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the falcons

Falcons

the falcons in 1957 (above)

The Falcons were an R & B vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

The group comprised of:

Eddie Floyd (b. 25th June 1935, Montgornery, Alabama, U.S.A.)

Wilson Pickett (b. 18th March 1941, Prattville, Alabama, U.S.A.)

Joe Stubbs (b. Joseph Stubbles, 1942, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 5th February 1998, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)

Sir Mack Rice (b.10th November 1933, Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A. - the original singer of 'Mustang Sally')

and guitarists

Lance Finnie

and

Robert Ward (b. Robert Jeryl Ward, 15th October 1938, Luthersville, Georgia, U.S.A. d.25th December 2008, Dry Branch, Georgia, U.S.A.)

The Falcons were one of the first groups that really got to grips with the Soul Music genre.

The ranks included many artists who have become synonymous with the historical soul music timeline.

Formed in 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, the group recorded two melodies that defined their sound, namely 'You're So Fine' and 'I Found A Love' (for the LuPine label), which both made the national pop charts in 1959 and 1962 respectively.

A year prior to 1956, the Falcons had began their career, on the Mercury imprint, under a slightly different line up comprising of Eddie Floyd, Bob Manardo, Arnett Robinson, Tom Shetler, and Willie Schofield.

Joe Stubbs (brother of the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs and later a member of the Contours and then the Originals) and Mack Rice replaced Shetler, Manardo and Robinson in 1957, and guitarist Lance Finnie joined the group.

The group were recording under the production wing of Robert West, who gave the group a gospel sound and recorded the singers on his own Flick label.

Wilson Pickett sang lead vocals on the latter number, backed by guitarist Robert Ward's 'Ohio Untouchables'.

They had two more hits with Stubbs as lead singer with 'Just For Your Love' (number 26 R & B 1959) and 'The Teacher' (number 18 R & B 1960), before Wilson Pickett replaced Stubbs in 1960.

Wilson Pickett later left the group.

The Falcons went their seperate ways in 1963, however the name continued with another Detroit line-up comprising of the group the Fabulous Playboys, who took over the Falcons name.

Carlis 'Sonny' Monroe

Carlis 'Sonny' Monroe

The later group comprised of Carlis 'Sonny' Monroe (d. 25th March 2009, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.), James Gibson, Johnny Alvin and Alton Hollowell.

This group made the R & B chart in 1966 with 'Standing On Guard'.

In the 70's the Ohio Untouchables had changed their name and became the funk group the Ohio Players.

Robert Ward re-emerged from 25 years' retirement in 1991 to release a blues album.

Joe Stubbs died on the 5th February 1998 from a heart condition.

Sonny Munro (Carlis Munro) from complications of leukemia and pnuemonia on the 25th of March 2009.

Real Player

Albums:

You're So Fine (Relic Records 1985)

I Found A Love (Relic Records 1985)

Marv Johnson / The Falcons (Relic Records 1986)

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