Music: Three Degrees on the way
John Tiong
Dec 15:
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THE Three Degrees, who performed at the Hard Rock Cafe earlier this year, will be back to entertain you at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands on New Year’s Day at 8pm.
They will be accompanied by an orchestra at the stadium-sized venue.
“There will be plenty to look forward to,’’ assured Helen Scott, the oldest member and only grandmother in the American black group listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Longest Running Female Vocal Trio.
She was talking to Buzz last Tuesday from Tokyo where the group was performing at the Blue Note club.
The Three Degrees were formed in 1963 in Philadelphia. Its founder members were Fayette Pickney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner.
Now it comprises Helen, Valerie Holiday and Cynthia Garrison.
Helen from Richmond, Virginia, has been with the group for 35 years, joining in 1963 and leaving in 1966 only to rejoin 10 years later.
Valerie, from Boston, joined in 1967 while Cynthia, from Philadelphia, joined in 1990 when Victoria Wallace left the group.
All were at one time in their lives church choir members.
The lineup was Fayette Pinkney, Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday when the group recorded their most popular hit When Will I See You Again in 1973.
The present outfit recorded four albums in the 1990s, Best and New Hits, Out of the Past, Into the Future, Greatest Hits and a Christmas album in 1998.
“The concert at the Arena of Stars will feature a live orchestra for added impact,’’ said Helen. Helen disclosed that the Hard Rock performance earlier was limited in scope because they performed to recorded music.
Besides their own hits, the Three Degrees will also sing covers of Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child and Outcast.
After their last performance here, the group worked with several prominent groups including the Pointer Sisters and toured England, Japan, all over the United States and even Jordan.
When asked about the difference between the music industry now and then, Helen said performers nowadays were better looked after.
“We didn’t even have an artiste or repertoire department to look after us then. We had to rely on ourselves to get a lot of things done.
“Artistes today have almost everything arranged and looked after for them, including their image. We had only ourselves to depend on.’’
On the constant change in members of the group, Helen said it was due to the members seeking a change.
Cynthia, the newest member, sang with several bands while in high school. Before joining the Three Degrees in 1989, she worked with Pure Gold which sang background vocals for Millie Jackson. The group was included in Jackson’s Live and Uncensored album. She also worked with the group Change as well as Brandi Wells in 1981.
Valerie, who first wanted to be a nurse, gave up her plan after she won a top title in a talentime contest in which she sang Who Can I Turn To. She joined the Three Degrees in 1967, replacing Janet Jones.
Helen, while at 15 and still in school, was already performing on TV shows and recording with friends Fayette and Janet Harmon.
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