The Three Degrees

They didn't become internationally successful until the 1970s, but The Three Degrees - reputedly Prince Charles' favourite group - had to wait a long time for their breakthrough having formed in Philadelphia in the early 1960s. They were originally discovered by producer/songwriter Richard Barrett, previously the brains behind 1950s groups The Chantels, The Valentines and Little Anthony & the Imperials, with a line-up of Fayette Pinkney, Linda Turner and Shirley Porter and their first single Gee Baby (I'm Sorry) was released in 1965. They subsequently issued several relatively unsuccessful singles with a regularly changing line-up, Pinkney being the only surviving original member. In the early 1970s the group signed to Roulette Records and enjoyed success when the track Maybe became an R&B hit and was featured in the movie The French Connection, but it wasn't until being signed by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to their Philadelphia International label that they attained worldwide success. They sang the theme song for the show Soul Train and had hits with Dirty Ol' Man and Year Of Decision, before When Will I See You Again really took off in 1974, topping the UK charts and reaching Number 2 in America; making them the biggest selling all-girl group since The Supremes. With Sheila Ferguson as the focal point, their sweet, soulful pop made them a hugely popular touring act and, among their prestigious gigs, was a concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 30th birthday of Prince Charles. Ferguson left in 1986, but the group continued - and still do so - albeit with a vastly different line-up than their heyday. Founder Pinkney died in 2009 at 61, but Valerie Holiday - now flanked by Freddie Pool and Helen Scott - has been a fixture in the group since 1967.

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