The Delfonics helped to change the face of Philadelphia soul music AND vocal group harmony in the very late 1960s and early 1970s. Thank you guys for that and thanks for posting.
Wilbert Hart not only a great singer great producer great family man what a beautiful wife in a beautiful family The delfonics are the best in my book memories
Just realized this. I started listen to the soul station on Sirius radio and kept hearing their songs. I started searching and watching videos and I've been listening to their music for about 3 months straight. Unbelievable sound.
I stumbled across this documentary. I have to say it is amazing to see this. I have fond memories of these amazing people. My boyfriend at the time maybe around 1971 was a photographer for the group. We lived in Washington and Sheila and William Hart invited us to their home in West Philly. I remember their amazing hospitality and it was an unforgettable weekend. They took us in a limo to Atlantic City to see B.B. King in a club front table in his face with Lucille and our next trip was to Muhummad Ali's house when he lived in Cherry Hill. Good people. I never forgot that trip as a 19 year old.
While in high school my friend and I would learn the albums of the Delfonics attempting to sing like them, even as I now play their greatest hits l still remember many of the lyrics. I must have seen the Delfonics live at least 10 times with Randy Cain and Major Harris. The great Philadelphia Delfonics were my favorite singing group during my high school years. RIP William Hart, Randy Cain, Major Harris you're hard work and talent was highly appreciated and loved by millions of people. May God rest your souls my brothers.
The Delfonics, best singing group ever. Thank you for making my life better , The love you projected in your singing spilled over into my marriage, that was a true Blessing, I LOVE Yall for EVER.
Great video. I used to go see the Delfonics in the late sixties at the Apollo. My favorite group along with the Temptations. Just hearing them harmonizing was a treat. And William Harts tenor voice is just magic. Many people mistake his voice thinking he's a falsetto. Tenors can breathe and sing at the same time. A falsetto has to hold his breathe and hit the pitch threw his nose. That's what made Williams singing so special. The Delfonics sound has never been duplicated. Sad to hear of William's passing and may he rest in peace. And peace to Mr Cool....Wilbert, the smoothest of the trio.
This old genuine, authentic and great music, along with soul and some disco music, keeps me away from indulging in rap and hip-hop music. Even those old singers and musicians look and act better than today's rap, hip-hop and rock music artists.
I remember those shows at the Apollo. We were little kids who were age eleven and, under. We only paid only $.90 admission to get in. We lived within walking distance of the Apollo. My friend Ms. Rose use to take her children and I, to see the Five Stairsteps every time they were there but, we all were Delfonics fans too-especially, Ms. Rose. “ For The Love I Give To You”, was her favorite. I had their albums and, my favorite songs were “Didn’t I and, Looking Up Is Down”. We even got to see Jackson 5 at the Apollo twice before they blew up in 1971 when their first song “ I want you back”, came out. I know that they were there with the 5 Stairsteps, The Ike the Tina Turner Review and, Skip Sonny and, the Pace Brothers, the Unifics, the Styleistics and, even Smokey Robinson and, even the Mircles at least once. I I’m not sure but, think the Delfonics were there too at that time and, their names were Mr. William, Mr. Wilber and, Mr. Randy. Mr. Major, came later. May Mr. William Hart R. I. P. and, Bless All members of the Hart Family.🤎
In 1961 at age 16 I formed a group in the Bronx NY, named them "The Delfonics" a name I saw on a 33rpm Album I was playing at home which referred to " Delfonic Sound ". We were good and sang at Church Dances around our area on Friday/Saturday nights. We also got an opportunity to cut a record but sadly it went nowhere for reasons I won't discuss. In 1962 just 9 days after my 17th Birthday I then went into the Military for the next 5 yrs and left my friends back home. After finishing my last tour of duty which was in 1967 in Viet Nam I returned home at then 22 yrs old and found many of my old friends grown and gone. A year later in 1968 I was listening to the radio when to my shock I HEARD THE NEW AND FABULOUS " DELFONICS ", they were from Philadelphia and I absolutely loved their sound and smiled when I heard their name, I said to myself " WOW " THESE GUYS ARE FABULOUS MUCH BETTER THAN " WE WERE " That my friends is a Gods Honest To True Story"
Thanks for this wonderful video! I grew up in Philly and we used to go to the Uptown Theatre in North Philly to see The Delphonics, O'Jays, Five Stair Steps, etc. When "La La Means I Love You" came out I was in Junior High School and we took the picture from the Daily News and and propped it up so it would look like they were singing to us with the 45 record. Such wonderful memories that will last a lifetime...so thankful for RU-vid!!!!!
