Russell Allen Thompkins Jr. is an American soul singer. Best known as the original lead singer of the vocal group The Stylistics and is noted for his high tenor, countertenor, and falsetto vocals. With Russell as lead singer, The Stylistics had 12 straight Top 10 Billboard R&B singles and 5 gold singles from 1971 through 1974.
Thompkins Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Thompkins was introduced to music by his father and started singing formally in school. During high school, Thompkins was a member of a local vocal group called the Monarchs who defeated another group called the Percussions in a talent show at Benjamin Franklin High School. Both groups disbanded shortly thereafter. Their remaining members, Thompkins, James Smith, and Airrion Love from The Monarchs, and James Dunn and Herbie Murrell from the Percussions, joined together to form a new group called The Stylistics in 1968.
What happened to Russell Thompkins Jr?
As of 2022, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics is still performing and touring in the states and overseas.
In 2007, Thompkins along with Ted Mills (original lead singer of Blue Magic) and William Hart (original lead singer of The Delfonics) teamed up to record an album entitled, “From Philadelphia”, under the name, The 3 Tenors of Soul on Shanachie Records.
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Source: Ghanafuo.com
