Clarence Burke Sr. and The Five Stairsteps on "To Tell the Truth" (February 27, 1967) 

Godspeed Clarence. I was honored to know you.

This is awesome! I too am amazed that this footage survived. The Five Stairsteps aka "The First Family Of Soul" are from my hometown of Chicago. One of the pioneers of family acts to make it into show business. The harmonies they had was just pure amazing and in the era of Soul music. Major respect to the Burke Family!

ooh child set the tone for turbulent times then remember it all so well that's my jam listen to it everyday

They were such cute and talented kids, and their dad--what a handsome man!!!

Amazing performance by the Five Stairsteps! One of my personal favorite groups of all time! I thought the short light skin Burke brother was Dennis the whole time. I didn't know he was James.

My older brothers and sisters went to burnside elementary school in they are in class pictures with some of the older burks. My oldest sister Carla was Aloahs friend and was in the same class.they lived very close to us and we went to the same catholic church. then my sister carla graduated in went to Harlan H.S.with Aloah.then we moved from 92nd Evans to 69th in Harverd Carla transfered to Parker H.S. My sister tride to start her own group in the old neighborhood 92nd evans. When Carla was in parker her roommate was either Sheila or Wanda of the Emotions. I used to see them sing comercials on the front steps of the school later on we saw their concerts at the old ChicagoTeachers College which was conected to the parker Elementary. Around 1967or 69 My sister took me an my other family to see the Stairsteps at the Capital Theater. man that was a good show even thow Aloah was not there,they had moves all over the stage, When they sang (Baby make me fill so good),my sis sang Aloahs part in the audience in the people liked her sound. later down the way me my yunger brother became musical in out of 8 siblings 4 could sing very good. we woud allways have family jams later I played with Redd holt Sons and his two nefews in two different Groups and many other groups from around where the Stairsteps started out. I played with Dorthy hays or Williams of the (Sequens.the Holt Brothes Band,The band Tight, Far Star, APO,and other groups around Chi.

RIP James Burke😞another stairstep has gained their wings today (2/19/2021)

Wow, i was born 4 months later! Something about the passage of time...

What a treat one of my favorite song, a huge talent♥️♥️♥️

Gotta love those original moves. The Five Stairsteps did set the standard for family groups.

The Five Stairsteps burst on the scene with their hit song "World of Fantasy" released around 1967, along with other hits such as "You Waited Too Long", and "Come Back". Their last big hit, with all five original members was "Ooh Child", in 1970. After sister, Aloha, left the group to start a family, the four brothers continued as "The Stairsteps" throughout the early to mid 70s. They later resurfaced in 1980 as the "Invisible Man's Band" with their hit single "All Night Thing". Kenny (Keni) Burke continued as a soloist a few years later, with his hit "Keep Rising To The Top". Check it Out! Ciao!!!

Such an amazing group . And great footage

Their father is a handsome man and I mean man with a beautiful family love them on soul train "Ooh Child" great group.

Dam this group was cold them and the slyvers!

R.I.P Clarence Sr. (Papa Burke), who died last month & a day before his 91st birthday (July 17th). Which is very odd because Clarence Jr. died a day after his 64th birthday & their younger brother cubie died around the same time a year later.

Before J5, I saw them many times,they were hooked up with Curtis Mayfield. Better than J5 to me truly talented played instruments and family harmony second to none!

Thank you very much for posting this big fan of this group since I was about 10 years old, I've tried to collect as many of their records as I can and to see this rare performance, their dad participating in this show this is so awesome thank you very much. Have a great holiday and a great New Year Best wishes from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thank you for this. I caught the attention of Clarence Jr. after show and almost fainted. Major crush on him. And what a handsome father. RIP Clarence Jr. and Cubie.

They were INCREDIBLE.

Wow! I loved this. The Stairsteps was soo underrated. They was out before the J/5. Continue to R.I.P., Clarance.

Clarence Burke Sr is a father to admire. From what I learned. He believed in teaching his kids respect and discipline but he was loving, attentive, and warm to his kids. He didn’t intimidate, make his kids fear him, nor beat them into music to make them perfect. He encouraged and supported them and they were just naturally good and he didn’t have to push and abuse like joe Jackson.

What an amazing time tunnel and what a great family, I definitely picked #2 immediately before any questions were asked and was surprised that everyone didn't after the responses to the questions . Thanks for taking the time to share this!

What a beautiful 👪 family love it 💗💗💗💗💗

Real cool since I had never see his dad I enjoyed the show. I thought it was number 3. Had me full for the whole show thanks for sharing

I been waiting 40 years to see some footage like this// I talked to Clarence Jr before he died and he did not have a clue as to where to find footage of the group at this stage /

First remarkable family group. Self taught and 17 year old wrote all the songs. They started very young.

Great group... One of my favorites!

Before The Jacksons, The Sylvers and The DeBarges, there were The Burkes: The Five Stairsteps.

Yes. What a wonderful man and friend. I never forget them in school. And there father he said to me one day you look like ond of my boys man that wad and honer cause alot of people told me that but coming from him I took pride l will miss daddy burke may he. R.I.H. thank so much peace brotha!!!!

I first heard World of Fantasy on Harvey Holiday's Sunday night oldies show on WDAS here in Philly back in the late 70's. They sounded like they were from Philly and I thought that the song first came out in 1968. But it's a great song and I like it.

Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story life is real being yourself is how you are God is always around pray changes everything and people show up for yourself and ☮️☮️☮️🦋🌹🦋🌈

Love the stairsteps, I still have the 45 Danger !!!

