The Three Degrees, the Philadelphia Sound female singing group, was formed in 1963 at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They included Fayette Regina Pinkney (born January 10, 1948, Philadelphia) who was the lead singer long with Shirley Porter, and Linda Turner. However, the latter two singers left within months of the group’s establishment and were replaced by Helen Scott and Janet Jones. And by 1966, Sheila Ferguson replaced Scott.
In 1970, the trio signed with Roulette Records and released their debut album Maybe that peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard R&B Chart and no. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a was a remake of the female doo-wop group, the Chantels’ 1957 hit, “Maybe.” The song was followed by the hit “I Do Take You,” which reached no. 7 R&B and no. 48 Billboard Hot 100. US. The following year, 1971, The Three Degrees had cameos in the film The French Connection. Two years later, in 1973, The Three Degrees recorded “There’s So Much Love All Around Me,” that reached no. 33 R&B and no. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up hit, “Dirty Ol’ Man” peaked at no.58 R&B.
In 1974, The Three Degrees added their voices to the mainly instrumental ‘TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) with the Philadelphia International session band MFSB. It became the theme song of the television show Soul Train. Later that year they release “When Will I See You Again,” composed by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. It peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the United Kingdom chart for two weeks and sold more than two million copies internationally making it the group’s biggest hit. In 1975 they released “I Didn’t Know,” that reached no. 18 on the R&B chart and “Take Good Care of Yourself,” which peaked at no. 64 on that chart.
The Three Degrees left the Philadelphia International in 1976 and signed with Sony/Epic where they released the album Toast of Love. The following year they released the album, Standing Up for Love. In 1978 they appeared at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, for Prince Charles’ 30th birthday party in 1978.
Between 1981 and 1985, the Three Degrees continued with performances including singing at the pre-wedding party of Princess Diana of Wales and releasing the disco hit, “Set Me Free” that reached no. 12 on the U.S Billboard Dance Chart. Their songs, “Liar” and “The Heaven I Need” reached no. 97 and no. 42, respectively on the UK chart.
Over the years the following singers performed as members of Three Degrees: Janet Harmon, Sheila Ferguson, Sundray Tucker, Sonia Goring, Miquel Brown, Vera Brown, Rhea Harris, Victoria Wallace, Cynthia Garrison, Helen Scott, Valerie Holiday, and Freddi Poole.
Fayette Pinkney, the founder of the Three Degrees, died in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on June 27, 2009. She was 61.
Otis D. Alexander, Library Director at Saint John Vianney College Seminary & Graduate School in Miami, Florida, has also directed academic and public libraries in the District of Columbia, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia. In addition, he has been a library manager in the Virgin Islands of the United States as well as in the Republic of Liberia. His research has appeared in Public Library Quarterly, Scribner’s Encyclopedia of American Lives, and Virginia Libraries journal. Alexander received the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of the District of Columbia and the Master of Library & Information Science degree from Ball State University. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from International University and studied additionally at Harvard Graduate School of Education Leadership for Academic Librarians, Oberlin Conservatory of Music Voice Performance Pedagogy, and Atlanta University School of Library & Information Studies.
