Wade Flemons
Wade Herbert Flemons (September 25, 1940 – October 13, 1993) was an American soul singer. He was a founding member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire.[1][2]
Career
He was born in Coffeyville, Kansas to Samuel and Kathyrine Flemons. His father was a minister, who introduced him to gospel music.[3] After his parents' marriage ended in divorce, Wade moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where his mother was living, in 1955.[4] While attending Battle Creek Central High School, Flemons came up with his first hit tune entitled "Here I Stand". A song which he wrote and recorded with his band, the New Comers.[1][5] Released in 1958 by Chicago-based Vee-Jay Records, the tune peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and #80 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][6] Here I Stand's success soon earned him appearances upon both American Bandstand and the Alan Freed Show.[7]
His later rendition of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love," also reached #20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[1] Flemons eventually started working as a musician and vocalist at Chicago recording studios. Flemons gained a reputation as a prolific songwriter. During his career, he wrote as many as 200 songs for both himself and other musicians.[8]
A songwriting partner of his was Maurice White,[9] later the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire. Having a good rapport with White, in 1969 he became part of his band called the Salty Peppers.[10] Flemons subsequently went on to join White in his next musical venture. Becoming the lead vocalist of White's new band Earth, Wind & Fire. He performed and composed upon the band's 1971 debut LP and 1972 sophomore album. Flemons left the group soon after their second LP was released.[2] Some of Flemons' solo songs are still revered, upon the UK's Northern soul scene.
Personal life
Flemons married in 1980; he and his wife Brenda had a daughter and three sons.[11] He died from cancer in Battle Creek, Michigan, at age 53.[12] A United States Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, he was buried at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan.[1]
One of his sons, Brian Wade Flemons, followed in his father's footsteps and also became a musician.[13]
Discography
Studio albums
- Wade Flemons (1959)
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | B-side | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B | ||||
1958 | "Here I Stand" (2:22) | 80 | 19 | "My Baby Likes to Rock" (2:21) | Wade Flemons (1959) |
1959 | "Slow Motion" (2:07) | —[A] | — | "Walking By the River"[B] (2:40) | |
"What's Happening" (2:21) | 94 | — | "Goodnite It's Time to Go" (2:14) | ||
1960 | "Easy Lovin'" (2:16) | 70 | 10 | "Woops Now" (2:21) | |
1961 | "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (2:10) | — | 20 | "Keep On Loving Me" (2:16) | — |
Other releases
1960
- "Little John Green" (with Bobby Hendricks)
- "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" / "I'll Come Runnin"
1961
- "At the Party" / "Devil in Your Soul"
1962
- "I Hope, I Think, I Wish" / "Ain't These Tears?"
- "Half a Love" / "Welcome Stranger"
1963
- "I Came Running (Back From the Party)" / "That Time of Year"
1964
- "I Knew You When" / "That Other Place"
- "Watch Over Her" / "When It Rains It Pours"
1965
- "Empty Balcony" / "Where Did You Go Last Night"
1968
- "Jeanette" / "What A Price to Pay"
- "Two of a Kind" / "I Knew You'd Be Mine"
References
- ^ a b c d e Buckley, Nick (November 12, 2020). "Musicians who charted after they started in Battle Creek". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Reigle, Matt (April 30, 2022). "Earth, Wind & Fire Members You May Not Know Have Died". Grunge. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ Sonya Bernard-Hollins and Sean Hollins. Here I Stand: One City's Musical History. Fortitude Graphic Design and Printing Inc., 2016, p. 71.
- ^ "Services Set for Co-Founder of Vocal Group." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, October 17, 1993, p. 2.
- ^ Mark Schwerin, "B.C. Has Rolled Out Plenty of Rockers." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, September 21, 1995, p. W3.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 304.
- ^ "Ramblings." Cashbox, November 22, 1958, p. 46.
- ^ S. Renee Mitchell. "A Man With Style, A Man With Love, A Man of Music." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, October 24, 1993, p. 10.
- ^ Paul Zollo. More Songwriters on Songwriting. Da Capo Press, 2016, p. 308.
- ^ Gail Mitchell. "Shining Stars." Philadelphia Daily News, September 27, 2005, p. 42.
- ^ "Services Set for Co-Founder of Vocal Group." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, October 17, 1993, p. 2.
- ^ "Services Set for Co-Founder of Vocal Group." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, October 17, 1993, p. 2.
- ^ "Musician Releases Single, Starts Record Company." Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer, June 14, 1998, p. 22.
Notes
- ^ "Slow Motion" never charted on the Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100
- ^ This B-side does not appear on the album.
External links
- Discography
- Wade Flemons discography at Discogs
- v
- t
- e
Current |
|
---|---|
Former |
|
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- The Need of Love
- Last Days and Time
- Head to the Sky
- Open Our Eyes
- That's the Way of the World
- Spirit
- All 'n All
- I Am
- Faces
- Raise!
- Powerlight
- Electric Universe
- Touch the World
- Heritage
- Millennium
- In the Name of Love
- The Promise
- Illumination
- Now, Then & Forever
- Holiday
- The Classic Christmas Album
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
- Gratitude
- Greatest Hits Live
- That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75
- Live in Rio
- Earth, Wind & Fire: In Concert
- The Eternal Vision
- Live in Japan
- Shining Stars: The Official Story Of Earth, Wind & Fire
- Earth, Wind & Fire: Live
- Earth, Wind & Fire: Live by Request
- Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux 1997
- The Collection
- Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre
- Another Time
- The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
- The Collection
- The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2
- The Very Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
- The Eternal Dance
- The Very Best
- Elements of Love: Ballads
- Boogie Wonderland: The Very Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
- Greatest Hits
- The Ultimate Collection
- The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire
- The Greatest Hits
- "I Think About Lovin' You"
- "Mom"
- "Evil"
- "Keep Your Head to the Sky"
- "Mighty Mighty"
- "Kalimba Story"
- "Devotion"
- "Shining Star"
- "That's the Way of the World"
- "Sing a Song"
- "Can't Hide Love"
- "Getaway"
- "Saturday Nite"
- "Serpentine Fire"
- "Fantasy"
- Jupiter"
- "Got to Get You into My Life"
- "September"
- "After the Love Has Gone"
- "In the Stone"
- "Star"
- "Let Me Talk"
- "You"
- "And Love Goes On"
- "Let's Groove"
- "Wanna Be with You"
- "I've Had Enough"
- "Fall in Love with Me"
- "Side by Side"
- "Magnetic"
- "Touch"
- "System of Survival"
- "Thinking of You"
- "Evil Roy"
- "Turn on (The Beat Box)"
- "Sunday Morning"
- "In the Name of Love"
- "When Love Goes Wrong"
- "September 99"
- "Hold Me"
- "Pure Gold"
- "Change Your Mind"
- "Guiding Lights"
- "My Promise"
- "Why"
- "Sun Goddess"
- "Boogie Wonderland"
- "Heritage"
- "For the Love of You"
- "Wanna Be The Man"
- "All in the Way"
- "The Way You Move"
- "Show Me the Way"
- "To You"
- "Holidays"
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