Classic R&B, dance and Motown group formed in 1980 by Stanley Frank (guitar ex-Optimistics, Inclinations, MFD), with Ronald Wiggs (bass), Melvin Caddes (keyboards), Johnny Mason (drums), and vocalists Renee Wiggs, Heidi Harrison, Topaz Bennett, and Paris Foster (ex-Inclinations, MFD).
Locally the group played at Brice’s Hilltop Inn, Dotson’s, My Brother’s Place, school proms at Carver, Edmondson, cabaret’s, etc., while also performing throughout Virginia and the Carolina’s.
Early personnel changes: Foster left after the first year. Bennett left several months later and eventually worked with R&B vocalist Teddy Riley (Guy, Blackstreet). Mason left in the mid-‘80s and later worked with Charles ‘Big Daddy’ Stallings… The Wigg’s eventually went into gospel music.
Frank re-formed the group about 1989 and the lineup remained fairly intact through the mid-‘00s with Darlene Diggs (lead vocals), Everald Clark (bass), Dwayne Reazer (drums), and dual keyboardists Mike D. and Howard McFarland, although Mike D. eventually left the group and was not replaced.
Ten Karat Gold formed TKG Productions and promoted their own shows. In the mid-‘90s they signed with Charles Steinmetz agency and continued as one of the area’s top club acts.
The group signed with Philadelphia based E-Nitra-Fuse Records in 2001 and released an album that included a remake of the Optimistics song “Make Love Last.” With the release of their record came higher profile engagements sharing the stage with the Chi-Lites, Drifters, Delfonics, and Baltimore’s own Frankie & the Spindles, BADD, Fabulous Friends, and others. They performed at many Pennsylvania venues, Bally’s (Atlantic City), Dover Downs, Charlestown (WV), and locally for Whitten’s (Sinclair Ave), Waterman’s Crab House, Gentlemen Ten, many private parties…
2002(CD) E-Nitra-Fuse What You See Is What You Get
