Epsilons

[Wheelsville1]

Were there two groups called the Epsilons.The reason why i ask this,is that when i read about the Epsilons who had mcfadden and whitehead in there line up,there is no mention of shrine or hem. Any help on this? Chris. 

[The Yank]

Yes- there were 2 Epsilons.

     The D.C. group who recorded for Shrine/ Hem were made up of James Duval, Ronald Williams, Greg Thomas and Stan Williams.

      Otis Redding saw the Philly group and brought them to the attention of Stax. This group's members were McFadden and Whitehead, Ron Lowry and Allen Beatty. Later with the addition of future Blue Note Lloyd Parks, and James Knight, the group became known as Talk Of The Town.

     Patti Labelle's first group was the Epsilons. She later  left and formed  the Bluebelles. 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by The Yank

[Tomangoes]

I did not know this..

Epsilon is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, 

Must have got harder to pick a unique name back then...

Ed

[Wheelsville1]

40 minutes ago, The Yank said:

Yes- there were 2 Epsilons.

     The D.C. group who recorded for Shrine/ Hem were made up of James Duval, Ronald Williams, Greg Thomas and Stan Williams.

      Otis Redding saw the Philly group and brought them to the attention of Stax. This group's members were McFadden and Whitehead, Ron Lowry and Allen Beatty. Later with the addition of future Blue Note Lloyd Parks, and James Knight, the group became known as Talk Of The Town.

     Patti Labelle's first group was also known as the Epsilons becoming the more familiar Bluebelles. 

 

 

 

Thanks for that,i thought that was the case. Chris. 

[The Yank]

According to Dave Moore's essential book "The Philly Sound" , the Philly Epsilons provided back up vocals for Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music". 

[Tlscapital]

10 hours ago, The Yank said:

Yes- there were 2 Epsilons.

     The D.C. group who recorded for Shrine/ Hem were made up of James Duval, Ronald Williams, Greg Thomas and Stan Williams.

      Otis Redding saw the Philly group and brought them to the attention of Stax. This group's members were McFadden and Whitehead, Ron Lowry and Allen Beatty. Later with the addition of future Blue Note Lloyd Parks, and James Knight, the group became known as Talk Of The Town.

     Patti Labelle's first group was also known as the Epsilons becoming the more familiar Bluebelles.

Aside : the 'original' BlueBelles and Ex- Starlets (4 Chi girls : Liz Walker (Dynetta Boone), Maxine Edwards, Jane Hall, Mickie McKinney, Jeanette Miles) had first their name or image, depends how one sees it, stolen by the Epsilons. That with dear Patti Labelle in it.

As it was them 4 Chi girls who recorded as the BlueBelles first record and 'HIT' 'I sold my heart to the junkman' on Newtown. Only it was Patti & her Epsilons who lipsynced on Amercan Bandstand and not our 4 Chi girls. Patti and her gang got sued and seetled for a deal.

The 4 Chi girls got $5.000 each but as 'plea' deal never got to use the BlueBelles name anymore. They tried to force it with their fab overlooked 1964 'you're just fooling yourself' on Rainbow as the Original BlueBelles. But they got caught. Rereleased as the Bracelets on 20th Century.

Edited September 25, 2021 by Tlscapital

[Andy Rix]

11 hours ago, The Yank said:

Yes- there were 2 Epsilons.

     The D.C. group who recorded for Shrine/ Hem were made up of James Duval, Ronald Williams, Greg Thomas and Stan Williams.

      Otis Redding saw the Philly group and brought them to the attention of Stax. This group's members were McFadden and Whitehead, Ron Lowry and Allen Beatty. Later with the addition of future Blue Note Lloyd Parks, and James Knight, the group became known as Talk Of The Town.

     Patti Labelle's first group was also known as the Epsilons becoming the more familiar Bluebelles. 

 

 

 

I’m intrigued by the inclusion of Stan Williams in the Shrine group ... having spoken to the other 3 members he was never mentioned so be interested to know where that information has come from .. maybe they just forgot !

In addition Harry Bass was in a group called the Epsilons but they never recorded under that name ...they then became the Toreadors recording for Pawn and Midas (NY Label) .. and then as the Matadors on Keith in addition to providing the BVs on ‘She’s All Right’ by Jackie Wilson and the Ray Pollard recordings for Shrine 

Andy

[The Yank]

7 hours ago, Andy Rix said:

I’m intrigued by the inclusion of Stan Williams in the Shrine group ... having spoken to the other 3 members he was never mentioned so be interested to know where that information has come from .. maybe they just forgot !

 

  The information I posted about the DC Epsilons was from discogs. I'm not sure where that info was sourced from.

[Andy Rix]

24 minutes ago, The Yank said:

  The information I posted about the DC Epsilons was from discogs. I'm not sure where that info was sourced from.

Fair enough ... appreciate the clarification

Andy