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Russell Thompkins, Jr., original lead singer of The Stylistics
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- Опубликовано: 16 июн 2016
- Russell Thompkins, Jr., grew up on the north side of Philadelphia. He joined other high school singers from two different vocal groups and combined to form The Stylistics. Russell was the lead singer until he left the group in 1999. Russell sang lead on each song of the first 3 albums, though surprisingly, the other Stylistics did not sing on any of them. Russell tells Tom the story of his musical career and contribution to American rock 'n' roll from that distinctively smooth Philly soul perspective.
Contact Tom: rockroll-history@usa.net www.TomMeros.com
this isn't old school this is lifeschool..Nobody can top those guys...Amazing gifted group.
Facts
I LIKE THAT!
You Got That Right!
There will never be a falsetto like his, 2020 still saying " Hurry up this Way again"...
I posted elsewhere..I was front stage in 1974 when he looked me in the eye, dropped his mic to his side and started adlibbing all over the place. Man was blasting 20,000 people with that voice and every note was perfect. I thought "Yeah I see you Mr best falsetto on the planet" The man has chops.
Ain't that the truth Stylistics O. Jays Spinners The great Teddy Pendergrass I thank God for this music everyday
Dig This also “Peekaboo” and “Your as right as rain”!!
Mike C oh yes and the Tempations, 4 tops, Drifters etc...... my life wouldn’t be the same without the music in my life!!
There are many. Him, Johnnie Wilder of Heatwave, Blue Magic and a few others. These groups had some of the best Falsetto.
I started singing at 6 years old. All the groups I just mentioned including this man helped shaped and tuned my chords. I listened to them all.
My battle with Covid-19 almost robbed me totally of my chords. I struggle to hit that flase high pitch and range now. So piss I was.
Good Lord, I'm an old woman now and still remember the Stylistics and this man's incredible voice back in my younger days.
So much meaning in these songs back then, it put tears in my eyes then and it still does now. Thanx for this interview.
It put tears in my.eyes to. God bless you.
Awwww man. I'm 66 years old. From the first time that I heard Betcha by Golly Wow, I've been trying to sing along with that phenomenal falsetto. Almost 50 years later, every time it comes on the radio, I have to give it my best and after all these years..... Well, almost! Mr Thompkins Jr. is the absolute best. If I ever met him, I'd be so proud just to shake his hand. Tell him what his voice has meant to me and my wife. God bless him!!
OMG! Can't get enough of the Stylistics! Russell Thompkins has the most amazing voice!! They don't sing like this anymore!!!
~
I love this group,,
He has a clear, youthful speaking voice. When you take care of yourself you keep your gifts intact for far longer in life.
I was admiring his speaking voice, too.
Russell Thompkins Jr. has one of the best voices ever to perform on any stage. Older obviously means better . He still kills it every time.
He was one of the coolest guys I ever met, I met him once at the Star Plaza in Indiana, we talked sang together and I made him remember some of those old's songs he almost forgot like songs like I got a letter& Time on my hands, he was the best.
Precious Baby Doll t
One of the greatest singers , ever.
He could really hit those high notes. Stylistics should be in the hall of fame.
Mr. Russell Thompson looks more handsome at older age, bless the group.
He WAS The Stylistics. Body, soul & voice. So distinctive a sound for these classic Soul ballads. To think he did all the singing, and from what came out in the interview, that he shared evenly the revenue from his sound. Truly a class act. Some people are inherently good.
Arrion Love did occasionally sing lead or co-lead, but I know what you mean. Russell's talent is so singular and unique, he deserves to be far more known.
@@SmoothCinnamonX
Like Russell said
Airron only sang on two songs.
The opening part of
“You Are Everything” and
the two verses of
“You Make Me Feel Brand New”.
He didn’t do anything else after that.
Russ is a Great person and a fine artist. So much talent. Really open and down to earth.
One of the best fasettos of all times 2019
Awesome amen to that
OF ALL TIME!!!!
Yes!
Russell and the late Bobby Debarge are equivalent when it comes to high quality falsetto singers. They are two of the greatest falsetto singers of all time.
Excuse me!...correction!...He is "the best" falsetto soul singer of all time! His buttery-smooth style is the "blueprint ". Ted Mills of Blue Magic is a very strong second place, but Bobby Debarge, Eddie Kendricks, Black Ivory, the Temprees, Phillip Bailey, Prince and all the rest deserve honorable mention, but we all know who is the most famous!
He is the best singer nd the original. Nobody can't ever replace him
Carmen Nieves calm down .he is 1 of the best not the best.
Yea ur right
exactly
Does the name Eddie James Kendricks mean anything to you?
@@bustabass9025 I forget the name of the guy in Earth Wind & Fire....
