The Whispers formed in 1964 in Watts, California. The original members
included the twin brothers, Wallace "Scotty" and Walter Scott, along
with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. In 1973, Harmon
was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree.
Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice is featured on virtually all of
their hits.
The group scored many hits on the R&B and
Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they hit #1
on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1980 with "And the Beat Goes On "
(not to be confused with Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On") / "Can You
Do the Boogie" / "Out the Box". In 1987, they enjoyed a brief tenure in
the Top 40 when "Rock Steady" became their first Top 10 success on the
Hot 100 (it reached #7) while also capturing the #1 spot on the R&B
chart.
Although they recorded mainly in Philadelphia in the early
to mid 70s, most of their studio work has been in Los Angeles. Their
most successful period was in the 1980s with Solar Records (Sound Of Los
Angeles Records), run by their manager at the time, Dick Griffey. The
Whispers later founded their own Black Tie record label.
Marcus
Hutson left the group in 1992 due to illness. According to the Whispers'
website, when Hutson died in 2000 they vowed to never replace him, and
now perform as a quartet.
Jerry McNeil resigned his position as keyboardist in the later part of 1993, to spend more time with his family.
