The Delfonics Biography

In the early 1960s, brothers William and Wilbert Hart founded the group with Rudy Cain / alias Randy Cain while still in high school. They quickly became well-known in the Philadelphia region, and they signed with Cameo Records. Stan Watson, who was then working with Chubby Checker, introduced them to the guy who made them famous, producer Thom Bell. Bell envisioned a Philadelphia version of Motown and achieved success with the Delfonics, whose debut album, released on Watson's Philly Groove label in 1968, contained the single La La Means I Love You. In the following years, Bell produced four additional albums: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics, and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Lying to Myself, and Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love) were among the Delfonics' biggest successes. Philadelphia soul was smoother than conventional soul, inspired heavily by Phil Spector's Wall of Sound productions but firmly rooted in 1950s doo-wop sounds. Rudy Cain departed the band in 1971, and was replaced by Major Harris; however, by that time, Thom Bell had moved on to record The Stylistics' debut album. Alive and Kicking, the Delfonics' second album, was released quickly. However, without Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career plummeted, and the band was virtually disbanded by 1975. Around this time, Wilbert Hart also quit, leaving William Hart as the lone original member. The group persisted for a while when new members were added. The band disbanded, and William Hart, Rudy Cain, and Major Harris regrouped with William Hart, Rudy Cain, and Major Harris. (Wilbert Hart created his own Delfonics band, with Wilbert, Eban Brown (falsetto lead), and Dr. S. Love as members.) Frank Washington was brought in to replace Randy Cain, who had departed for the second time. When Quentin Tarantino utilized La La Means I Love You and Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) in a crucial part in the film Jackie Brown in the mid-1990s, their music had a minor resurgence. The Fugees' 1996 song Ready or Not included Lauryn Hill incorporating the chorus into the chorus, while Missy Misdemeanor Elliott and Timbaland sampled the menacing string and horn entrance for Elliott's smash 1997 Sock It to Me. The Delfonics also sang backup vocals on Ghostface Killah's 1996 hip hop album Iron Man's single After the Smoke Has Cleared. William Hart, Garfield Fleming (baritone lead), and Johnny Johnson are the Delfonics' current lineup. Wilbert also has a band, which is known as the New Delfonics or just Wilbert Hart.

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