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The Intruders (band)
American vocal group From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Intruders were an American soul music vocal group most popular in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] As one of the first groups to have hit songs under the direction of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, they were a major influence on the development of Philadelphia soul.[2]
The Intruders are also noted for having 24 R&B chart hits, including 6 R&B top tens, and 14 chart hits in the Billboard Hot 100,[3] including their signature song, the million-selling top 10 hit, "Cowboys to Girls." Other notable songs include the top 10 R&B hits "(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game", "Together", "I'll Always Love My Mama", "United", and "I Wanna Know Your Name".[3] The original members, all natives of Philadelphia, were Samuel "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, Phil Terry, and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards.[4]
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Biography
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Formed in 1960, the group originally consisted of Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, Phillip "Phil" Terry and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards.[5] In 1969, Sam Brown was replaced as lead singer by Bobby Starr,[6] only to rejoin the group in 1973.
In 1965, when songwriters and record producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff first contemplated leaving the Cameo-Parkway record label to risk launching their own label, the vocalists on which they pinned all their hopes and venture capital were The Intruders. Like many other subsequent acts the duo produced, which included Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and The O'Jays, The Intruders had already developed a vocal sound that was both theirs and uniquely Philadelphian.[7]
Brown, Daughtry, Terry and Edwards had been recording and performing one-off singles together since 1961, blending Philly's street corner doo-wop tradition with black gospel fervor. The result was neither as pop-infected as Motown, nor as funky and blues-inflected as Stax. The sound which The Intruders refined for the Excel, Gamble and Philadelphia International imprints reflected a different attitude than either Stax or Motown.[8]
Gamble and Huff's success with the Intruders helped convince Columbia Records to grant them the money to launch Philadelphia International. Gamble and Huff acknowledged that their work with the Intruders was the foundation of what they called "The Sound of Philadelphia".[9][10]
The Intruders, meanwhile, were undergoing some internal turmoil. When the group resurfaced on the 1970 Gamble LP, When We Get Married, lead singer Brown was replaced by Bobby Starr.[2] The title song, "When We Get Married" (R&B No. 8, Pop #45), a Dreamlovers cover, became a hit on the charts, as was the follow-up "Win, Place or Show (She's a Winner)" (UK #14).[1] Starr's tenure with the group included Soul Train television appearances, and the rare collector's single, "I'm Girl Scoutin".[11] Brown returned to the group in 1973 for the album Save the Children, which spawned the Intruders' last two big hits, "I Wanna Know Your Name" (R&B No. 9, Pop #60) and "I'll Always Love My Mama" (R&B No. 6, Pop #36).[3] Kenny Gamble's mother Ruby, the inspiration for "I'll Always Love My Mama", died March 10, 2012, in Philadelphia, at the age of 96.[12]
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Legacy
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"Cowboys to Girls" (R&B No. 1, Pop #6), the only chart topping single of their career, was awarded an RIAA gold disc for one million sales in May 1968.[5]
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, their music was popular on the West Coast among Latino, specifically Chicano, youth, as evidenced by their covers by the Hacienda Brothers and Tierra. Daughtry died of cancer on December 25, 1994, at age 55,[4][2] and lead singer Sam "Little Sonny" Brown committed suicide April 21, 1995 at age 54.[2] According to Marc Taylor, in the book, A Touch of Classic Soul, in 1975, the other two original Intruders, Robert Edwards and Phil Terry, walked away from the industry after becoming Jehovah's Witnesses.[13] Edwards died on October 15, 2016, from a heart attack at age 74, leaving Phil Terry as the last surviving original member.[4]
As each original member passed, excluding Phillip Terry, they were respectfully replaced by a succession of talented performers who helped maintain the authentic style and professionalism of The Intruders. These dedicated artists include:
Bobby Starr
Glenn Montgomery
Phil Gay
James Murphy
Larry Williams
Calvin Hines
Michael Singleton
Harry Moon
Earl Lassiter
Roger Evans
Each of these artists brought something unique to the table — but all shared the same mission: to honor the legacy of The Intruders with authentic performances, deep respect for the original arrangements, and a shared love for TSOP.
Earl Lassiter: The Present Voice of The Intruders
Now under the leadership of Earl Lassiter, the group has evolved into The Intruders ft. Lassiter — a name that not only acknowledges its legacy but also highlights the fresh energy and professionalism now at its core.
Earl Lassiter, a seasoned performer with roots in Philadelphia, has infused the group with new life while holding tight to its historical roots.
With a new lineup of dedicated and highly skilled vocalists — including Ashley Scott, Dennis Sproul, Howard Mack, and Lassiter himself — the group will continue to thrill audiences across the country with faithful renditions of The Intruders’ timeless hits.
The Intruders ft. Lassiter are the true evolution, extension and legacy of the original Intruders, carrying the music forward, just as the original members would have wanted. Through every harmony and heartfelt lyric, their message remains clear:
Legends never die. They evolve. They inspire. And with The Intruders ft. Lassiter, they still sing.
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Discography
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Singles
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