Stylistics, Main Ingredient invade the Big Dome

MANILA, Philippines - The smooth and sweet sound of one of the most successful soul vocal groups of the 1970s will fill the concert scene when The Stylistics returns for a one-night concert on Sunday, August 14, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The double bill dubbed “The Stylistics with The Main Ingredient featuring Cuba Gooding, Jr. Live In Manila” is to be mounted by Ovation Productions

The Stylistics, which is a frequent Manila visitor, will enthrall Pinoy fans with its list of classic soul hits, such as “Stop, Look, Listen,” “You Are Everything,” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “People Make The World Go Round,” “I’m Stone In Love With You,” “Break Up To Make Up”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and countless more hits.

The Main Ingredient became known for its biggest hits, “Everybody Plays The Fool” and “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely,” “Girl Blue”, “I’m So Proud”, “Spinning Around”, “Who Can I Turn To,” while  Gooding Jr. himself attained international success in his brief solo career for “Happiness Is Just Around The Bend.”

The Stylistics was formed in 1968 from two soul groups from Philadelphia, The Monarchs and The Percussions, and first attracted attention when its single, “You’re A Big Girl Now,” released in 1970 under Sebring Records, became a regional hit and eventually climbed to Number Seven.

After signing to Avco Records in 1971 and with Thom Bell as producer, The Stylistics became the leading Phily soul group of the early ‘70s.  It scored 12 straight Top Ten hits, including “You Are Everything,” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “I’m Stone In Love With You,” “Break Up To Make Up” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”

Acclaimed as one of the smoothest and sweetest soul groups of the era, all of The Stylistics’s hits were ballads distinguished by the group’s soaring falsetto vocals of Russell Thompkins Jr. (formerly of The Monarchs) and the lush yet graceful production of Bell – a perfect combination that contributed in making The Stylistics one of the most successful soul groups of the first half of the ‘70s.

The Stylistics made Billboard magazine’s Easy Listening singles chart 12 consecutive times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries like “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and “You’ll Never Get To Heaven,” reaching the Top 10.

The sensational soul group enjoyed immense popularity in Europe, particularly in Great Britain, where “Sing Baby Sing” (1975), “Na Na Is The Saddest Word” (1975), “Can’t Give You Anything” (1975) and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1976) were all Top Five hits.

It continued to tour and record throughout the latter half of the ‘70s until the early ‘80s when several of its members left the group for various reasons. The remaining Stylistics performed as a trio on oldies shows until the ‘90s. In 2004, Thompkins launched his own group called The New Stylistics.

The present group is composed of Airrion Love (1968-present), Herb Murrell (1968-present), Eban Brown (2000-present) and Jason Sharp (2011-present).