The Emotions comprised of:
Sheila Hutchinson (b. 17th January 1953, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., lead vocal)
Wanda Hutchinson (b. 17th December 1951, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)
Pamela Hutchinson (b. 18th September 1958, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. d. 18th September 2020, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)
and
Jeanette Marie Hawes Hutchinson (b. 28th November 1951, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)
The Emotions were formed in 1968 in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Initially, when four and six years old respectively, they began singing Gospel in the mid 1950's.
wanda, sheila, jeanette & joe - 1956 / lillian, joey, jeanette, wanda and sheila - 1957
Their father, Joe Hutchinson, taught the girls how to play and sing music.
Prior to that incarnation they went under the names of the Heavenly Sunbeams (making an guest appearance in 1958, on television, on the Jerry Van Dyke show).
hutchinson sunbeams with joe hutchinson
Later they were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams up until 1968.
Their admirers included the Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
Their father re-titled the girls as Three Ribbons And A Beau, however they were soon to become the Emotions.
so I can love you - 1970 / untouched - 1972
As a group they recorded in their hometown up until a chance recommendation of the late Pervis Staples of the Staple Singers, they found a recording home at the Stax Record label.
Pervis had recorded with the group previously for the Twin Stacks imprint, releasing 'Somebody New' b/w 'Brushfire' in 1968.
Whilst the girls were children they had some local success locally before signing with the Memphis-based Volt imprint.
Here they worked alongside the producers Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
The Emotions first release, 'So I Can Love You' b/w 'Got To Be The Man' was released in 1969.
The song reached the U.S. Top 40.
They toured with many of the Stax artists, including The Staples Singers and others including The Jackson 5, Sly and the Family Stone, The O'Jays and Stevie Wonder.
Other singles followed in 1971, 'Show Me How' b/w 'Boss Love Maker', and in 1972, 'I Could Never Be Happy' b/w 'I've Fallen In Love'.
Jeanette, at one time, was replaced by her cousin, Theresa Davis.
She later returned to the group, while a fourth sister, Pamela, joined the group when Theresa Davis departed.
flowers - 1976 / rejoice - 1977
By 1976, the Emotions had relocated to the Columbia imprint, where they began a fruitful liaison with Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire.
Here their 1976 debut for the label, 'Flowers', title track, has become a Soul Classic amongst purists.
In 1977, the group enjoyed their most successful moment to date, with the release of 'Best Of My Love', which hit the number one spot in the States.
The parent album 'Rejoice' included the songs 'Don't Ask My Neighbours', 'Blessed' (an Anita Baker favourite) and 'A Feeling Is'.
sunshine - 1977 / sunbeam - 1978
Two years later and a collaboration with Earth, Wind and Fire, continued their chart success.
'Boogie Wonderland' hit the top spot again and maintained the high profile of both groups.
come into our world - 1979 / new affair - 1981
Three more albums followed on Maurice White's ARC label between 1979 to 1981.
sincerely - 1984 / if I only knew - 1985
The Emotions then relocated to the Red label for the 1984 LP, 'Sincerely'.
The album included the single "All Things Come in Time.'
They issued three other singles from the album.
They then signed with Motown Records, and released one album, entitled 'If I Only Knew'.
Sheila Hutchinson was a featured vocalist on the late Garry Glenn's 'Feels Good to Feel Good' offering in 1987.
Pam and Jeanette Hutchinson recorded background vocals on Helen Baylor's gospel song 'There's No Greater Love' in 1990.
Wanda Hutchinson and Jeanette contributed to Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Heritage' set in 1990.
Sheila Hutchinson released a solo single entitled 'Keep A Little Lovelight Burning' / 'Ill Be There For You' the same year, that became a popular song with the U.K.'s Soul purists.
The song was distributed by Soul Bowl Records.
The following year, the sisters released the song 'I Want To Thank You For Your Love' for the movie soundtrack 'BeBe's Kids'.
The Emotions were inducted into the R & B Hall of fame on the 4th October 2001, at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
pamela hutchinson
Pamela Hutchinson, sadly, died in September 2020.
Albums:
So I Can Love You (Stax Records 1970)
Songs Of Love (Stax Records 1971)
Untouched (Stax Records 1972)
Flowers (Columbia Records 1976)
Rejoice (Columbia Records 1977)
Sunshine (Stax Records 1977)
Sunbeam (Columbia Records 1978)
Come Into Our World (ARC Records 1979)
New Affair (ARC Records 1981)
Sincerely (Red Label Records 1984)
If I Only Knew (Motown Records 1985)
Emotions Live In '96 (Raging Bull Records 1996)
Generations (Kalimba Records Records 2003/4)
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