This interviewer is sooooo daaaaaam goooood! He is all up in the interview! Thank you so much for this wonderful gift! Russell Thompskin you are a jewel and a gifted brother I love and respect your talent! Bless you Always and forever!
Russell my good friend. I met Russell when the Stylistics came to Jamaica for the first time in 1971. We have been friends ever since. Great Great singer.
Are you SERIOUS???...is the man really as Beautiful as his voice??..I knew it!! (smh)
Do you like Jamaica....Seems nice
I was a child. My mother took me to the Carrib at these shows. I remember seeing these acts. Good memories
It's funny his voice remind me the carribbean so much.I can hear a huge influence when you listen Alton Ellis or Toots & The Maytals...
Good to see that you are still recording, Mr Biggs. I was at that concert too at the National Arena. Great night.
His speaking voice sounds normal. I can't believe his soaring tenor gives me chills.
Russel Thompkins Jr. is a superstar.
He sings in Falsetto.It's higher than a tenor.Of course that's not his normal voice.He can sing in his regular voice if he wanted.Check out the song by The Dream called Falsetto.He's telling a woman that he'll have her talking in falsetto.Let's just say he's gonna have her screaming.I'm sure you've heard the song before.Watch "The-Dream - Falsetto (Official Video)" on RUclips.ruclips.net/video/4TB10gonKlU/видео.html .
Producer Thom Bell taught him how to sing in his natural voice when his falsetto would get weak.
Facts
Russell Thompkins, Jr. has one of the most beautiful voices ever recorded...Period!!!
Russell Thompkins Jr. had and STILL HAS the very best Falsetto Ive ever heard and Ive heard them ALL. Russells delivery has always been EFFORTLESS....NO STRAINING....NATURAL GIFT....PERIOD! Thats one reason he can STILL HIT EVERYONE of those notes! YOU SIR ARE AND REMAIN PHENOMENAL! Poor Poor Imitators...LOL!!! LIve Long My Brother and Thx so much for your GIFT!!!
tom k do you think he was better than Eddie kendricks?
@@anybodycangetit-e1s He is just as great as Eddie! Both are AWESOME!
@@anybodycangetit-e1s Eddie Kendricks was a Super-Bad
fella now.-No one should Ever, Ever deny that.
Russell your volce was wonderful.I still listen today.I grew up listening.I'm 57 born May 6, 1963.You led the Stylistics to hit song after hit song.I'm glad I grew up in the era of your classic real music.Congrats on your many successes.Thanks for your greatness,and for sharing your wonderful voice with me,and the world.
Always the best lead singer of The Stylistics!
Very revealing to hear how miserable he was when The Stylistics were big. The pressure that he felt was killing him! I’m glad he found a way to be true to himself.
Born in NJ 1961 the first time I heard his voice I was hooked to this day. Heavenly thank you for sharing your gift
I was born in 65. In the early 70s my dad(RIP) had house parties at our house, and back in that time children knew their place we had to up upstairs while the music was playing and my dad played their songs all the time
I was born in '61 too! Same sentiments exactly!
There are songs that changed the way I look at life... "People Make the World Go Round" is on that list.
Betcha By Golly Wow! 💗
OHHHH & so many other favorites!! 💗
Betcha By Golly is Russell's favorite.
I grew up listening to this wonderful group and their music is timeless still relevant to this day because they don't make music like they used to 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎶🎵🎼💯💯💯💪
Outstanding Voice. Those song are some of the best slow dance song of that day.
You bet
He can’t be replaced ever his voice is uniquely his own.
Russell Thompkins Jr. - A true Legend and a proud Aries to boot!
They were one of the most classy romantic men groups we had from singing and there style will never be duplicated nothing like 70’s music the sound!!!
Hey Viv. Hurry Up This Way Again is my favorite song by these guys.
Russ had a very beautiful voice as the lead vocalist of this Stylistic group.
Incredible voice, incredible songs, need I say more?
You're a big Girl Now, my dad used to sing to me when I was little. It was a hit here in New York, too!
My Daddy use to sing that song to me on a Regular
It was nice when my uncle my Daddys Brother use to sing at times to me while i'# sit and Listen
My Dad was a true Father in Gods Making
I've seen him do alot of assed things as a child I've even Hated him at times
But Because he was Daddy
I love my Dad
He has taught me to be the loving when needed
The most Toughest when need be
I MISS HIM MUCH
No one can sing like Russell Thomkins Jr ❤️ his voice!
Facts.
This is an interesting interview he seems really down to earth very relaxed interview.
Should be regarded as one of the top R&B make vocalist.
Love the boys in Earth Wind and Fire as well .So many great ones then .
Humble person and one of the great tenor falsetto vocalists of the '60's R&B groups. Thank you brother for your music.
