6
So tenors Bobbie Smith (born April
10, 1936) and Billy Henderson
(born August 9, 1939), baritone
Henry Fambrough (born May 10,
1938), and bass Pervis Jackson
(born May 17, 1938), all original
members, were joined by gospel-
soaked Philip Walker, a Detroit
native born April 3, 1941 who billed
himself as Philippé Wynne and
would share lead duty with Smith.
Bell meticulously worked up songs
for his new act, recording them at
Sigma Sound in Philly with guitarists
Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli, and
Norman Harris, bassist Ronnie
Baker, drummer Earl Young, Vince
Montana on vibes, and producer/
arranger Bell himself on piano.
No less than three R&B chart-
topping gold records on Atlantic
were the immediate result. First
came the insistent
I’ll Be Around
,
co-penned by Bell and Phil Hurtt,
during late summer of 1972 (it went
to #3 pop). The inspiring
Could It
Be I’m Falling In Love
emerged next,
written by brothers Melvin and
Mervin Steals. Out just before
year’s end, it sat atop the R&B hit
parade in February of ’73, sailing
to #4 pop. Larry Washington’s
congas sparked the groove, Smith’s
feathery lead tenor up front until
the fire-breathing Wynne ramped
up the closing vamp.
One Of A Kind
(Love Affair)
made it three #1 R&B
outings in a row later that year.
Under Bell’s supervision, 1974’s
Mighty Love – Pt. 1, I’m Coming
Home
, and
Then Came You
, a duet
with Dionne Warwick,
They Just
Can’t Stop It (The Games People
Play)
in ’75, and
The Rubberband
Man
the next year were all monster
hits. Wynne went solo in 1977 (he
was replaced by John Edwards),
and producer Bell left in ’79. Disco
was in full swing, and with Michael
Zager their new producer, The
Spinners rebounded with a pair of
smash medleys,
Working My Way
Back To You/Forgive Me Girl
in ’79
and
Cupid/I’ve Loved You For A
Long Time
the following year.