And as if they couldn’t get any better…. The Invisible Mans Band!!!!! “All Night Thang”

Love that song in 2023

Fantastic. Just saw the show on RU-vid. Wow!

Wow 🤩 amazing

Amazing stairsteps ❤

Went to school with them and remember them when they lived close Burnside school.Classic music

Clarence jr voice is Awesome. He out sings Jermaine Jackson here.

Excellent footage

dang how rear is this, I'm surprised this film survived. thanks for the post.

Thanks for posting. I was a member of the fan club in the Bronx. And went to every show at the Apollo.

all i can say is wow

This is awesome....great! Terrific! ///Now if we could just get the footage from that TV show SOUL starring Ellis Hazlip that would be truly awesome! The Stairsteps had the whole hour!!! I remember them turning that show out!!! We all LOVE The Jackson 5.....but let us never forget the World Of Fantasy created by the music of this amazing group! (Can you BELIEVE how cute little Keni Burke was back then?...I mean what was he....like 6 years old??? LOL)

One of the greatest family acts ever, respect and props they are underrated and have never gotten their true due,great footage thank you

Pave the way for the Jackson five they were great

Nice of TTTT to give them this plug. Anyone who has seen pictures of the Stairsteps would know at the beginning who the daddy was , a handsome police detective like Ron Glass of Barney Miller .Aloha was a pretty girl.

Beautiful performance

Omg. I'm getting chills. Classic Chicago. Tyty

just come across these, what a group and what a great upload!

GREATEST KIDDIE GROUP OF ALL TIME !!

Classic Man! Thanks for the upload!

Jr. has got Smokey Robinson moves!

Good Memories

This is class!

Fantastic!!!!

"#1 looked like a good father and a good cop" "#1 looks like a man who is so responsible"

Wow, I don't believe it! Watching this clip from To Tell The Truth on the 5 Stairsteps from 1967 is a dream come true! Where can I get this on DVD for my personal collection? Truly magnificent and hoping and praying that there are more video clips out there for the "First Family Of Soul!"

this is so unbelievably great .... thats about it as far as words can go on this clip....

...and more live Stairsteps footage

That's what I' talking bout!!!!

Thanks for the upload....not much live footage of the 5 stairsteps...

Great Post!

oldie's would always be my number one... d

CHICAGO, OH YEAH

The Five Stairsteps were second to none. I saw them in person at the Uptown in Philadelphia. Cubie, sang lead! It's just a Playgirl's Love, It's just a playgirl's love!! yeah. I have the 45s of all their songs. World of Fantasy!!!

Without watching the full clip, I pick #2 as the real Clarence Burke Sr. He looks lije those handsome Burke offspring.

The eyes

This was during the time of world of fantasy.

Wholly Cow you people amaze me with these clips... I thought it was # The bartender..

Best kiddie group of the 60s

The best love song🎶

I actually saw this 49 years ago and wondered when it was going to emerge on RU-vid.. I went to the same high school John Marshall Harlan on the South side of Chicago. The Steps lived on 99th in South Park across from the DMV renamed KIng Drive. Amazing! Clarence and Kenny were superb guitarist and bassist respectably. Does anyone have any info on Gregory Fowler the guitarist? Great musician and songwriter.

The Five Stair Steps never got their props

I did see the Stair Steps on American Band Stand back in the day, so I no that show is out there, And a show that I saw in 2003 at the Blues Museum a traveling museum in Chicago with film of old Regal shows from the 50s, 60s 70s And a show FROM THE ISLEY BRO.ITS YOUR THING CONCERT 1971FEATURING THE STAIRSTEPS lookin to see both of them again.

They came before The Jackson 5 and The Sylvers

Luv.It!!!

Wow.....this was nice. Alohe was a cuttie eh?

I knew the Burke family performing on soul train ,soul and Barbara McNair show, Della Reese show. but not in public arenas like regal,the Apollo and Howard theaters but I got to get copyright permission to make thier life story as a play or film.

Wow, this happened on my date of birth. Very Interesting!

Nice

Don't know if you can compare them to j5 but ooh child was as memorable and in step with the time as any song i can remember

One of their best sings was "you make me so mad;

The five stairsteps song named ooo child in nineteen seventy

💖

If we could see the Berry Gordy Jr. episode...

Has anyone found any video of the Stairsteps performing at the "Its Your Thing" concert in New York circa 1970??? I have been told it is on video but can't find any evidence of it anywhere!

Gm edagdwg thanks You Tube for this history so nice to know they were on a game show Linda j peace ❤️ 💯🌈 🌈🦅 🦅🦅 free

Rip

How much hooky and money l spent chasing the first family of soul.. from the Apollo to the Chita. Saw Clarence @the Sugar Bar ..Where are they now

I love clarence ,sr.'s song what about your wife, he has a sensual baritone even Brook Benton give him a pass.

At 7:53✊✊✊

1967? I almost thought that was 1957 and a mistake had been made on the year. But they didn't have soul music in '57, I realize. But we never did hear of the group here on the west coast, not that I'm aware of at least.

1:29 It's not a chord it's a note. I think it's 3!

I knew what their father looked like. LOL

Aloha was fine.

MY CHILDRENS FATHER ARE UNCLE TO CLARENCE BURKE THE 3RD..BY MARRIAGE..

#2

Wasn't it pretty obvious who Clarence Burke Sr. was? 😂

That's Cuba Gooding on the far right.