Initially formed in 1962, when 13 year old tenor Ron Banks, a student at Detroit's Cleveland Junior High School, hooked up with second tenor Larry Reed, baritone Robert Ellington and bass Arthur Phillips; all from Pershing High School, to enter a talent contest. After Larry "Squirrel" Demps, Elbert Wilkins and Roderick Davis had replaced Reed, Ellington and Phillips, the quartet was discovered while performing at Mr. Kelly's in Detroit and signed to the local Wingate label.
Although it didn't make it beyond Detroit, the Dramatic's first single, a bright Temptations-styled number titled "Inky Kinky Wang Dan Doo" displayed the top-to-bottom harmony that has become one of their trademarks.
Another Dramatics' calling card has been their fast-paced Contour influenced choreography. Davis explains, "One time in 1965 we watching a group called the Contours do a show, and we saw the M.C. call out the names of the guys in the group, and each one came out sliding and jumping up on the opposite sidewall and came back doing splits. This gave us the idea for our routine, and we've used it ever since."
The Dramatics first signed with Volt, then a part of Stax Records in Memphis in 1969. but were dropped after one unsuccessful single. They found their fortune after re-signing in 1971, quickly becoming one of soul music's super groups with a string of hits that included "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," "Get Up and Get Down," "In the Rain." "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain." and "Fell for You."
An eight month cross-country tour with James Brown helped to solidify a fervent following for the group.
The Dramatics' loyal fan base came to include a new generation of music lovers in the Nineties. In 1993. the quintet contributed its harmonies to "Doggy Dogg World," a track from rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg's multi-platinum debut album.
The group has since collaborated with Coolio, 40 Thieves. and Ice Cube. And Banks produced a remake of "In the Rain, the Dramatics' biggest hit, featuring R&B heartthrob Keith Sweat and rapper Ghostface of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Greatest Hits Live is the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of one of the finest vocal groups ever to come out of Detroit, and the Dramatics show no sign of slowing down. The key to our success as the Dramatics is enjoying what we do," Banks states. "Each one of us is happy as a lark when we're ready to go on stage. Can't wait to get there. God has been good to us and so have our fans. We look forward to staying good for them."
The Dramatics spend seven months a year touring.
THE
DRAMATICS