That is my hometown singer. I love my Philly music and performers!!! I went to high school with Russell's younger brother. Seeing that picture of The Uptown Theatre brought back memories. I used to live in that place. I've met so many people who performed there. I knew Tammi Terrell and her father. He had a barbershop at the corner of my block. Wow, I am tearing up just thinking about those good old days. Thanks for the memories 💜
Philly My hometown as well born and raised 🙌 and still here lol I'm 26 my parents played they songs all the time
What a phenomenal singer. Oh such memories. 😘🌷
I had the honor of seeing the Stylistics when I was stationed in Puerto Rico at he Hotel DuPont. Fantastic show...
He and Eddie kendricks were definitely the best falsettos ever.
Soul music that soothes the SOUL
My first real love with a girl in my life even though was our sound of love the Stylistics. to this day I still miss and love her so much
Awesomely gifted & talented singers& musicians- very few today can reach their status.
Payback is a Dog🙏🏾🙌🏾❤✊🏾.
Great interview.
That's one of my favorites
Russell is one of the best singer's that I've ever heard!!!!!🎤📻🎵🎼🎶🎙🤩
Maybe the greatest
The interview hits me right in my essence. That's not an overstatement. He is a throw-back to all that is good in a man, in music, and in life. God bless Russell and the prolific song-writing duo of Thom Bell & Linda Creed which created The Stylistics uniqueness . . . a special section of The Sound of Philadelphia. Late 60s/early 70s was their prime. A beautiful, romantic and nostalgic era from a time never to be again. What Russell did mention, and I find it telling and humbling for him to admit, is that he modeled his falsetto after Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons, a singer and group I always loved, and he used it, with ultimate success, throughout his career.
This is MY generation's music. The Stylistics were awesome! So greatful to be able to hear this music when it was brand new.
"The Stylistics" and their many wonderful songs were a major part to the sound track of my young adult life. I will love them forever.
My oldest daughter got married in 2017 and of course I walked her down the isle, wow, that was something. Of course she danced with her dad at the reception, and the song I picked to dance with her was "Shes a big girl now". Brings tears to my eyes writing this. So beautiful. I saw the stylistics 2 times in 1994 and 1996 here in Cleveland Ohio. I miss those days.
I listened to them and Blue Magic everyday while in highschool in the early seventies. I was upset that RT.Jr was married because I was in love with him. May God bless you and thanks for sharing.
Amazing singer!! I'm a big fan of his work with Stylistics.
Awesome interview, he needs to be on TV One unsung.
amen
@@DreDiddy83 Yes, totally he should be on TV One Unsung!
He was the best of the greats, right up there with the Delfonics.
ME AND MY WIFE Went to see them a few years back AND THEY WERE STILL AS GOOD AS THE DAY THEY STARTED. Every song they did was a hit and will always be around.
Miss this music and the times it represents. National treasures that still please the ear and warm the heart - they don't make them like this anymore.
Love his angelic VOICE
What a high pitch and clear voice this man has ,,just classic..pure quality
always loved the stylistics & still do
Philly never dies........Love this!
This is one of my Greatest singers of all time. Or maybe the greatest. Thank God for his gift. And music and there beautiful music.That him .And the group bless us with for decades. And the music is still great today.
Man I'm so so glad my mom put me on to beautiful music back in the 70's and it's unmatched. I start listen to beautiful tracks like this. And 8 hours just fly by like woww where did all the time go!
I just loved The Stylistics in my younger days. Thanks for all your music Russell.
I am 68 yrs old and still listen to the stylistics this music mystified me and when l met my husband l would share it and we would listen for hours .a fan always😍
2024 August, TODAY i still LOVE their RECORDS. This is real Music .. real songwriting, real lyric. REAL vocals. Thank you .. BLESSSS YOU.
Incredible voice, incredible career! Thank You!
Thank you Russel for blessing us with your talent. ‘Children of the Night’ was a song that almost became my anthem because of my late night DJ world.
People Make the World Go Round, and Your as Right as Rain, my two favorites of the Stylistics!
best vocalist of all time, even now he can go with anyone. its really not about screaming and runs, its about the spirit and making every genre love love it.
I was in high school with Russell and wished we had connected musically.. Russell brought his group to Saul, a bunch of kids in big suits and rocked the house..
Russell, William Hart, Ted "Wizard" Mills and the late, great Ron Banks are the falsetto G.O.A.T.s ! Their voices will never be duplicated. Never!
Not being argumentative to any degree but you forgot 1, Eddie Kendricks.
You forgot one also philip bailey(ewf)
A true legend, old school....
My Favorite Lead Singer of ALL Time.
Great is great *at any age!* Same as any other timeless artwork.
Such a beautiful person, spirit, and great unique voice. His talent resonates. My idol!! Our singing voices are haunting unbelievably similar. I'm proud of that.
