b. Harvey Scales, 27th September 1942, Osceola, Arkansas, U.S.A.
d. 11th February 2019, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Milwaukee native, Harvey Scales is very much an unsung Southern Soul hero, writing many famous Soul songs without the recognition he deserves.
In fact, Harvey is part responsible for many of the late Johnnie Taylor's major musical successes.
Harvey co-wrote 'Disco Lady', 'Love Is Much Better in the A.M.' amongst other songs.
Harvey has also pennedv material for the likes of The Dells, The Dramatics, and The O'Jays.
As a student, Harvey attended the Roosevelt Middle and North Division High School in Milwaukee.
In 1961, Harvey and his friend Al Vance put together his group, Harvey Scales And The Seven Sounds, an R & B ensemble.
Harvey cited James Brown as a major influence on his earlier career.
The group comprised of:
harvey and the seven sounds
'Twistin' Harvey Scales (lead vocalist and guitarist)
Monny Smith
Bill Purtie
Rudy Jacobs
Al Vance a.k.a. Albert J. Vance (bass guitar and upright bass) b. 1923. d 15th June 2003
Bill Stonewall
and
Ray Armstead
Whilst at the Cuca imprint, the group recorded 'The Clock/ Every Step Of The Way', 'Glamour Girl / New York City', 'Independency / I Want To Apologize' and 'Bootleg / Monkeytime' in 1967.
get down
The group's one major hit, 'Get Down' b/w 'Love-Itis' (number 32 R & B, 1967), was recorded on Lenny LeCour's Magic Touch label.
The song was later recorded by the rock group J. Geils Band.
Also at Magic Touch, the group released the songs 'Broadway Freeze/ I Can’t Cry No More', '(It’s Too Good) Too Good To Be True/ Love Is A Gas', 'Don’t You Ever Let It End/ The Sound Of Soul', 'Welcome Home/ Trackdown' in 1968-69.
the funky yolk (1969) / i wanna do it (1972)
After signing with Chew Records, Harvey and his group had a regional hit with the LeCour-produced 'The Funky Yolk' in 1969.
Later, under the wing of Detroit producer Don Davis, the group then recorded for Stax Records, releasing 'I Wanna Do It' b/w 'What's Good For You' in 1972.
Further releases included 'Bump Your Thing/ Trying To Survive', 'Groove On Sexy Lady/ Rock The World' and 'Follow The Disco Crowd/ Love Thief'.
In 1976, Harvey co-wrote the massive hit 'Disco Lady' for Johnnie Taylor.
The song was the very first platinum single in the history of the Recording Industry Association of America.
That success secured him a recording contract with Casablanca, where he released two albums ('Confidential Affair' in 1978, and 'Hot Foot: A Funque Dizco Opera' in 1979).
Harvey was still recording in the 90's and into the new millennium.
During this period he co-wrote 'I Can Do Bad By Myself' for Jesse James, with fellow songwriter Johnny Mills.
spend the nite forever b/w single girls
On the U.K. soul scene he will be best remembered for his, mid eighties, independent single 'Spend The Night Forever / Single Girls' on Earthtone Records.
In 1997, Harvey released 'Somebody Else’s Somebody' for the Four Sight imprint.
'The Blues Is In The House' is his most recent recording on the KASH imprint.
He is currently working on a new album entitled 'Keep it on the Hush Hush!'.
He performed at venues throughout the United States, including his hometown of Milwaukee at popular events such as Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair Park, and the African World Festival.
Harvey's son, Harvey Jr., better known as Scalez (formerly JR Da Supastar), is a rapper based in Milwaukee.
His godson, Robert Buchanan, Jr. is a music producer and singer, a.k.a. Kristopher Lloyd Robert.
Harvey Scales passed away on the 11th of February 2019.
Albums:
Confidential Affair (Casablanca Records 1978)
Hot Foot: A Funkque Dizco Opera (Casablanca Records 1979)
All In A Night's Work (Earthtone Records 1991)
Somebody Else’s Somebody (Four Sight Records 1997)
The Blues Is In The House (KASH Records 2000)
