William “Puggy” Hart, lead singer of Philadelphia soul band The Delfonics, has died. Hart’s son Huddy told TMZ that the singer-songwriter was taken to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia for breathing difficulties and that he died Thursday (July 14) from complications from surgery. He was 77 years old.
Delphinix was one of the main lights of Philadelphia’s burgeoning soul scene in the late ’60s and early ’70s, scoring classic hits such as the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit “La – La – Means I Love You” (#5, 1968). ) and “I Don’t (Blow Your Mind This Time)” (No. 10, 1970). Working with legendary local writer/producer Tom Bell, the band’s lush, dreamy harmonies combine with Bell’s mini symphonic soundscapes to create a soulful, mellower, happier sound than is typically heard on Detroit’s Motown assembly line. . . Or the funniest singles from Memphis’ Stax/Volt.
Hart founded the Delfonics (then known as Orphonics) in Philadelphia with his brother Wilbert, eventually completing the band’s classic lineup with Randy Kane and Major Harris. They were signed to well-known local record label Cameo-Parkway, where they came into contact with Bell, but were soon transferred to Philly Groove Records after Cameo-Parkway closed in 1967. Their debut album La La Means I Love You was released. , in 1968. A trio of hits on the title track, “I’m Sorry” (#42) and “Break Your Promise” (#35).
As the band’s lead singer, Hart’s full falsetto voice made an instant difference, both charming and powerful, and the way she delivered certain lines (“A lot of guys came to you with a line that wasn’t true.”) with a characteristic sharpness made them unforgettable at first hearing. Unusually for the time, Hart co-wrote most of his band’s biggest hits with Bell, crafting smart tunes but always knowing when to throw a big hook and rock-worthy melodies. He still retains a modern edge.
The Delfonics’ popularity continued into the early 1970s, possibly peaking in 1970 with their self-titled album, their biggest entry on the Billboard 200 album chart (#61), with “Didn’t I.” Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1971. But with the rise of high-energy Philadelphia soul in the mid-1970s (which paved the way for disco acquisition in the late 1970s) 70s) , the band broke up commercially and disbanded. Two in 1975, following Harris’ solo Hot 100 No. 5 with the hit “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” in 1974. Both versions of the band continued to tour in the following decades, although the original recordings were few and relatively unsuccessful. .
However, the Delfonics legacy was preserved in the mid-1990s, when the group’s hits were revived by a generation of rappers: The Fugees reinvented the hook of the group’s 1968 hit “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’ tHide )” . From Love)” for her own hit “Ready or Not” in 1996, while Missy Elliott used the song’s Royal Horn intro for her single “Sock It 2 Me” a year later. Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino landed a role. in the 1997 crime drama Jackie Brown, where Robert Forster’s elderly bail bondsman shares a moment with the title character of Pam Grier’s stewardess while listening to “Don’t I.” and then buys Delfonics. own car.
This story was originally published in Billboard.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
