Lloyd Parks (R&B singer)
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Parks is an American R&B
/soul
singer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an original member of the Grammy-Nominated Philadelphia International Records
group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Lloyd is noted for his high tenor
and falsetto vocal leads and harmonies. He is also a founding member of The Epsilons who backed Arthur Conley
on his Stax Records
hit single Sweet Soul Music
.
and John Whitehead
to form the Epsilons. The group was managed by Soul Singer Otis Redding and were soon signed to the Stax Records label. They toured for two years with Redding and backed label mate Arthur Connley on his 1967 recording "Sweet Soul Music
." The single reached No.2 on both the Billboard Hot 100
and Billboard R&B charts. The following year the Epsilons a quintet that included Allen Beatty and James Knight released "The Echo." The group disbanded following the tragic death of their mentor Otis Redding. Parks joined another local act The Broadway Express while McFadden and Whitehead reformed The Epsilons as the group Talk of The Town.
group the Blue Notes reformed and renamed Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
. He was joined by Teddy Pendergrass
, Lawrence Brown, Bernie Wilson, and group leader Harold Melvin. The Blue Notes were signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records in 1972. "I Miss You (Part 1)" (No.7 R&B) was their initial Billboard
chart hit as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Lloyd Parks falsetto vocal runs open the song which is led by Teddy Pendergrass with spoken word from Melvin. The next single If You Don't Know Me By Now
released in 1972 is the groups first No. 1 R&B hit and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (album)
featured both singles and reached No.4 R&B and No. 53 Pop. Parks next album with group Black & Blue
reached the R&B Top Five and contained the hit singles The Love I Lost (Part 1)
, No. 1 R&B, No. 7 Billboard Hot 100
; "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)," and "I'm Weak For You." The hits for Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes continued with "Bad Luck (Part 1)
", "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)
."
of The Temptations
' fame was added to the lineup. The group cut an album and singles for Fantasy Records
. The songs "Disco Explosion" backed by a remake of The Temptations' All I Need
were released as a two sided Disco single in 1978. Lloyd toured for a brief period in the late 1990s with The Blue Notes as a trio with Bernie Wilson and Gil Saunders
. He is the last surviving original member from the Sound of Philadelphia soul
era lineup.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an original member of the Grammy-Nominated Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Lloyd is noted for his high tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
and falsetto vocal leads and harmonies. He is also a founding member of The Epsilons who backed Arthur Conley
Arthur Conley
Arthur Lee Conley was an American soul singer, best known for the 1967 hit "Sweet Soul Music".-Career:...
on his Stax Records
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
hit single Sweet Soul Music
Sweet Soul Music
Sweet Soul Music is the second album of New Zealand RnB artist, Aaradhna released in 2008 on Valentine's Day.-Track listing:#"Didn't I "#"I Want You Back"#"Betcha By Golly Wow"#"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"...
.
Early career
Parks started his career in music in the mid-1960s performing with various local Philadelphia vocal groups including the Emanons who hit with "One Heart" on "Phila Of Soul" Records. He later merged with friends Gene McFaddenGene McFadden
Gene McFadden was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as one of the key members of the Philadelphia International record label, and was one-half of the successful team of McFadden & Whitehead with John Whitehead.-Biography:McFadden met John Whitehead as a teenager...
and John Whitehead
John Whitehead
John Whitehead may refer to:* John Whitehead , 15th century Irish theologian* John Meek Whitehead , Wisconsin politician* John Whitehead , British explorer* J. H. C. Whitehead , British mathematician...
to form the Epsilons. The group was managed by Soul Singer Otis Redding and were soon signed to the Stax Records label. They toured for two years with Redding and backed label mate Arthur Connley on his 1967 recording "Sweet Soul Music
Sweet Soul Music
Sweet Soul Music is the second album of New Zealand RnB artist, Aaradhna released in 2008 on Valentine's Day.-Track listing:#"Didn't I "#"I Want You Back"#"Betcha By Golly Wow"#"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"...
." The single reached No.2 on both the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Billboard R&B charts. The following year the Epsilons a quintet that included Allen Beatty and James Knight released "The Echo." The group disbanded following the tragic death of their mentor Otis Redding. Parks joined another local act The Broadway Express while McFadden and Whitehead reformed The Epsilons as the group Talk of The Town.
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
In 1971 Lloyd Parks was recruited to join the Philadelphia Doo-wopDoo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group the Blue Notes reformed and renamed Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American singing group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco...
