The Three Degrees - Songs

ABOUT

The Three Degrees are a veteran R&B/soul female vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that became famous beginning in the mid 1970s at the dawn of the disco era. The original members were Fayette Pinkney (January 10, 1948 - June 27, 2009), Shirley Porter, and Linda Turner who formed the group in 1963 while they were all still in their teens. The trio was discovered by singer, songwriter, and producer Richard Barrett who wrote and produced the group's first song, "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)," and other early hits. Porter and Turner were soon replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott, and several other personnel changes followed during the mid-late 1960s. The classic lineup from 1967-1976 consisted of Pinkney, Valerie Holiday, and Sheila Ferguson whose clear and sweet lead vocals can be heard on most of the group's biggest hits. Over the years, The Three Degrees have always remained a trio in keeping with its name, with a total of fifteen members having served with the group so far.

The Three Degrees made their debut in 1965 on the Pop/Rock charts with "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)," as performed by the group's original lineup. Several minor hits followed before The Three Degrees had their first Pop/Rock Top 40 hit in 1970 with "Maybe," which made the R&B Top 5. Their fame took off in 1974 with "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" (credited to MFSB Featuring The Three Degrees), which topped the Pop/Rock, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts. This Philly soul/disco smash, which was written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff as the theme for the popular TV show, "Soul Train," was followed in late 1974 by "When Will I See You Again," which topped the Adult Contemporary chart, made the Pop/Rock and R&B Top 5, and soon after went gold. This smooth disco/soul classic also became a big international hit, topping the charts in the U.K. and Canada. The group's long string of hits also included the Barrett-produced "Look In My Eyes" (1966), "I Do Take You" (1970), "You're The One" (1971), and "There's So Much Love All Around Me" (1971), plus such later hits as "Dirty Ol' Man" (1973), "Year Of Decision" (1974), and "Take Good Care Of Yourself" (1975). The group's last charting song in the U.S. came in 1979 with "Woman In Love" (not to be confused with the same-named Barbra Streisand 1980 hit). The Three Degrees went on to become hugely popular in the U.K., with a long string of hits through 1985. During that time, the group had several personnel changes that included the return of early member Helen Scott on a permanent basis.

The Three Degrees made a memorable appearance in the 1971 action thriller, "The French Connection," performing "Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon" in a nightclub scene. Longtime member Sheila Ferguson left the group in 1986 to pursue a highly solo career in the U.K. The group has continued to record and perform actively to the present day. The current lineup consists of Valerie Holiday, Helen Scott, and newer member Freddie Pool who came on board in 2011.

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SONGS

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The Three Degrees

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