Died On This Date (February 18, 2013) Damon Harris / The Temptations
themusicsover Damon Harris (Born Otis Harris, Jr.)
July 17, 1950 – February 18, 2013
Damon Harris was a 3-time Grammy Award winning member of the legendary Motown group, the Temptations. At just 20 years old, Harris was the youngest member of the outfit when he took Eddie Kendrick’s place in 1971. He had previously sang in a popular Temptations cover band called the Young Tempts who actually scored a minor hit with their version of “I’ve Been Good to You.” It was under the moniker, the Young Vandals however, after Motown filed an injunction over their name. During his four years with the Temptations, Harris sang on such hits as “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” “Masterpiece,” and “Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are),” among others. He also sang lead on “Love Woke Me Up This Morning” from 1972’s All Directions. After leaving the Temptations in 1975, Harris reformed the Young Tempts, but this time as Impact, who charted with a handful of R&B and disco records through the latter part of the ’70s. In 1978, he released Silk, the only album under his own name. Harris retired from music in order to go to college during the ’80s, but by the ’90s he was back fronting a Temptations revival group and briefly touring with a reunited incarnation of the actual group. During the late ’90s, Harris learned he was suffering from prostate cancer so turned his life’s focus on the fight against the disease by forming The Damon Harris Cancer Foundation. Damon Harris ultimately died from the cancer on February 19, 2013. He was 62. Fellow Temptations Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Melvin Franklin have passed away as well.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner was the longtime lead singer for arguably America’s greatest funk band, the Ohio Players. Formed in Dayton, Ohio as the Ohio Untouchables in 1959, it would be a few years before they regrouped as the Ohio Players and brought Bonner on board. First the band’s lead guitarist, Bonner’s charisma on stage could not be denied, so he soon took over as front man as well. It wasn’t until 1973 that the band hit its stride with the release of their first #1 R&B single, “Funky Worm.” The record ultimately sold over 1 million copies and helped the group land a deal with Mercury Records. Over the next three years, the Ohio Players scored seven Top 40 singles, two Gold Albums and three Platinum. In all, they sold well over 4 million albums. Their hits included such era definers as “Fire,” “Who’d She Coo?” “Skin Tight” and “Love Rollercoaster,” which claimed one of pop music’s greatest urban legends as well. Mid way through the #1 hit, a high-pitched scream can be heard, leading many to believe that a woman was murdered in the studio with her scream unknowingly recorded. Of several myths that were spawned, the most absurd was that while the band was recording, the cover photo shoot of Playboy model, Ester Corbet, was taking place in an adjacent room. Badly burned and disfigured by the hot honey which was poured on her, Corbet ran into the studio threatening to sue the band. The myth goes on to claim that the band’s manager stabbed her to death in the control room in order to shut her up. All caught on tape, of course. The problem with that scenario is that Corbet is still alive and apparently burn free as of this writing. The reality is that keyboardist Billy Beck provided the infamous scream. Meanwhile, the Ohio Players forged on through the ups and downs of their popularity with Bonner at the helm well into the 2000s. Leroy Bonner was 70 when he passed away on January 26, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Fontella Bass was a beloved R&B singer who is best remembered for her hugely popular hit of 1965, “Rescue Me.” Born into a music family – her mother was Martha Bass of the Clara Ward Singers – Bass began playing piano and singing in the church choir at a very young age. By the time she was nine, she was accompanying her mother on tours of the U.S. As a teenager, Bass began earning her living by singing in local clubs and such. Having grown up on St. Louis, Bass cut a several early records there, with some being produced by 
Billy Scott was a popular R&B singer whose hits from the ’60s and ’70s struck a chord along the beach music scene of along the southeast coast of the United States. Beach music is a variant of R&B which is closely associated with shag dancing, popular in and around the North and South Carolina beach communities. Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Scott took an early shine to the rhythm and blues songs he heard on the radio. He honed his chops while performing in various groups while still in the Army, and after being honorably discharged in 1964, he changed his name professionally to Billy Scott and began performing with his wife as the Prophets. Over the course of his career, Scott had hits with “I Got The Fever” – a gold record, “Seaside Love,” and “California.” The Prophets (later known as the Georgia Prophets) went on to have numerous regional hits throughout the ’70s. Scott continued to perform in front of adoring crowds along the Beach Music circuit well into his 60s. Billy Scott was 70 when he died of liver and pancreatic cancer on November 17, 2012.
Major Harris was a singer of what is commonly referred to as Philly Soul. Born into a musical family in Richmond, Virginia, Harris learned from his father, a guitarist, and his mother, a singer. He began his career singing in such vocal groups as the Charmers, the Jarmels, and the Teenagers. By the early ’70s, Harris was singing in the Delfonics, replacing 