Philippe Wynne
Encyclopedia
Philippé Wynne born Phillip Walker, was an American
R&B
singer. Best known for his role as the lead singer of The Spinners
(a role he shared with fellow group member Bobby Smith
), Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away
", "The Rubberband Man
",and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)
", . After leaving The Spinners, Wynne never regained the same success, although he featured in hits by other artists such as "(Not Just) Knee Deep
" by Funkadelic
. Wynne died of a heart attack
while performing at a nightclub
.
, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
, Wynne began his musical career as a gospel
singer. He soon switched to R&B and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins
's Pacesetters in 1968 and with James Brown
's J.B.'s
shortly thereafter. Wynne then spent time in Germany as the lead singer of the Afro Kings, a band from Liberia
, before he replaced his cousin, G. C. Cameron
, as one of the lead vocalists for The Spinners. He sang with the group until 1977, during which they achieved several successful album
s and singles
.
Wynne then launched a solo career with Alan Thicke
as his manager. His first album Starting All Over was released on the Cotillion label in 1977 but was not promoted. His fortunes turned upwards again when he joined George Clinton
's Parliament-Funkadelic
in 1979. He performed with them on several recordings, and was a featured vocalist on the Funkadelic single "(Not Just) Knee Deep
" (a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B chart). While associated with Parliament-Funkadelic, Wynne also appeared on the Bootsy Collins
album Sweat Band
. Wynne released the solo album Wynne Jammin'
in 1980, and made a guest appearance on the song "Something Inside My Head" by Gene Dunlap
, and in the song "Whip It" by the Treacherous Three. Wynne's final album was the self-titled Philippé Wynne, released by Sugarhill Records in 1984.
On July 13, 1984, while performing at Ivey's nightclub in Oakland
, California
, Wynne suffered a heart attack
and died the following morning.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer. Best known for his role as the lead singer of The Spinners
The Spinners (U.S. band)
The Spinners is a soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of pop and R&B hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly ....
(a role he shared with fellow group member Bobby Smith
Bobby Smith (R&B singer)
Robert "Bobby" Smith is an American R&B singer, noted as the principal lead singer of the soul vocal group, The Spinners, also known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners....
), Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away
How Could I Let You Get Away
"How Could I Let You Get Away" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners and produced by Thom Bell. The lush, string-augmented production of the song drew comparisons to another Bell - produced group, The Stylistics. The song was recorded for inclusion on the group's 1972...
", "The Rubberband Man
The Rubberband Man
"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners .The song, written by producer Thom Bell and Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight...
",and "One of a Kind (Love Affair)
One of a Kind (Love Affair)
"One of a Kind " is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners . The song was...
", . After leaving The Spinners, Wynne never regained the same success, although he featured in hits by other artists such as "(Not Just) Knee Deep
(Not Just) Knee Deep
" Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Song information:...
" by Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
. Wynne died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while performing at a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
.
Biography
Born in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Wynne began his musical career as a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer. He soon switched to R&B and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
's Pacesetters in 1968 and with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's J.B.'s
The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word...
shortly thereafter. Wynne then spent time in Germany as the lead singer of the Afro Kings, a band from Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, before he replaced his cousin, G. C. Cameron
G. C. Cameron
George Curtis "G.C." Cameron is an American soul and R&B singer. G.C. is credited with having "six different voices."-The Spinners:...
, as one of the lead vocalists for The Spinners. He sang with the group until 1977, during which they achieved several successful album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
Wynne then launched a solo career with Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.- Early life :...
as his manager. His first album Starting All Over was released on the Cotillion label in 1977 but was not promoted. His fortunes turned upwards again when he joined George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
's Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
in 1979. He performed with them on several recordings, and was a featured vocalist on the Funkadelic single "(Not Just) Knee Deep
(Not Just) Knee Deep
" Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Song information:...
" (a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B chart). While associated with Parliament-Funkadelic, Wynne also appeared on the Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
album Sweat Band
Sweat Band
Sweat Band is the title of the 1980 debut album by the P-Funk spin off act the Sweat Band. The album was the first official release on the Uncle Jam Records label, formed by George Clinton and his business manager Archie Ivy, and distributed by CBS Records...
. Wynne released the solo album Wynne Jammin'
Wynne Jammin'
Wynne Jammin' is a 1980 album by Philippe Wynne, the former lead singer of the Spinners. It was the second album released on the Uncle Jam/CBS label, fronted by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton and his manager Archie Ivy. The album features many musicians from the P-Funk stable.The album...
in 1980, and made a guest appearance on the song "Something Inside My Head" by Gene Dunlap
Gene Dunlap
Gene Dunlap, born in Detroit, Michigan, is an American soul/disco Drummer.-Studio Albums:*1981: It's Just The Way I Feel *1981: Party In Me *1983: Tired Of Being A Nice Guy...
, and in the song "Whip It" by the Treacherous Three. Wynne's final album was the self-titled Philippé Wynne, released by Sugarhill Records in 1984.
On July 13, 1984, while performing at Ivey's nightclub in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Wynne suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and died the following morning.