For the Whispers, the beat continues to go on.
Known for their velvet harmonies and beautiful love songs, the core group of twins Walter and Wallace “Scotty” Scott got their star in the Los Angeles area. Throughout the years, the group has maintained its place as a link to the doo-wop era while still making contemporary R&B classics.
According to their official bio, their latest CD, “Thankful” is their 22nd (including a live CD), a remarkable output from one of R&B’s most enduring groups. The difference this time? It’s a gospel album, flush with the energy and magic of their secular LPs.
You could say that the Whispers, just like their 1987 hit, just get better with time. And you’d be right.
BORN: The Whispers were born as a group in Watts in 1963. The nucleus of the group then and now were twin brothers Walter and Wallace “Scotty” Scott, who formed the group with friends Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Gordy Harmon. Harmon was eventually replaced by Friends of Distiniction member Leaveil Degree. After Hutson’s death in 2000, the group officially became a quartet.
BIG BREAK: After they gained recognition in the Bay Area through performing in numerous “Battle of the Bands” contests, they eventually signed to an independent label and recorded their first song as a group.
RESUME: The Whispers have been recording together for four decades, but their run in the 80’s generated their biggest hits, including “Rock Steady,” “And The Beat Goes On,” “Keep On Loving Me,” and “Just Gets Better With Time.”
BACK STORY: The Whispers recorded with both the Soul Train Records label and the Solar label. Both were run by music executive Dick Griffey, who was also the group’s manager at one point.
FUN FACT: Rapper Will Smith uses “And The Beat Goes On” in his hit “Miami.”
NUMBERS: Twenty-two albums (seven gold, two platinum), 12 top 20 singles, 40 charted singles and several classic hits
