The Persuaders
An R&B vocal group from New York, New York, USA, the original members were lead Douglas "Smokey" Scott, Willie Holland, James "B.J" Barnes and Charles Stodghill. The Persuaders were one of a myriad of stand-up vocal groups that helped to make the early 70s an era of vocal harmony renaissance, one that significantly shaped the popular music of the day. The arresting dry lead of Scott, set against the pristine sweet harmonizing of the rest of the group, gave the Persuaders a distinctive sound. The group was organized in 1968 as the Internationals and soon met Richard and Robert Poindexter, who owned a small label and began recording the group. In 1971, the Internationals redubbed themselves the Persuaders and had a hit with "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" (number 1 R&B, number 15 pop), a fabulous composition by the Poindexters. They followed with an almost equally attractive song, "Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out)" (number 8 R&B, number 64 pop). The 1972 hit "Peace In The Valley Of Love" (number 21 R&B) featured a revised line-up, with Barnes and Stodghill being replaced by John Tobias and Thomas Lee Hill. The Persuaders gained their second-biggest hit in 1973 with "Some Guys Have All The Luck" (number 7 R&B, number 39 pop), and competed with Gladys Knight And The Pips on the charts in 1974 with a rival version of "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me' (number 29 R&B, number 85 pop). The Persuaders" last chart record was in 1977, and by that time only Scott remained from the original line-up.

Listen to The Persuaders at Finetune.

Albums
Top Tracks
  • Thin Line Between Love & Hate
  • Thin Line Between Love And Hate (Single/LP Version)
  • Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out)
  • Peace In The Valley Of Love
  • Bad Bold And Beautiful Girls
Related Artists
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