The Stylistics are an American, Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn.
Are there any original members of The Stylistics?
The Stylistics were created by two Philadelphia groups, The Percussions, and The Monarchs. Russell Thompkins Jr., James Smith, and Airrion Love came from the Monarchs, and James Dunn and Herb Murrell came from the Percussions.
The Stylistics hits were ballads characterized by the falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. and the production of Thom Bell. During the early 1970s, the group had twelve consecutive R&B top ten hits, including “Stop, Look, Listen“, “You Are Everything“, “Betcha by Golly, Wow“, “I’m Stone in Love with You“, “Break Up to Make Up” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New“, which earned them 5 gold singles and 3 gold albums.
Herbert Murrell and Airrion Love are the two original members still singing with The Stylistics. Friends since school, Airrion and Herb have kept the music alive, and they’re still touring the world. Former lead singer, Russell Thompkins Jr, left the group in 2000.
