The Softones facts for kids

The Softones were an American singing group from Baltimore, Maryland. They were famous for their smooth and sweet soul music in the 1970s. Their songs often featured beautiful harmonies and a special high-pitched singing style called falsetto.

The Softones: A Sweet Soul Group

The Softones started making music in the early 1970s. They signed with a record label called Avco Records, which later became H&L Records. They released three albums and many single songs. Some of their most popular songs were "My Dream," "Can't Help Falling In Love," and "I'm Gonna Prove It." Their song "That Old Black Magic" was also very popular on the R&B and Disco music charts in 1976.

Early Days and Hit Songs

Their very first song, "Any Street," was first released by a small label in Baltimore called Thereway. Other early songs, like "My Dream," also came from this label. When they first started, the group was known as "The Soft Tones." They changed their name to "The Softones" when their first album came out in late 1973.

Famous producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore helped create their sound. They owned the record label. Another important person was Van McCoy, who arranged their music. His orchestra, made up of top musicians, played on many of their songs.

The group released more music over the years. In 1979, they made an album called Together with another Baltimore group, First Class. This album included the popular song "Carla My Love."

The Group's Unique Sound

While The Softones might not have been as famous as some other groups like The Stylistics or The Moments, their music has become very popular with collectors over time.

The group was known for the amazing high-pitched voice of their lead singer, J. Marvin Brown. This style of singing is called falsetto. His voice was similar to other famous falsetto singers. These include Russell Thompkins Jr. from The Stylistics and Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire. This style was first made popular by Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations.

Members of The Softones

The main members of The Softones were:

• J. Marvin Brown (lead singer)
• Steven Jackson
• Elton Lynch
• Byron Summerville

Sadly, Byron Summerville passed away in 2012 when he was 60 years old. J. Marvin Brown passed away in July 2020 at the age of 66.