Express Yourself! Features
THE EMOTIONS
By Bnita Govens
What comes to mind with you think of The Emotions? What one word would
describe this group? Harmonious? Well, definitely. Talented? Rightfully so.
The Emotions were one of the most, if not the most, popular female groups of the
1970s.
Wanda, Sheila and Jeanette Hutchinson grew up in Chicago’s South Side. They
began singing when they were three, four and five years old, in the mid-1950’s.
Their multi-talented father, lead singer and guitarist Joseph Hutchinson, Sr., not
only taught the girls how to play piano, but he also taught them how to read
music and to harmonize that they have come to master. In the late 1950s, they
toured the gospel circuit as The Heavenly Sunbeams with their father. In 1958,
they made an appearance on The Jerry Van Dyke Show, after which the name
was changed to The Hutchinson Sunbeams. During their travels, they sang with
Mahalia Jackson and various other gospel acts. The gospel quartet became
known as Three Ribbons and a Bow during the girls’ high school years.
The Hutchinson Sisters signed with the Memphis-based Stax/Volt Records in
1967 on the recommendation of Pervis Staples of The Staple Singers family. Now
known as The Emotions, they now began to record secular music. Soon after
joining the label, they gave their first performance at Chicago’s Regal Theatre and
even toured with the Jackson 5 and the Staple Singers, to name a few. In 1969,
the teenagers emerged into the recording industry with the title song on their
album, SO I CAN LOVE YOU. The soulfully harmonized song was written by
Sheila Hutchinson and produced by Stax/Volt legend Isaac Hayes and David
Porter (Sheila is the sister who sang lead on the slow songs and Wanda who
sang the uptempo ones.). “So I Can Love You” would be the most successful
song for the trio on the Volt label.
In 1970, Jeanette Hutchinson left the group to get married and to raise a family,
and was replaced by a cousin, Theresa Davis, who stayed with the group for four
years. A year later, The Emotions appeared in the movie, WATTSTAX, along with
labelmates Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas and his daughter, Carla Thomas.
Jeanette came back to the group in 1974 and left again two years later. Another
sister, Pam, then joined the group until Jeanette returned to the group again.
Meanwhile, The Emotions’ relationship with Stax/Volt Records came to an end in
1975, when the label filed for bankruptcy and went out of business. The trio then
began to focus on writing more of their own songs.
Maurice White, the mastermind of Earth, Wind & Fire, had his own production
company, Kalimba Productions and signed the group to the company leading to a
recording contract with Columbia Records. Maurice had lived in Chicago for a
time and had known the group for several years as they played the same venues.
It was under Maurice’s guidance that The Emotions’ attained their biggest
success. In fact, most of Earth, Wind & Fire’s band members performed and/or co-
wrote their popular hits. The Emotions first album for Kalimba/Columbia was
FLOWERS, making its debut in 1976. They scored two Top 20 R&B songs off the
album, “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” (written by Wanda and Jeanette), and the
title cut.
The Emotions released two albums in 1977. The more popular of the two was
REJOICE, which stayed on the R&B charts for 32 weeks and sold 7,000,000
copies. Maurice White and fellow EW&F member Al McKay wrote and produced
the trio’s only #1 R&B smash, “Best of My Love”, which won both an American
Music Award and a Grammy. It was at the top of the charts for 4 weeks. “Don’t Ask
My Neighbors” (#7 R&B) can also be found on this LP.
The LP SUNBEAM was released in 1978 and came two popular cuts, the uptempo
track, “Smile” and the ballad, “Walking the Line”, both written by Maurice White.
The following year The Emotions teamed up with Earth Wind and Fire on the I AM
album and recorded “Boogie Wonderland”, which went to #2 on the R&B and #6
on the Pop chart. They left the ARC label and eventually signed to Motown in
1985, but were unable to capture the magic that they had with Maurice and co.
From Stax/Volt to Columbia to ARC, The Emotions earned 17 Top 40 R&B
singles. They had a ten-year hiatus from 1985 to 1995 but the Hutchinson femme
fatales have lent their vocal talents to other projects. Sheila Hutchinson recorded
on Detroit singer Garry Glenn’s single, “Feels Good to Feel Good” in 1987. Pam
and Jeanette Hawes sang background vocals on Helen Baylor’s gospel album.
“There’s No Greater Love,” in 1990. Wanda Vaughn and Jeanette sang on the
EW&F album, HERITAGE, that same year. They formed Sunbeam Records in
1995. They starred in their own musical, “Bigger than Bubble Gum: The
Emotions Story,” and were featured artists in Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival a few
years ago.
Even though The Emotions have not had a successful R&B single since the mid-
1980’s, they remain the sources of inspiration and admiration for the female trio
and quartets that followed them. Their harmonious collaboration is untouchable
and the heavenly, dulcet tones are incomparable. Only the 90’s female group En
Vogue has come close. But their family ties are closer--just ask anyone, including
their neighbors!
Sources:
Stars of Soul and R&B, Billboard’s Book of Number One Rhythm and Blues Hits,
rb page.com, Liner notes from BEST OF MY LOVE: THE BEST OF THE
EMOTIONS, Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B Singles 1942-1999, Joel Whitburn’s Top
R&B Albums 1965-1998
You can reach Bnita by e-mail at: bagovens@msn.com
By Bnita Govens
What comes to mind with you think of The Emotions? What one word would
describe this group? Harmonious? Well, definitely. Talented? Rightfully so.
