

Randy.

Check out this link with story dated 5/2/00 "Music: Vicki Sue Robinson dead at 45"


http://www.topica.com/lists/Fourtops/read/message.html?mid=701127894&sort=d&start=0

By drlorne (216.26.218.28) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 05:19 pm:

Sandra Tilley (of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas---might have been an Orlon, too?)
All of the original Temptations, except Otis Williams (Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin)
One of the Four Tops (not Levi, but I'm unsure who).

By Scratcher (65.132.77.14) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 05:21 pm:

Sandra Tilley was a Velvelette before becoming a Vandella. She never sang with the Orlons. Elbridge Bryant is the other original Temptations to have pass on.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

Lawrence Payton of the Four Tops died in 1997.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Mark Speck (64.158.96.70) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 12:33 am:

One of the Cornelius Brothers died around 1991...I think the date is correct.

Also, Papa Dee Allen of War died on stage while performing in 1988, while they were performing their hit "Gypsy Man". They have since stopped performing that song in concert.

Best,

Mark

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 02:07 pm:

Scratcher, according to Martha, Sandra Tilley did
sing with the Orlons! This was AFTER their days
at Cameo-Parkway, I believe.

By Scratcher (65.132.78.73) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 04:27 pm:

I'm not doubting you Randy just never heard it before. After Cameo-Parkway the Orlons recorded for Calla Records in 1966 and ABC in 1967. They didn't have any more releases but continued on the road for a spell. She might have sung with them on the road but I doubt if she ever recorded with them. The Velvelettes last Motown (Soul) recording came out August 1966. She replaced Rosalind Ashford in the Vandellas in 1968. Sandra Tilley--who was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio by her aunt Shirley Hawk (who once headed the city's school board)--died in 1981.

The only mention of Tilley being in the Orlons is on this same bio of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas that appears on a few websites. This appears to be one of them accounts that other writers pick up without checking out. You won't find any mention of her name in any biography about the Orlons. Or any book, i.e. American Singing Groups, which features a good bio on the Orlons.

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 05:01 pm:

didn't one of the main ingredients past away
and also one of friends of distinctions

By Mark Speck (65.57.22.39) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 12:30 am:

Yes, Donald McPherson of the Main Ingredient died of leukemia as the group was starting to become successful.

Best,

Mark

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:36 pm:

floyd butler of friends of distinction
sylvester
ronnie dyson

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Donald McPherson also wrote & co-wrote many of the Main Ingredient's early hits & album tracks:
"You've Been My Inspiration"
"I'm Better Off Without You"
"Magic Shoes"
"Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love)"
"Black Seeds Keep On Growing"
Just to name a few.
Kevin Goins - KevGo