Tag Archives: The Gems

The tragic death of 31-year-old Minnie Riperton in 1971 silenced among soul music’s most unique and unforgettable voices. Blessed with an angelic five-octave vocal range, she obtained her greatest industrial success using the chart-topping pop ballad “Lovin’ You.” Riperton was created in Chicago on November 8, 1947; like a youngsters …

Pianist/songwriter Raynard Miner co-wrote the main R&B strikes by Small Milton (“We’re Gonna ENSURE IT IS”), Fontella Bass (“Recovery Me personally” and Jackie Wilson (“(Your Like Keeps Lifting Me personally)Higher and Higher,” originally recorded with the Dells along with a 1977 million-selling strike for Rita Coolidge). Various other Dells strikes …

The Gems’ career began for Leonard and Phil Chess’ Chess/Checker/Cadet setup because the Lovettes (no link with the Lovettes on Carnival Information). Marshall Students Jessica Collins (business lead), Verdine Harrison, Theresa Washburn, Dorothy Hucklebee, and Bertha W cut two unsuccessful singles on Checker Information: “YET ANOTHER 12 months” b/w “The …

Blessed Roquel Davis on July 11, 1937, in Detroit, MI, maker/songwriter Billy Davis attended North SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (whose alumni contains legendary Motown bassist Wayne Jamerson), Wayne Condition University, as well as the Maurice Ruler College of Music. He started a singing profession as an associate from the Five Jets, …

The Gems — never to be confused with the lady band of the same name through the same city, who had been signed to Chess Information — were a quintet formed in Chicago in 1952, with Ray Pettis on lead, Bob Robinson and David Taylor as tenors, William Adam as …