This is my kind of music. I have heard it since I was a child that no church members, nor leaders can deter me from listening to this kind of music. This music stays with me like my heart, soul and blood. Against, all odds, I still regret that William Hart is dead, even up to this time as I type.
Truly a great family story because some black families don't really support each other the way i see WILBERT & SHEILA HART do for each other with success and the ups and downs of life. Great job. much respect!
It's always great to hear the behind the scenes story, especially when it's straight from the mouth of the legend. Wilbert Hart, you are a vocal legend. A good woman is hard to find, but you appear to have found one. The two of you tell a great story of love and success.Like so many of the people who grew up listening to your music, We hope that you and William will regroup. You two were great as a vocal team and few groups could match that combination. RIP Randy Cain and Major Harris.
"La-La Means I Love You" was one of the first songs I ever fell in love with when I was a small child in the late 1970s. For my fifth birthday I was given a record player and my mom gave me all her old 45s from when she was in high school in the late 1960s that she didn't listen to anymore. When I was working my way through the pile of old records, listening to each one of them, "La-La" was one of the first that I liked and wanted to play again. To this day, nearly 40 years later, I could never grow tired of hearing that song.
wished they would put that interview from Unsung back on. The Delfonics are my boys since 1973 but that interview really shocked me even though..you guys are still the best.Major Harris r.i.p. Randy Cain r.i.p. thanks for your Musical contributions too us all.
I DID NOT KNOW MAJOR HARRIS WAS GONE. IT HURTS ME BADLY TO HEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE I LOVED IN MY HEART SO MUST. LIKE THIS PERFORMER BY THE NAME OF MARVIN BROWN OF THE BALTIMORE MARYLAND THE SOFTONES. THEIR WOULD SING THE DELFONICS SONGS TO. HE WAS STUNNING, OUTSTANDING. HE PASSED AWAY NOT TO LONG AGO. 😢 .
This interview speaks volumes. Thank you for taking us through your timeline of love, music and family. Awesome couple! You are excellent examples to those up and coming in this industry.
One of my favorite Groups!! I love the Delfonics!!! No wonder they were amazing, I too was a Hesonite who sang in the choir and learned to harmonize, plus my family sang, and graduated from Overbrook in 91 and it Made me extremely proud, We had such talent in our West Philadelphia Area who became International!!!
Aw man, I was playing with the notes from the beginning. I was born in north philly. I know all about the blue notes. I can tell you when patti labell and the notes practiced in the rear of Phils hoagie shop..21 st Montgomery street.I may be the last of a few who know the truth and proof of this history..im just Hank guitar player.. now living in Boston Ma.
The music that the Delfonics sang were some of the finest I heard, since I was in high school from 1968, until 1971. After I graduated from high school in 1971, I enjoyed this soul music, just like Motown Atlantic, and New Brunswick works. Since I have joined a church in 1969, I continue to violate one of its doctrines, which is not to listen to any other music than Christian or sacred music. The soul music and other rock and roll music still remain with me, since I heard it as a child who was too young to play records on my parents' Motorola high-fi console. Today, while I am 69 years old, I can listen to it freely on RU-vid. It sounds clearer and better than on the black vinyl record discs, and on digital audio discs, known as CDs. Perhaps I have never met the Delfonics in person, I am still devastated that William Hart is dead.
