The Sapphires
Encyclopedia
The Sapphires were an American pop ensemble from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Their sound was comparable to much of the music released on Motown
in the 1960s.
The group first began performing together in the early 1960s, and signed to Swan Records
at the behest of producer Jerry Ross. Their first single was "Where Is Johnny Now" b/w "Your True Love", featuring Leon Huff and Thom Bell
on keyboards, Bobby Eli
on guitar, Bobby Martin
on vibraphone
s, and Joe Macho on bass. The record did not chart, and for their second single, "Who Do You Love", Ross had Kenny Gamble arranged the vocals. This single hit #25 on the US Billboard Hot 100
in 1964. The follow-up single was "I Found Out Too Late", which failed to chart; despite the flagging sales, the group released a full LP that year, again with Gamble arranging vocals. A third and final single for Swan, "Gotta Be More than Friends", was released in 1964, and the group moved to ABC-Paramount
late in 1964.
The first two ABC singles were "Let's Break Up for a While" and "Thank You for Loving Me", but the group did not return to the charts until 1965's "Gotta Have Your Love", peaking at #33 on the Black Singles chart and #77 on the Hot 100. The single's backing vocalists were Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford, and Melba Moore
. Three further singles followed for ABC - "Evil One", "Gonna Be a Big Thing", and "Slow Fizz" - but none of them sold well, and the group split up around late 1966.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Their sound was comparable to much of the music released on Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the 1960s.
The group first began performing together in the early 1960s, and signed to Swan Records
Swan Records
Swan Records was a mid-20th century United States based record label, founded in 1957, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It had a subsidiary label called Lawn Records....
at the behest of producer Jerry Ross. Their first single was "Where Is Johnny Now" b/w "Your True Love", featuring Leon Huff and Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
on keyboards, Bobby Eli
Bobby Eli
Bobby Eli is a Grammy Award winning musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia, USA. He is a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio group MFSB.-Biography:...
on guitar, Bobby Martin
Bobby Martin (musician)
Bobby Martin was an American jazz trumpeter.Martin played trumpet as a child with June Clark and Sonny Greer. He played with Sam Wooding from 1925, and played with him both in New York City and on his tours of Europe through 1931. From 1932 to 1936 Martin played abroad with Willie Lewis, and...
on vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
s, and Joe Macho on bass. The record did not chart, and for their second single, "Who Do You Love", Ross had Kenny Gamble arranged the vocals. This single hit #25 on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1964. The follow-up single was "I Found Out Too Late", which failed to chart; despite the flagging sales, the group released a full LP that year, again with Gamble arranging vocals. A third and final single for Swan, "Gotta Be More than Friends", was released in 1964, and the group moved to ABC-Paramount
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
late in 1964.
The first two ABC singles were "Let's Break Up for a While" and "Thank You for Loving Me", but the group did not return to the charts until 1965's "Gotta Have Your Love", peaking at #33 on the Black Singles chart and #77 on the Hot 100. The single's backing vocalists were Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford, and Melba Moore
Melba Moore
Beatrice Melba Smith , known by her stage name, Melba Moore is an American disco, R&B singer and actress. She is the daughter of saxophonist Teddy Hill and R&B singer Bonnie Davis.-Early life:...
. Three further singles followed for ABC - "Evil One", "Gonna Be a Big Thing", and "Slow Fizz" - but none of them sold well, and the group split up around late 1966.