The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although several women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.

The current line-up consists of Valerie Holiday, Freddi Poole, and Hazel Payne, formerly of A Taste of Honey.

A second grouping features Three Degree Helen Scott, with Skyler Jordan and Tamika Peoples.

The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. By mid-1963, Porter and Turner were replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott; Scott was replaced by Sheila Ferguson in 1966, while Harmon was replaced by Valerie Holiday in 1967. This line-up of Pinkney, Holiday and Ferguson became the most successful in the group's history; together from 1967 to 1976, they topped the Billboard US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single "When Will I See You Again", which was a huge international hit, reaching the Top 5 in seven countries, including number two in the US and topping the UK Singles Chart. but it was the third single, "When Will I See You Again", that propelled the trio into the mainstream. It topped the UK Chart for two weeks in August 1974 (the first time this had been achieved by an all-female group since The Supremes in 1964, It also reached No. 2 in the US, where it sold over two million copies and earned the trio a gold record in December 1974 (at that time, Platinum certifications had not been assigned to singles).

The Three Degrees also recorded two live albums: one in Leicester in the UK, and the other in Tokyo in Japan, and released both in 1975. The trio's second studio album for the Philadelphia label, The Three Degrees International, was marketed internationally under different titles and in various languages. In Continental Europe, it was called With Love, and it spawned the hit single "Take Good Care Of Yourself", which reached the UK Top 10. The UK release of the album was actually titled Take Good Care Of Yourself and peaked at No. 6 in the UK Albums Chart, their highest ever chart placing for an album there.

In 1986, Miquel Brown filled in for Scott while the latter was pregnant. That same year Ferguson decided to leave the group to focus on her family life and raising her daughters.

1990s–present

In December 1989, Cynthia Garrison replaced Victoria Wallace forming the longest running line-up of the group. In 1993, they were asked to record a new version of "When Will I See You Again" with Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking). He supplied three tracks for their album Out of the Past Into the Future, marking their return to Ariola Records and their most successful album for 15 years, Two further singles were released from the album, the re-recording of "Dirty Ol' Man" and new song "Hurry Hurry". In 1993 they released a new best of album, Best & New Hits: When Will I See You Again, which included 5 re-recorded hits and 5 cover songs. A seasonal album, Christmas With The Three Degrees, was also recorded in 1998. This album included a cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas", which was released as a remixed dance single which gave the group their 15th (and final) UK top 60 single, reaching number 54.

Scott, Holiday and Garrison continued to tour. They made their first US TV appearance in over 20 years in 2003 on the PBS show, Rhythm, Love, and Soul with Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls and Mary Wilson. They were also part of the 'Best Disco In Town 2004 Tour' with the Pointer Sisters, Chic, the Emotions, and Evelyn "Champagne" King. They also took part in the 2007 'Best Disco In Town' tour of the United Kingdom in May 2007.

In 2008, the group released the album Helen, Valerie, Cynthia: The Greatest Hits, which included completely new recordings of the group's biggest hits and some fan favourites.

The group, together with Pinkney, received various honours during 2007 and 2008, through BEMA (The Black Entertainment and Music Association) and the City of Philadelphia for their contribution to music over five decades, creating, for the first time, The Four Degrees.

Pinkney died on June 27, 2009, in a hospital in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, after a short illness at the age of 61. Her 1979 solo album, One Degree, was re-released on CD shortly after her death.

In 2009, the group released their first studio album in over ten years, Undercover 2009. It contained a selection of eight cover versions of classic songs by ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Bee Gees. The following year they released a new single "Holding Back".

In January 2011, Freddi Poole replaced Cynthia Garrison who was suffering from Piriformis syndrome.

In 2016, the Three Degrees released their first studio album with member Freddi Poole entitled Strategy: Our Tribute To Philadelphia, through Cherry Red Records.

Helen Scott's performing career was hindered by a COVID-19 infection with persistent after-effects. Victoria Wallace died in October 2023. Cynthia Garrison died on January 22, 2024.

Discography

  • Maybe (1970)
  • So Much Love (1971)
  • The Three Degrees (1973)
  • International (1975)
  • Take Good Care of Yourself (1975, UK)
  • With Love (1975, Benelux)
  • A Toast of Love (1976)
  • Standing Up for Love (1977)
  • New Dimensions (1978)
  • 3D (1979)
  • Album of Love (1982)
  • ...And Holding (1989)
  • Out of the Past into the Future (1993)
  • Christmas with the Three Degrees (1998)
  • Undercover 2009 (2009)
  • Strategy – Our Tribute to Philadelphia (2016)

Filmography

  • The French Connection (1971)
  • Sanford and Son (Season 3, Episode 4 titled “Presenting the Three Degrees” aired October 5, 1973)
  • Birds of Prey (2020)

See also

  • List of funk musicians
  • List of disco artists (S-Z)
  • List of people from Philadelphia
  • List of artists who reached number one in the United States
  • List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

References

Further reading

  • The Three Degrees in-depth interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2011
  • The Three Degrees interview, 'Yuzu Melodies' April 2013
  • Clemente, John (2000). Girl Groups — Fabulous Females That Rocked The World. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 276.