The Emotions were one of the most, if not the most, popular female groups of the
1970s.
Wanda, Sheila and Jeanette Hutchinson grew up in Chicago’s South Side. They
began singing when they were three, four and five years old, in the mid-1950’s.
Their multi-talented father, lead singer and guitarist Joseph Hutchinson, Sr., not
only taught the girls how to play piano, but he also taught them how to read
music and to harmonize that they have come to master. In the late 1950s, they
toured the gospel circuit as The Heavenly Sunbeams with their father. In 1958,
they made an appearance on The Jerry Van Dyke Show, after which the name
was changed to The Hutchinson Sunbeams. During their travels, they sang with
Mahalia Jackson and various other gospel acts. The gospel quartet became
known as Three Ribbons and a Bow during the girls’ high school years.
The Hutchinson Sisters signed with the Memphis-based Stax/Volt Records in
1967 on the recommendation of Pervis Staples of The Staple Singers family. Now
known as The Emotions, they now began to record secular music. Soon after
joining the label, they gave their first performance at Chicago’s Regal Theatre and
even toured with the Jackson 5 and the Staple Singers, to name a few. In 1969,
the teenagers emerged into the recording industry with the title song on their
album, SO I CAN LOVE YOU. The soulfully harmonized song was written by
Sheila Hutchinson and produced by Stax/Volt legend Isaac Hayes and David
Porter (Sheila is the sister who sang lead on the slow songs and Wanda who
sang the uptempo ones.). “So I Can Love You” would be the most successful
song for the trio on the Volt label.
In 1970, Jeanette Hutchinson left the group to get married and to raise a family,
and was replaced by a cousin, Theresa Davis, who stayed with the group for four
years. A year later, The Emotions appeared in the movie, WATTSTAX, along with
labelmates Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas and his daughter, Carla Thomas.
Jeanette came back to the group in 1974 and left again two years later. Another
sister, Pam, then joined the group until Jeanette returned to the group again.
Meanwhile, The Emotions’ relationship with Stax/Volt Records came to an end in
1975, when the label filed for bankruptcy and went out of business. The trio then
began to focus on writing more of their own songs.
Maurice White, the mastermind of Earth, Wind & Fire, had his own production
company, Kalimba Productions and signed the group to the company leading to a
recording contract with Columbia Records. Maurice had lived in Chicago for a
time and had known the group for several years as they played the same venues.
It was under Maurice’s guidance that The Emotions’ attained their biggest
success. In fact, most of Earth, Wind & Fire’s band members performed and/or co-
wrote their popular hits. The Emotions first album for Kalimba/Columbia was
FLOWERS, making its debut in 1976. They scored two Top 20 R&B songs off the
album, “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” (written by Wanda and Jeanette), and the
title cut.
The Emotions released two albums in 1977. The more popular of the two was
REJOICE, which stayed on the R&B charts for 32 weeks and sold 7,000,000
copies. Maurice White and fellow EW&F member Al McKay wrote and produced
the trio’s only #1 R&B smash, “Best of My Love”, which won both an American
Music Award and a Grammy. It was at the top of the charts for 4 weeks. “Don’t Ask
My Neighbors” (#7 R&B) can also be found on this LP.
The LP SUNBEAM was released in 1978 and came two popular cuts, the uptempo
track, “Smile” and the ballad, “Walking the Line”, both written by Maurice White.
The following year The Emotions teamed up with Earth Wind and Fire on the I AM
album and recorded “Boogie Wonderland”, which went to #2 on the R&B and #6
on the Pop chart. They left the ARC label and eventually signed to Motown in
1985, but were unable to capture the magic that they had with Maurice and co.
From Stax/Volt to Columbia to ARC, The Emotions earned 17 Top 40 R&B
singles. They had a ten-year hiatus from 1985 to 1995 but the Hutchinson femme
fatales have lent their vocal talents to other projects. Sheila Hutchinson recorded
on Detroit singer Garry Glenn’s single, “Feels Good to Feel Good” in 1987. Pam
and Jeanette Hawes sang background vocals on Helen Baylor’s gospel album.
“There’s No Greater Love,” in 1990. Wanda Vaughn and Jeanette sang on the
EW&F album, HERITAGE, that same year. They formed Sunbeam Records in
1995. They starred in their own musical, “Bigger than Bubble Gum: The
Emotions Story,” and were featured artists in Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival a few
years ago.
Even though The Emotions have not had a successful R&B single since the mid-
1980’s, they remain the sources of inspiration and admiration for the female trio
and quartets that followed them. Their harmonious collaboration is untouchable
and the heavenly, dulcet tones are incomparable. Only the 90’s female group En
Vogue has come close. But their family ties are closer--just ask anyone, including
their neighbors!
Sources:
Stars of Soul and R&B, Billboard’s Book of Number One Rhythm and Blues Hits,
rb page.com, Liner notes from BEST OF MY LOVE: THE BEST OF THE
EMOTIONS, Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B Singles 1942-1999, Joel Whitburn’s Top
R&B Albums 1965-1998
You can reach Bnita by e-mail at: bagovens@msn.com
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