Peaches & Herb

Peaches & Herb were an American soul duo.

It was established in 1965 by Herb Fame ( born October 1, 1942 as Herbert Feemster ) and Francine Hurd Barker, founded (* April 28, 1947 † 13 August 2005). Over the years, the singer changed hands several times, the role of " Peaches " took over, among others, Linda Greene ( 1976-1983 ) and Patrice Hawthorne (1992 ).

  • 2.1 Singles
  • 2.2 albums

Band's career

The history

The original " Peaches ", Francine Hurd Barker, received its nickname by the genteel way of your occurrence. She sang mostly in small groups in a neighborhood and was a teen already lead singer of the group "The Keynotes ". A little later founded their own group " Peaches " with the name "The Darlettes ". This was followed by the audition and shortly afterwards signing the contract with the label Date Records, after the band's name was changed again in " The Sweet Things".

Herb Fame began singing at the age of seven years, first in churches and continued singing in neighborhood groups. After graduating from high school fame initially worked in a record store, his friend from high school times Freddie Perren worked in another record store called " Sabin " almost around the corner. On one day in January 1965 entered producer Van McCoy 's business worked in the Herb Fame to look around for a possible promotion locality. The name of the group with which Van McCoy worked was " The Sweet Things". Fame asked McCoy to an audition and a week later signed a recording contract with Fame Date Records.

Getting Success years

McCoy took Herb Fame and " The Sweet Things" to New York to perform first studio recordings. During this stay, McCoy decided to extend the studio time to record a duet with Fame and the lead singer of " The Sweet Things", Francine Barker. McCoy was excited about these recordings, so that Date Records later the first single We're published on his advice to go short time in This Thing Together. The original A- side of the single flopped, however. A DJ of the radio station KATZ from St. Louis ( Missouri), the single turned abruptly around and played the B-side Let's Fall in Love, which the single ( a cover of number-one hits by Eddy Duchin from 1934 ) in the March 1967 to number 21 of the Top 100 climbed.

Before the year was out, had Peaches & Herb three more hits: Close Your Eyes ( number 8 in May), For Your Love ( a cover version of the hit by Mickey & Sylvia in 1956 ) ( number 20 in August ) and Love Is Strange (number 11 in November ). The duo released in 1967, two hit albums Let's Fall in Love and For Your Love. At the end of a successful year, the duo gained the nickname "The Sweethearts of Soul".

Exit, separation and new beginnings

In the same year, stressed and burned out from the constant performances and tours, Francine Barker decided to leave the duo and was ultimately replaced by a short sequence of " Peacheses " by Marlene Mack. The number of hits continued: Two Little Kids ( number 31 in January 1968), When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters ) ( number 10 R & B 1969) and It's Just a Game, Love (from the Jim Brown movie "The Split " ), number 50 R & B 1970). This single was the last great singles chart success of Peaches & Herb at the label Date Records.

Disappointed with the lack of success left Herb Fame in July 1970, surprising the duo to the Washington DC Police Department to enter the police force. 1976 Fame came into the music business back and found through the mediation of McCoy in the former Washington Model Linda Greene his new " Peaches ". McCoy, meanwhile at MCA Records, the duo brought under to his label and produced the eponymous album Peaches and Herb. Of these survived and the album sold more than anticipated.

The following year signed " Peaches & Herb" at Fames old friend Freddie Perren MVP Productions. Perren had become a well-known composer and music producer and had to show, among other successes with The Jackson 5, The Miracles and The Sylvers. By Perren Peaches & Herb came to a recording contract with Polydor Records.

The first album with the new label 2Hot was a success. The first single Shake Your Groove Thing was the bigger hit of the duo, also thanks to the 12 " promotional single, which was launched in clubs., The single reached # 5 on the Top 100 in March 1979 and initially received Gold status, little later even platinum status.

The Ballad Reunited was initially viewed as unpopular successor of the successful single Disco Single ... Stay. The unexpected success of the single but punished all critics wrong. The single debuted on March 17, 1979 in the Top 100 and was within seven weeks at number -one hit, reaching gold and later platinum status. The smash single made ​​Peaches & Herb one of the most successful groups of the year in 1979 and they got a place in Bob Hope's "Three -Hour Special" in China. Peaches & Herb made ​​history because they were allowed to occur as the first black entertainers in China.

The second Polydor album Twice the Fire spawned the club hits Roller- Skatin ' Mate and Twice the Fire, the latter being a single in the spring of 1980 reached gold status. The ballad I Pledge My Love debuted at number 19 on the Hot 100, the album Worth the wait of 1980 had only limited success with the 12 " single Funtime and Sayin ' Something did not hit parade success. Was followed by the separation of Perren and switching to Columbia Records in 1983. success came from. , the duo broke up and Herb Fame went back into the police service.

Renewed New Beginning

In July 1992, it tried Herb Fame again in the music business, with Patrice Hawthorne as a new " Peaches " and reunited with Freddie Perren. Patrice Hawthorne was bandleader of her own orchestra. Despite his fame kept Fame the job at Washington, DC To be economically hedged Police Department.

Death of Francine Barker

Francine Hurd Barker 1978 fell into a coma that lasted ten years. She suffered from a brain tumor, and others a stroke. Several toes had to be amputated because of their diabetes. The last nine years of her life she was cared for by her husband and her daughter. Francine Baker died on 13 August 2005 in Maryland. She left behind two daughters and four grandchildren.

Discography

Singles

  • We're 's Fall in Love ( 1967) in this Thing Together / Let
  • For Your Love (1967 )
  • Love Is Strange (1967 )
  • Two Little Kids ( 1968)
  • The Ten Commandments of Love ( 1968)
  • United ( 1968)
  • When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters ) ( 1969)
  • It's Just a Game, Love (1970 )
  • We're Still Together ( 1977)
  • Shake Your Groove Thing ( 1979)
  • Reunited (1979 )
  • Roller Skatin ' Mate (1980 )
  • Twice the Fire ( 1980)
  • I Pledge My Love (1980 )

Albums

  • Let's Fall in Love (Date, 1967)
  • For Your Love (Date, 1967)
  • Peaches and Herb (1977 )
  • 2 Hot! ( Polydor, 1978)
  • Twice the Fire ( Polydor, 1979)
  • Worth the Wait ( Polydor, 1980)
  • Sayin ' Something! ( Polydor, 1981)
  • Remember ( 1983)
  • Colors of Love ( Imagen Records 2009)
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