The Dramatics
(formerly The Dynamics
) are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1972 million selling hit song, "In the Rain". [1]
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THE DRAMATICS TICKETS
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Career
The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 as the Dynamics. They changed their name by 1967, when they garnered their first minor
hit single, "All Because of You." However, the
group did not break through until their 1971
single, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," which broke into the
Top 10 of the
Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9.
Their first million selling
disc "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was awarded
gold disc status by the
R.I.A.A. in December 1971.
Their members at this time were Ron Banks, William "Wee Gee" Howard (who died of a
heart attack on February 22, 2000 at age 49), Elbert Wilkins (who died of a heart attack on December 13, 1992 at age 45), Willie Ford, Larry Demps and
keyboardist James Mack Brown (who died on November 28, 2008 at age 58). Shortly after the success of their first
album, Howard and Wilkins left the group. They were replaced by L.J. Reynolds and Leonard "Lenny" Mayes. Through the 1970s, the group appeared on
Soul Train
and continued to have hits, including the #1
R&B hit, "
In the Rain", "Toast to the Fool", "
Me and Mrs. Jones" (originally by Billy Paul), "I'm Going By The Stars In Your Eyes" and "Be My Girl." In the meantime, Howard and Wilkins formed a Dramatics splinter group, and came up with a minor R&B hit, "No Rebate on Love." To distinguish themselves from this group, the core group temporarily dubbed themselves 'Ron Banks and The Dramatics'. Howard eventually returned to the group for two albums,
Somewhere in Time: A Dramatic Reunion
and
Positive State Of Mind
, before departing again.
The Dramatics also were guests on the
Snoop Doggy Dogg song, "
Doggy Dogg World". The song appeared on Snoop's 1993 debut album,
Doggystyle
.
The group continues to tour and presently consists of Banks, Reynolds, Ford, Winzell Kelly and Michael Brock, who replaced Mayes (who died of
lung cancer on November 8, 2004 at age 53).
The Dramatics were also mentioned in the
novel The Algiers Motel Incident
by
John Hersey (ISBN 0-8018-5777-5). They were staying at the Algiers Motel, following a
performance at Detroit's Fox Theatre, during an alleged murder by members of the
Detroit Police Department, which was one of the incidents which sparked the Detroit Riots of 1967.
The Dramatics "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" appeared in the 2005 documentary
Sunday Driver
, as well as the
movies,
Wattstax
and
Darktown Strutters
, and the 2007
Petey Greene biopic,
Talk To Me
.
Discography
Albums
- 1972: Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
(Volt) - US Pop #20, US R&B #5
- 1973: A Dramatic Experience
(Volt) - US Pop #86, US R&B #11
- 1974: Dramatically Yours
(as Ron Banks & the Dramatics
) (Volt) - US R&B #36
- 1974: The Dells vs. The Dramatics
(Cadet) - US Pop #156, US R&B #15
- 1975: The Dramatic Jackpot
(as Ron Banks & the Dramatics
) (ABC) - US Pop #31, US R&B #9
- 1975: Drama V
(ABC) - US Pop #93, US R&B #10
- 1976: Joy Ride
(ABC) - US Pop #103, US R&B #11
- 1977: Shake It Well
(ABC) - US Pop #60, US R&B 10
- 1978: Do What You Wanna Do
(ABC) - US Pop #44, US R&B #6
- 1979: Anytime, Anyplace
(ABC) - US R&B #15
- 1980: 10 1/2
(MCA) - US Pop #61, US R&B #14
- 1980: The Dramatic Way
(MCA) - US R&B #38
- 1982: New Dimension
(Capitol) - US R&B #40
- 1986: Somewhere in Time
(Fantasy)
- 1988: Live
(Volt)
- 1989: Positive State of Mind
(Volt) - US R&B #80
- 1990: ''Stone Cold (Volt)
- 1995: Gimme Some Good Soul Music
(Fantasy)
- 1997: Dramatic Christmas: The Very Best Christmas
(Fantasy)
- 1999: If You Come Back to Me
(Volt)
Compilations
- 1976: The Best of the Dramatics
(Stax)
- 2000: Ultimate Collection
(Hip-O)
- 2005: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dramatics
(Hip-O)
- 2007: The Very Best of the Dramatics
(Stax)
Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart Positions [2] [3]
|
U.S. Hot 100
| U.S. R&B
|
1967
| "All Because of You"
| –
| 42
|
1971
| "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get"
| 9
| 3
|
"Get Up and Get Down"
| 78
| 16
|
1972
| "In the Rain"
| 5
| 1
|
"Toast to the Fool" 1
| 67
| 18
|
1973
| "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain"
| 43
| 5
|
"Fell for You"
| 45
| 12
|
1974
| "And I Panicked" 1
| –
| 49
|
"Door to Your Heart" (A-side)
| 62
| 25
|
"Choosing Up on You" (B-side)
| –
| 30
|
"Don't Make Me No Promises" (A-side)
| –
| 63
|
"Tune Up" (B-Side)
| –
| 74
|
1975
| "Me and Mrs. Jones" 1
| 47
| 4
|
"Love Is Missing From Our Lives" (with The Dells)
| –
| 46
|
"(I'm Going by) The Stars in Your Eyes" 1
| 81
| 22
|
"You're Fooling You"
| 87
| 10
|
1976
| "Treat Me Like a Man"
| –
| 49
|
"Finger Fever"
| –
| 23
|
"Be My Girl"
| 53
| 3
|
1977
| "I Can't Get Over You"
| –
| 9
|
"Shake It Well"
| 76
| 4
|
1978
| "Ocean of Thoughts and Dreams"
| –
| 17
|
"Stop Your Weeping"
| –
| 22
|
"Do What You Want Me to Do"
| –
| 56
|
1979
| "I Just Wanna Dance with You"
| –
| 35
|
"That's My Favorite Song"
| –
| 40
|
1980
| "Welcome Back Home"
| –
| 9
|
"Be with the One You Love"
| –
| 79
|
"Get It"
| –
| 59
|
"You're the Best Thing in My Life"
| –
| 26
|
1982
| "Live It Up"
| –
| 40
|
"Treat Me Right"
| –
| 62
|
1986
| "One Love Ago"
| –
| 61
|
1989
| "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
| –
| 93
|
1996
| "Try Love Again
| –
| 82
|
"—" denotes the single failed to chart, was not released, or was not certified
|
- 1 Credited as Ron Banks & the Dramatics
.
shelton hayes a late part of the dramatics i n 1976 as the sixth part shelton hayes was born in detroit MI he lasyed with the dramatics for 4 months as the kicked him out
References
- The Book of Golden Discs
- The Dramatics Chart History
- The Dramatics Chart History