Soul Strutter: Four Voices

Monday, 13 April 2020

Four Voices - Discography

The Four Voices were a 4 member soul group from Detroit who emerged from The Technics (Tony & The Technics), Tony being William (Willie) 'Tony' Ewing. They cut 3 45s on Ewing's Chex label in 1963. The group members were Ewing, Othea George, Gabriel Garrett Jr. and C. Washingtons. They then cut 2 45s as The Four Voices on Voices label in late 60s. I would guess that the label was again owned by Ewing.

The Technics in turn evolved from The Twilighters with the same line-up except C. Washington replaced Donald Richards in The Technics. Donald Jenkins had a solo release on Chex in 1962.

Discogs lists name as C. Washingtons, however as The Twilighters, they had a 45 on Spin billed as The Twilighters Feat George Washington - so perhaps a typo? Could this be Gino Washington (whose real name was George) as he is also credited as writer on Four Voices second 45? It certainly looks like him on the right of this photo:

Gino Washington

Both Ewing and Othea George also had a solo release each on the Chex label 1008 and 1016 respectively, and Ewing had 2 release on his Spin label in 1960/61, along with Garret in 1961.

Othea George released 3 further 45s, the only 2 releases on Volume (owned by Ewing) and another on Soul, run by Carmen Murphy, the founder of HOB (House Of Beauty) a gospel label. Soul only released around 6 or 7 45s before the name was sold to Berry Gordy Jr. for $1 in 1963. Discogs links Othea George as a member of Four Tracks who released the wonderful 'Like My Love For You', the only release on Mandingo, a Toledo, Ohio label in 1968. I don't know whether this is accurate or not, but I 'suspect' that the group name may have been confused with Four Voices?

Garrett went on to form the Gloria label (named after his wife) on which he wrote/produced 3 45s on Chuck Holiday, one being the great 'Just Can't Trust Nobody' which uses the same backing as Four Voices - 'Your Love Is Getting Stronger' and was covered-up as James Larue & The Detroit Voices when first played. The flip side 'I Still Love You' is also a cracker

Discography

1960 - The Twilighters Featuring George Washington - A Possibility

c/w The Twilighters Featuring Donald Richards - Yea You Are [000.1X45]

1960 - Tony Ewing - Baby / I Love Everything You Do To Me [Spin 000.2]

1961 - Tony Ewing - I'm Tired / It's Your Turn To Cry [Spin 000.3X45]

1961 - Gabriel Garrett - Faith / Little Mam [Soin 000.4X45]

1963 - Tony & The Technics - Ha Ha He Told On You ‎/ Workout With Your Pretty Girl [Chex 1010]

1963 - The Technics - Cause I Really Love You / A Man's Confession [Chex 1012]

1963 - The Technics - Hey Girl Don't Leave Me / I Met Her On The First Of September [Chex 1013]

1963 - Othea George - Now That You're Gone / What A Good Thing You Had In Me [Chex 1008]

1963 - Tony Ewing - Every Dog Has His Day / Dum Dum Dee Da NB Wylie & Hester [Chex 1016]

1963 - Othea George - Keep On Writtin' / Come To Me [Volume 1110]

1963 - James Underwood & Othea George - Little School Girl / He's Gonna Put You Down [Volume 1111]

1963 - Othea George - What's The Matter With Me / If I Don't Have To Tell A Lie [Soul 5 840]

196? - The Four Voices - Your Love Is Getting Stronger / With A A Lonely Heart [Voice 1112]

196? - The Four Voices - We Live In The Ghetto / Summer Kind Of Love [Voice 1113]

1968 - Four Tracks - My Love For You / Voo Doo Man (You're Gonna Love Me) [Mandingo MP-1]

Four Voices [196?] - Your Love Is Getting Stronger [Voice 1112]

Four figure tune originally covered-up as Luther Ingram. The original is on green label with gold text which was bootlegged on green with black text. it was 'legally' repressed on a gold label around 1977 with group's and Popcorn Wylie's permission, and a later paler gold one with green text (mid/late 90s) is considered to be a bootleg.