Keep a watch out for Unsung on TVOne in November. It will be featuring Wil Hart and the Delfonics. His wife Sheila is keeping us posted on Facebook. I lived around the corner from them in the 1960s on 58th and Media in West Philly. The Intruders also lived around our neighborhood. Too bad they didn't get the superstar status that so many of the no-talents receive now days. But of course there was no social media or VH1 to hype them up either.
Just found out this gentleman passed. Last of the delphonics. Then i found thos documentary. Learn a lot. RIP..GOd embrace his family, they need you now.
Wow, happy to see that you two are still together! Sheila, I went to school with you in the late 70's @ American Academy of Broadcasting & we took a 13 week class for recording eng. Do you remember?
Thank God for this group I been following this groups career since their first single "Youve been untrue" in Late 1966 and as soon as I heard the delfonics sing I been lovin this group ever since. Rest in Peace Randy Cain :)
@@feferosette I did a double take on your name as I was scrolling reading comments. You see my late dad's name was Felcie Kidd, Sr. I saw Felicia, and well, my mind just did that double-take. 😇 I thank you for your reply Felicia. I love it when I come across/meet another Kidd because it warms my heart, as I am a family history buff. God bless you a fellow Kidd and fellow music lover.
I was a early teen growing up in St. Louis if you wanted to get girls you dedicated the on the radio and or call her and then played Delfonics. Those were the good old days.
"WHEN IT GETS RIGHT DOWN TO IT" ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH DELFONICS AND SO MANY OTHER GROUPS...THE MUSIC BUSINESS SIDE THEY NEVER GOT PAID THE BOTTOM LINE RESULTS OF IT ALL... NOTHING LIKE THE STONES BEATLES U2 MADONNA ETC.... JB.ok
I'm sorry if these guys were white they would have been SuperStars instead of Ghetto SuperStars. The most underrated group in history. I mean yeah they are superstars in our community but they should have been household names. I love this group. The Intruders are the Godfathers of the Philly sound but there were so many great groups in Philly and elsewhere.
hard to believe,"how are you here?" when your on the radio? Albums,45s.,and girl you were in high school!! Love Y'all! but the back story'.Give due where it's due.Ego trippin'. So, glad you guy's attained all you deserved.Still let's not FORGET....
The great group,but I wish they would have given more credit to William hart, we all have disagreements, always remember one of the Greatest lead of times Rip 🙏 William Hart Muhammad
Much respect to Big Pun. Attached is my pre hip-hop, pre-rap, old-school classic 70's ballad, "Don't Act Surprised". On Apple, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, Shazam, RU-vid, (Napster - in Latino countries), Chordify (to learn the chords), ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-e6tsTYcftp0.html By David Dawkins/ Charisma. I wrote it, sang lead, & played drums.
its not ever going to be the same without WILLIAM? done deal for me, so ii will go buy all the records he made when he was living i have some thier greatest hits i got, rest in peace William.
I know these legends ,greats always have kids whom want to Rap,have them produce it and more using their name .It is like their kids do not see the greatest in what they did and how they did it,from talent,vocals,choreography and sitting right in front of them is the source to all this and more.I think only Eddie Leverts late son’s Gerald and Sean Levert got it.
I read a comment in which their lack of super star status was mentioned, I think that that is a condition allowed by two factors. One being that this country is mainly white and of course everyone likes what they understand. Secondly, it is a fact that we do not support our stars enough, There are african american who have the means to do better for their own but, no insult intended, Afro/Americans don't value one another.,
Anita Queenb Sorry I didn't see your comment responding to mine. I may be corrected if you know that I am wrong, I have been of the recognition to the fact that we are a minority.
The Delfonics to this day is my favorite group ! There isn't song that I don't like ! That's saying a lot to a group who has withstood the test of time!
Yes after Cain left Major Harris joined the group and you can see many live videos of The Delfornics with him on RU-vid and also a Soul Train video with him.Major Harris is also the father of ex Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Wow, happy to see that you two are still together! Sheila, I went to school with you in the late 70's @ American Academy of Broadcasting & we took a 13 week class for recording eng. Do you remember?