. He was joined by Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass
Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
, Lawrence Brown, Bernie Wilson, and group leader Harold Melvin. The Blue Notes were signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records in 1972. "I Miss You (Part 1)" (No.7 R&B) was their initial Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart hit as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Lloyd Parks falsetto vocal runs open the song which is led by Teddy Pendergrass with spoken word from Melvin. The next single If You Don't Know Me By Now
If You Don't Know Me By Now
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the jersey soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which became their first hit after being released as a single in 1972 topping the R&B chart and peaking at number three on the Pop chart.The...
released in 1972 is the groups first No. 1 R&B hit and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (album)
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (album)
-Personnel:*Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, Lloyd Parks – vocals*Leon Huff – piano*Leonard Pakula – organ*Ronnie Baker – bass*Earl Young – drums...
featured both singles and reached No.4 R&B and No. 53 Pop. Parks next album with group Black & Blue
Black & Blue (album)
Black & Blue is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in Septembeer 1973. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff....
reached the R&B Top Five and contained the hit singles The Love I Lost (Part 1)
The Love I Lost
"The Love I Lost" is a soul/disco song by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed into a disco song. It was released from the Black & Blue album in late 1973...
, No. 1 R&B, No. 7 Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
; "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)," and "I'm Weak For You." The hits for Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes continued with "Bad Luck (Part 1)
Bad Luck (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song)
"Bad Luck" is a 1975 disco/R&B/pop single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. The single was a number one Disco/Dance hit for eleven weeks, a feat that would be matched eight years later when all cuts of Michael Jackson's album Thriller would hit the top spot on the dance chart for the same number...
", "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)
Wake Up Everybody (song)
"Wake Up Everybody" was covered in 1995 by British singer Sonia. It was produced by Steve Levine for fourth studio album Love Train - The Philly Album . The song was released as the album's first and final single. This single has two B-sides - "Show You the Way to Go" and "Nowhere Left to Hide"....
."
The Legendary Blue Notes
In the mid seventies Lloyd Parks departed the lineup and formed The Blue Notes. He was later joined by Lawrence Brown, Bernie Wilson, and John Atkins all former members of Harold's group. Ali-Ollie WoodsonAli-Ollie Woodson
Ali-Ollie Woodson was an American R&B singer, songwriter, keyboardist and occasional actor. He was known for singing with The Temptations beginning in 1984, and also worked with Aretha Franklin and Bill Pinkney....
of The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' fame was added to the lineup. The group cut an album and singles for Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
. The songs "Disco Explosion" backed by a remake of The Temptations' All I Need
All I Need (The Temptations song)
"All I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It is the group's first single to be produced by Norman Whitfield's protégé Frank Wilson. Written by Wilson, Edward Holland, Jr. and R...
were released as a two sided Disco single in 1978. Lloyd toured for a brief period in the late 1990s with The Blue Notes as a trio with Bernie Wilson and Gil Saunders
Gil Saunders
Philadelphia native Gil Saunders grew up singing in the church at an early age. He patterned his style after David Ruffin of The Temptations and Marvin Junior of The Dells. Encouraged by family and friends, Saunders pursued a career in music. He formed his first group as a teenager which...
. He is the last surviving original member from the Sound of Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
era lineup.
Lloyd Parks Early Singles
- "One Heart" (1967) - The Emanons
- "Sweet Soul MusicSweet Soul MusicSweet Soul Music is the second album of New Zealand RnB artist, Aaradhna released in 2008 on Valentine's Day.-Track listing:#"Didn't I "#"I Want You Back"#"Betcha By Golly Wow"#"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"...
" (1967) - Arthur Connely with Lloyd Parks & The Epsilons - "One Heart" (1968) - The Epsilons Single Stax RecordsStax RecordsStax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
Billboard Album chart
- "Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (album)Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (album)-Personnel:*Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, Lloyd Parks – vocals*Leon Huff – piano*Leonard Pakula – organ*Ronnie Baker – bass*Earl Young – drums...
" (1972) - (Gold) - "Black & BlueBlack & Blue (album)Black & Blue is an album released by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on the Philadelphia International record label in Septembeer 1973. It was produced by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff....
" (1973) - (Gold) - "Collectors Item: All Their Greatest Hits" (1976) -(Gold)
- "Blue Notes & Ballads" (1998)
- "Ultimate Blue Notes" (2001)
Billboard singles chart
- "I Miss You (Part 1)" (1972) - Number 7 R&B
- "If You Don't Know Me By NowIf You Don't Know Me By Now"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the jersey soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which became their first hit after being released as a single in 1972 topping the R&B chart and peaking at number three on the Pop chart.The...
" (1972) - No. 1 R&B, U.S. Number 3 Pop (Gold) - "Yesterday I Had The Blues" (1972) - Number 12
- "The Love I LostThe Love I Lost"The Love I Lost" is a soul/disco song by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed into a disco song. It was released from the Black & Blue album in late 1973...
(Part 1)" (1973) - No. 1 R&B, U.S. Number 7 Pop (Gold) - "I'm Weak For You" (1974) - Number 87
- "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)" (1974) - No. 6 R&B, Number 87
- "Disco Explosion" / "All I Need" (1978)- The Blue Notes (Fantasy Records)