R.I.P. James Burke (The Five Stairsteps) (19/09/1950 - 22/02/2021)

Keni Burke has announced on his facebook page the death of his older brother James on 22nd Feb 2021 aged 70.

They were both members of The Five Stairsteps, a group of four brothers and a sister who were dubbed 'The First Family of Soul' after a five year chart run beginning on Curtis Mayfield's short-lived Windy C label in 1966, Buddah and then on Mayfield's Curtom label. Apparently the group name was created by their mother (Betty) who thought they resembled stairs steps when were lined up by age.

The original line-up was Alohe (b 1948), Clarence Jr. (b 1949), James (b 1950), Dennis (b 1952), Kenneth (Keni) (b 1953). Their father, Clarence Sr., managed  them, co-wrote songs and also played bass guitar.  They met Curtis Mayfield via a friend and neighbour, Fred Cash of The Impressions and signed to Windy C in 1966.

For a period the group were named The Five Stairsteps & Cubie (b 1964) who at the time was their 5 year old brother (the 6th and last member of the family). 

Cubie died in 2014 aged 49 and both Clarence Sr. (2020) and Clarence Jr. (2013 aged 64) are also deceased.

Alohe left the group in 1972 and they disbanded in 1976. Keni Burke started a solo career in 1977 and recorded some modern soul gems such as 'Risin' To The Top', 'Let Somebody Love You', 'One Minute More', 'Indigenous Love', 'Nothin' But Love' amongst many others.

In 1978 Clarence Jr. formed The Invisible Man's Band and recruited his three brothers (James, Keni & Dennis) along with Dean Gant (keyboards) and Steve Ferrone (drums).

The Five Stairstep's biggest chart hit was 'O-o-h Child' which reached #8 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, after which they changed the name to just The Stairsteps.

I think I own all of their Windy C records, which are cheap and easy to find, and they are all great examples of mid 60s Chicago soul. There were only 8 releases on the label (#601-#608 between  Mar 1966 and Jul 1967) and 7 of them are by The Five Stairsteps, the other (#606) is by June Conquest.

There's some more info about the group at SoulWalking.

O-o-h Child

Performing live on The Barbara McNair Show 4 April 1971

Clarence Burke Jr. singing a song written by James, 'All Along The Way', at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar in NY.  This would have probably have been one of his last live performances. The song was recorded by The Invisible Man's Band on their second album 'Really Wanna See You' in 1981 and also as B side to the album's title track on 45 in 1982.

Discography

Singles Discography Playlist

Rather than adding or embedding links for their discography, I've created a YT playlist which contains their full 45 Discography with the exception of one track 'Every Single Way' from 1972 on Buddah which was a non-album single that didn't chart.

Click on link above to listen to A & B sides of all singles in chronologial order.

Album Discography

Tracks prefixed '##' are album only tracks, all other tracks were issued on 45 (either A or B side) and are featured in the singles playlist above.

The Five Stairsteps [1967] - The Five Stairsteps [Windy C #WC-6000]

All 11 tracks were released as singles and are featured in the 45 playlist.

Danger! She's A Stranger (2:45)

The Girl I Love (2:13)

Come Back (2:52)

The Touch Of You (2:35)

You Waited Too Long (2:49)

Playgirl's Love (2:10)

World Of Fantasy (3:01)

Oooh, Baby, Baby (2:30)

Don't Waste Your Time (2:25)

You Don't Love Me (2:25)

Behind Curtains (2:49)

The 5 Stairsteps & Cubie [1968] - Our Family Portrait [Buddah #BDS 5008]

Full Album here

A Million To One (2:45)

You Make Me So Mad (2:07)

Something's Missing (2:45)

The Look Of Love (3:01)

New Dance Craze (3:00)

##Windows Of The World (3:15)

Bad News (3:05)

Tell Me Who (2:55)

Under The Spell (2:10)

##Find Me (2:35)

##I Remember You (3:00)

5 Stairsteps & Cubie [1969] - Love's Happening [Curtom #CRS 8002]

Also released in UK as Stairsteps [1971] - Stay Close To Me [Buddah (UK) '2365015].

Stay Close To Me (2:02)

Don't Change Your Love (2:17)

##Love's Happening (2:51)

Little Young Lover (2:19)

##I'm The One Who Loves You (2:22)

Little Boy Blue (2:27)

##Your Love Has Changed (2:17)

I Made A Mistake (2:44)

Baby Make Me Feel So Good (2:45)

New Dance Craze(3:00)

The 5 Stairsteps [1970] - Stairsteps [Buddah #BDS 5061]

Full Album here

##Getting Better (2:30)

Dear Prudence (3:32)

##Sweet As A Peach (2:27)

##Vice The Lights (3:00)

O-O-H Child (3:17)

Because I Love You (4:32)

##What About Your Wife (3:16)

##Up & Down (2:52)

Who Do You Belong To (2:32)

Madame Mary (Bonus Track)

Stairsteps [1971] - Stairsteps [Buddah #BDS 5079]

Full Album here

##My Sweet Lord (3:41)

Hush Child (3:45)

##Everybody Is A Star (2:51)

Peace Is Gonna Come (2:51)

I Love You - Stop (2:38)

Snow (3:14)

Didn't It Look So Easy (2:45)

Easy Way (2:35)

Look Out (2:36)

I Feel A Song (In My Heart Again) (3:31)

Stairsteps [1976] - 2nd Resurrection [Dark Horse #SP-22004]

Full Album here

From Us To You (3:39)

Pasado (3:09) (UK 45)

##Theme Of Angels (3:19)

##Lifting 2nd Resurrection (3:45)

Time (3:48)

Throwin' Stones Atcha (3:04) (UK 45)

##Far East (1:06)

##In The Beginning (2:53)

Tell Me Why (4:31)

Salaam (4:34)

The Invisible Man's Band

The Invisible Man's Band [1980] - The Invisible Man's Band [Mago #MLPS 9537]

Full Album here

##Full Moon (4:53)

All Night Thing (6:20)

X Country (6:19)

9 X's Out Of Ten (5:52)

Rent Strike (6:54

Love Can't Come / Love Has Come (8:03)

Invisible Man's Band [1981] - Really Wanna See You [Boardwalk #NBI-33238]

Full Album here

Really Wanna See You (5:32)

Rated X (5:28)

##Circles (5:18)

##Party Time (4:15)

Along The Way (3:50)

Same Thang (7:15)

Rated X (12" Short Mix Version) (3:40)

Finally they released a 12" single in 1983.

1983 - Sunday Afternoon (5:41) / Sunday Afternoon (4:37) [Move'n Groove #MG 004]