Great interview! Love to hear about the history of music and groups I love!
stone in love with you.. my favorite stylistics song
My favorite is "Let's put it all together"
Eddie Kendricks and Russell Thompkins, Jr., arguably the two best 1st tenor/falsetto singers of their era.
Bad, Junior, Russell Thompkins. Stylistics, was bad.
Definitely two of my favorites.
Wayne Cooper of Cameo was one no one hardly ever mentions and he may have been better than them all.
Phillip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire.
Yes "you are a big girl now" was a regional smash that was a big record in Baltimore and DC it was the first record I ever bought 45!💕💞
No doubt
My favorite song by the Stylistics is Breakup to Make up!💞💕
The great falsettos of all time Johnny Carter,EUGENE Record,Russell Thompkins, Eddie Kendricks, Ron Banks, Hurt of the Delfonics the greats.
Dont forget Phillip bailey and Johnny of the Dells, oh and the lead singer of Blue magic
Johnnie Wilder of Heatwave
Oh and Bobby DeBarge of Switch
@@monkeybrain213 He said Johnny Carter. He was the singer in the Dells
@@monkeybrain213 and Johnny was originally that beautiful voice in the Flamingos before the Dells!! Remember the song "I Only Have Eyes For You" that high falsetto tenor you hear if I'm not mistaken is our boy Johnny!
Such a beautiful song.wgat a golden voice Russels voice is beautiful
Omg I absolutely love them they have amazing voices. Bring it on baby im a singer myself and I sing all those songs love you guys im from Ireland 🇮🇪 ❤
Mr Tompkins JR I love your singing keep singing and be well
Russell is a awesome singer. I like him more now after the interview. Very down to Earth!
I love the Stylistics. I had no idea that he was carrying the entire group. That is what causes friction in most groups male and female groups. No matter how much they like each other, there's still one that stands out. smh I think we have always heard it but didn't realize that he was doing all the work. smh DANG. How hard that had to be. Folks getting paid for doing NOTHING and ya'll splitting the money equally. wow You really rock Russell Thompkins, Jr.
Russell always looked short on my TV back in the 1970s. I thought he was only about 5 feet 5. But he actually looks 6 foot plus there.
Geoff Joffy Same here. I was instantly surprised that here he appears taller than I remember seeing him
@@denish1 me too
Incredible music and a wonderful performer......wow...just love ALL this music. xx
The Stylistics were one of my favorite bands of all time . I was just a kid in their time , how I wished I saw them performed live .
I was a kid too. My mom used to buy their 45's. Great memories. I was always intrigued by their sound
Thanks, for interview was nice. Some of the Best Times, of my Life. I love, Beautiful, You are beautiful, cause of who you are inside. Beautiful song, touching. I think of my Best male Friend , when I here it. Junior was the Stylistics and will never be forgotten.
Oh my god. He is so humble. I'd love to get a hug from him.
Ahh, the sounds of Philadelphia. Being from Mt. Airy I remember so well. Such good music, my brother was a drummer for a small band. We always had a jam going on in our basement. Russell was the real deal. One of the best voices in my opinion.
My number one favorite Russell Thompkins Jr. ❤️❤️❤️
Russell Thompkins amazing lead singer for the Stylistics, his voice was heart breaking.Russell could hit those high notes like no other members he was the catalyst of the group, with that chemistry made the Stylistics a phenomenal group (Hits Maker) !! Thanks Brothers for sharing your great music with us!!! Richard Shackelford 😊😊❤❤
engaging, educational and entertaining conversation. history gratitude & sisterly affection Tom and my Philly friend, Russell!
My favorite group! Love, love, love the Stylestic's!❤
One of my favorite groups. Love, love, love them.
Always loved your vocals lovely music 🎤🎶❤
It is so wonderful, to hear from so many of the legends, with so many beautiful voices.
I've always loved the guys (stylistics) Beautiful to listen too
From North Philly, a cradle of some great musical talent from that very musical city.
One of favorite songs of all time is "Rock n Roll Baby". Terrific soul singer.
LINDA CREED IS A GREAT LEGEND TRUE ORIGINAL AND UNDER RATED PERSON GOD BLESS HER SOUL YOU ARE TRULY LOVED....
Dual gamers there needs to be an unsung featuring linda creed and thom bell
ooh for real!! now that would be awesome!!!
Always will LOVE the Stylistics
This man is beautiful. Best interview I’ve ever watched. Thank you Mr. Thompkins for sharing your great wealth of knowledge.
Russell Thompkins Jr. was a part of my youth. A house party, a blue light, The Stylistics, and a pretty girl quickly turned into a night to remember.
Yes, a night that turned into 18 years of responsibility. LOL!!
Russell Thompkins is amazing...