Post by blackbowl68 on May 27, 2013 6:12:43 GMT -5
Clarence Burke Jr., the eldest member of the Chicago family group the Five Stairsteps, died Sunday in Atlanta, GA. The news was first reported by younger brother Keni Burke on his webpage, which he later confirmed when Keni called WBLS-FM in New York to inform the audience Clarence had been battling cancer for the past year. Clarence had been appearing in clubs as a solo performer as late as three weeks ago.
The Five Stairsteps were a family soul group from Chicago that were so named by their mother based on how her children appeared in some family portraits. They were discovered by Curtis Mayfield in the mid-60's while still leading the Impressions. The group recorded for a couple of his labels and made the charts throughout the latter part of the decade with singles featuring Clarence on lead. Their smooth style earned them the nickname "The First Family of Soul." At one point, the group included their 5-year-old sibling, Cubie.
Despite their success, the group held a dubious distinction by early 1970. They held the record for most charted singles on the Hot 100 without reaching the top 40. (Their highest charted record at this point was "World Of Fantasy," peaking at #49.) Their 13th chart single was a remake of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence," which also missed the top 40. But then many disc jockeys around the country turned the record over played the song that became their breakthrough: "O-O-H Child." The song eventually peaked at #8 in the summer of 1970, likely inspired by the success of another family soul group, the Jackson 5.
After this monster hit, the group signed with George Harrison's Dark Horse label, surprisingly scoring their first 10 top R&B hit, "From Us To You." They later changed their name to the Invisible Man's Band and scored another big hit with "All Night Thing."
Clarence Burke Jr. had been performing in night clubs on his own for the last ten years. Our prayers go out the Burke family on their tremendous loss.
The Five Stairsteps were a family soul group from Chicago that were so named by their mother based on how her children appeared in some family portraits. They were discovered by Curtis Mayfield in the mid-60's while still leading the Impressions. The group recorded for a couple of his labels and made the charts throughout the latter part of the decade with singles featuring Clarence on lead. Their smooth style earned them the nickname "The First Family of Soul." At one point, the group included their 5-year-old sibling, Cubie.
Despite their success, the group held a dubious distinction by early 1970. They held the record for most charted singles on the Hot 100 without reaching the top 40. (Their highest charted record at this point was "World Of Fantasy," peaking at #49.) Their 13th chart single was a remake of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence," which also missed the top 40. But then many disc jockeys around the country turned the record over played the song that became their breakthrough: "O-O-H Child." The song eventually peaked at #8 in the summer of 1970, likely inspired by the success of another family soul group, the Jackson 5.
After this monster hit, the group signed with George Harrison's Dark Horse label, surprisingly scoring their first 10 top R&B hit, "From Us To You." They later changed their name to the Invisible Man's Band and scored another big hit with "All Night Thing."
Clarence Burke Jr. had been performing in night clubs on his own for the last ten years. Our prayers go out the Burke family on their tremendous loss.
