The Monitors (music)
Encyclopedia
The Monitors were an American
vocal group who recorded for Motown Records
in the 1960s. The group, which consisted of lead singer Richard Street
, Sandra Fagin, John "Maurice" Fagin, and Warren Harris, had two minor hits, "Say You", and then a cover of the Valadiers' "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)", which reached number 21 on the Billboard R&B chart, and number 100 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
and Melvin Franklin
. Harris became a member of the Distants with Williams and Franklin, but left before the group merged with the Primes to became The Temptations
. Street recorded on Thelma Records, as Richard Street & the Distants, releasing the unsuccessful single "Answer Me", produced by Norman Whitfield
, and also worked as a songwriter and as a member of another group, the Peps. Street and Harris then formed a group together with the Fagins (it is not clear if they were brother and sister, or husband and wife).
Their first release, as The Majestics, was to have been "Hello Love" on Motown's V.I.P. label in 1964, but release was cancelled. A year later, "Say You" was released initially as The Majestics, but a name change to The Monitors was made after it was found there was another group already recording as The Majestics for another company. "Say You" reached #36 on the Billboard R&B chart. "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" was their third release and reached #100 on Billboard's Pop Chart in 1966. "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" explores the feelings felt by many young African American
men, as they were drafted
into the army to serve in the Vietnam War
. Two more singles appeared on VIP, "Since I Lost You Girl" (November 1966) and "Bring Back The Love" (January 1968). They were switched to Motown's SOUL label with 'Step by Step (Hand in Hand)' in the summer of 1968, but this was to be their final single with Motown. However, they also released an album, Greetings! We're The Monitors
, in 1968.
Because of the Monitors' lack of success, its members held other positions within the Motown corporation to sustain income. Richard Street, for example, worked in Motown's Quality Control department, and later traveled with The Temptations as a stand-in for Paul Williams
, who became increasingly ill during the late 1960s and early 1970s due to alcoholism
and other health problems. When Williams was forced to leave the Temptations in 1971 because of his failing health, Street took his place, and the Monitors were dissolved.
British producer Ian Levine
recorded a new version of The Monitors in the late 1980s, with lead singer Darrell Littlejohn (a nephew of Smokey Robinson
), Warren Harris, Maurice Fagin, Herschel Hunter, and Leah Harris, but without Street. The group released a new album, Grazing in the Grass, on Levine's Motorcity
label.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocal group who recorded for Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
in the 1960s. The group, which consisted of lead singer Richard Street
Richard Street
Richard Allen Street is an American soul and R&B singer, most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1993...
, Sandra Fagin, John "Maurice" Fagin, and Warren Harris, had two minor hits, "Say You", and then a cover of the Valadiers' "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)", which reached number 21 on the Billboard R&B chart, and number 100 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
Career
Harris and Street were school friends of Otis WilliamsOtis Williams
Otis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
and Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin
David Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
. Harris became a member of the Distants with Williams and Franklin, but left before the group merged with the Primes to became The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. Street recorded on Thelma Records, as Richard Street & the Distants, releasing the unsuccessful single "Answer Me", produced by Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
, and also worked as a songwriter and as a member of another group, the Peps. Street and Harris then formed a group together with the Fagins (it is not clear if they were brother and sister, or husband and wife).
Their first release, as The Majestics, was to have been "Hello Love" on Motown's V.I.P. label in 1964, but release was cancelled. A year later, "Say You" was released initially as The Majestics, but a name change to The Monitors was made after it was found there was another group already recording as The Majestics for another company. "Say You" reached #36 on the Billboard R&B chart. "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" was their third release and reached #100 on Billboard's Pop Chart in 1966. "Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)" explores the feelings felt by many young African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
men, as they were drafted
Conscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
into the army to serve in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Two more singles appeared on VIP, "Since I Lost You Girl" (November 1966) and "Bring Back The Love" (January 1968). They were switched to Motown's SOUL label with 'Step by Step (Hand in Hand)' in the summer of 1968, but this was to be their final single with Motown. However, they also released an album, Greetings! We're The Monitors
Greetings! We're The Monitors
Greetings! We're The Monitors is the debut album by The Monitors, released in 1968. It is composed of material that the group recorded from the three year span of 1966 to 1968. Richard Street, who would later replace Paul Williams in The Temptations, is the lead singer of this group...
, in 1968.
Because of the Monitors' lack of success, its members held other positions within the Motown corporation to sustain income. Richard Street, for example, worked in Motown's Quality Control department, and later traveled with The Temptations as a stand-in for Paul Williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
, who became increasingly ill during the late 1960s and early 1970s due to alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and other health problems. When Williams was forced to leave the Temptations in 1971 because of his failing health, Street took his place, and the Monitors were dissolved.
British producer Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
recorded a new version of The Monitors in the late 1980s, with lead singer Darrell Littlejohn (a nephew of Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
), Warren Harris, Maurice Fagin, Herschel Hunter, and Leah Harris, but without Street. The group released a new album, Grazing in the Grass, on Levine's Motorcity
Motorcity Records
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
label.
Discography
- Greetings! We're The MonitorsGreetings! We're The MonitorsGreetings! We're The Monitors is the debut album by The Monitors, released in 1968. It is composed of material that the group recorded from the three year span of 1966 to 1968. Richard Street, who would later replace Paul Williams in The Temptations, is the lead singer of this group...
(Soul, 1968) - Grazing In The Grass (Motorcity Records, 1990)