The Hues Corporation

Not to be confused with Howard Hughes Corporation.
The Hues Corporation

The Hues Corporation in 1970
Background information
Origin Santa Monica, California, United States
Genres Pop, soul, disco
Years active 1969–1978
(reunited in the 1990s)
Labels RCA, Warner Bros.
Past members St. Clair Lee
Fleming Williams
Hubert Ann Kelley
Tommy Brown
Karl Russel

The Hues Corporation was an American pop and soul trio, formed in Santa Monica, California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 single "Rock the Boat", which sold over 2 million copies.[1]

Group name and background

Before achieving mainstream success they were the opening act for a list of headliners that included Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell. The original band had a lineup of three singers and three sidemen. The sidemen were Joey Rivera from the Checkmates; Monti Lawston; and Bob "Bullet" Bailey, formerly of the Leaves. Bailey, Rivera, and Lawston left the band to form Goodstuff.

The group's name was a pun on the Howard Hughes Corporation, with the 'hue' (a synonym of 'color'), being a nod to the group members' African-American heritage. The band's members were St. Clair Lee (born Bernard St. Clair Lee, April 24, 1944, San Francisco, California; died 2011), Fleming Williams (born 1943, Flint, Michigan; died 1992)[2] and Hubert Ann Kelley (born 24 April 1947, Fairfield, Alabama).[3] The original choice for the group's name was The Children of Howard Hughes, which their record label turned down.

Career

The group was formed in 1969.[4] Songwriter Wally Holmes founded the group with his friend Bernard St. Clair Lee. Female singer H. Ann Kelly was found at a talent show in Los Angeles. As a result of notices placed in southern California record stores, Karl Russell turned up. Not long afterwards he was replaced by Fleming Williams.[5] They recorded a single "Goodfootin'" / "We're Keepin' Our Business" that was released on the Liberty label in 1970. It did not make an impact on the charts.[4][6]

The group's first big break came in 1972, when they were invited to appear in the blaxploitation film, Blacula, starring William Marshall. They were also asked to record three songs for the film's soundtrack: "There He Is Again", "What The World Knows," and "I'm Gonna Catch You." Shortly thereafter, RCA signed the group; their first single for the label, "Freedom For The Stallion", from the album of the same name, became a moderate hit, reaching #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The follow-up single, "Rock the Boat," became a #1 hit on the Billboard chart and the group's signature song. "Rock the Boat" the bass player on the session was Wilton Felder, not James Jamerson as previously reported. "Rock the Boat" was written by Holmes, who also wrote the Blacula songs, and was released in the U.S. in February 1974 and in the UK in July of that year.[7] It went to #1 for one week in the U.S. and #6 for two weeks in the UK, staying for 20 weeks in the U.S. chart with a gold disc awarded by the RIAA on 24 June 1974.[7] The track sold well over two million copies.[7] The song is considered one of the earliest disco songs. Some authorities proclaim it to be the first disco song to hit #1, while others give that distinction to "Love's Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a chart-topper from earlier in 1974.

After the success of "Rock the Boat," the Hues Corporation's other charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100 included "Rockin' Soul" (1974, #18), "Love Corporation" (1975, #62), and "I Caught Your Act" (1977, #92).

The group was unable to duplicate the success of their earlier hits and disbanded in 1978. With the renewed popularity of disco music in the 1990s, the group reunited for tour dates and special events, including the PBS special Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion.

Group members

Karl Russell was replaced by Fleming Williams who sang the male lead part on "Rock the Boat". Williams left not long after its recording.[8]

Williams was replaced by Tommy Brown.[5] It appears that around 1975, Karl Russell had rejoined the band replacing Tommy Brown.[9][10]

In an interview with Gary James, St. Clair Lee said that Williams was also brought back into the group at a later date.[11]

In later years, circa the 1990s St. Clair Lee revived the group and recruited Wendell Anderson (lead) and Elaine Woodard as the new members.[9][12]

Hubert Anne Kelly later left the group to become a minister.[12][13]

Fleming Wiliams died in the 1990s. Many sources claim the date of his death was September 1992,[14][15] but other sources claim he died in February 1998.[2] According to the Social Security Death Index, Fleming Williams died on February 15, 1998.[16] His death has been attributed to a "long illness," although many others have also alluded to a long struggle with drugs.[2][17]

Founding member St. Clair Lee died on March 8, 2011, in Lake Elsinore, California. He is said to have died from natural causes at the age of 66, as written in the Los Angeles Times obituaries in March. He was survived by his mother, sons, and sister.[18]

U.S. discography

Singles

Studio albums

Notable compilation albums

LP

Compact Disc

[27][28][29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ron Wynn. "Hues Corporation - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Fleming Williams". DiscoMusic.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. ↑ More Hues Corporation info
  4. 1 2 3 Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop by Frank Hoffmann Page 127 Hues Corporation
  5. 1 2 Super Serventies RockSite "Rock the Boat" Hues Corporation RCA 0232 July 1974
  6. 1 2 Popsike Promo Northern Soul 45 HUES CORPORATION "Goodfootin' " Liberty HEAR
  7. 1 2 3 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 345. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  8. ↑ Disco Museum. Fleming Williams Born: 12-26-1943 Died: 2-15-1998 (undisclosed)
  9. 1 2 Mental Itch The Hues Corporation – “Rock the Boat”
  10. ↑ Billboard Hues Corporation Biography ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi
  11. ↑ classicbands.com Gary James' Interview With St. Clair Lee of The Hues Corporation
  12. 1 2 The Independent Monday 13 June 2011 By Pierre Perrone
  13. ↑ Soulwalking hues corporation
  14. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 - 1993". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Disco (RIP) Pioneers Archived May 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions. "Interview With The Hues Corporation". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Afterword". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  19. ↑ 45cat The Hues Corporation - Discography
  20. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Freedom For The Stallion}
  21. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Rockin' Soul
  22. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Love Corporation
  23. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – I Caught Your Act
  24. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Your Place Or Mine
  25. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – The Best Of Hues Corporation
  26. ↑ Discogs Hues Corporation, The – Best Of The Hues Corporation
  27. ↑ Muzyczne ABC Hues Corporation [US] - The Very Best Of The Hues Corporation
  28. ↑ "The Hues Corporation". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "The Very Best of the Hues Corporation - Hues Corporation - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
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