R&B group formed by members of the Mandells, and the Titans. They went on to become one of Baltimore’s most successful R&B groups of the 1970s and beyond.
The original vocal group included Harold Bell (lead), Fred Brown, Sylvester ‘Scoop’ Redditt (ex-Mandells), and Tony Yarborough (ex-Titans). Later vocalist Jason Sharp (ex-Spindles) went on to join Heatwave, then in the ‘00s with the Stylistics. In the ‘90s the vocal group members were ‘Scoop’, with Val Geron McCoy, Reggie Bradshaw, Michael Lewis, and Van Dyke Curry. This group received Citations of recognition from Governor William D. Schaffer (1990), Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and City of Baltimore (for 1990 AFRAM Festival), U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Awareness Committee (1992)… By mid-’90s Berman Bennett became a member. Redditt and Bennett remained as core of the group, and by 2009 added Quinton Young, and Keith Matthews. This quartet, managed by Michael Clark, also doubled as gospel group 1 Accord.
The backing band over the years featured many members, some of whom were Warren Garrison (sax and band leader), Ron Thompson (guitar), Hiram Bullock (guitar), Gary ‘Dino’ Jones (bass), Mark Easley (bass), Guy Curtis Davidson (drums)… In the early days they could be seen locally at Mother Lode’s Wild Cherry, Hollywood Palace, Club Continental, and performed for Operation Champ shows throughout local neighborhoods. The group made the decision to leave their home area to avoid the constraints inherent in being known as a local band. Their managers Rod Armstrong and Ernie Donaldson (A&D Booking Agency) obliged the group by sending them on a European tour. Concert tours took the group to most American cities as well as England, France, Japan, and the Virgin Islands. The exposure outside the area paid off as the group attained several national R&B hits “What About Me”, “The Beginning of My End”, “Me and My Gemini”, and “This Is It.” First Class also released LPs on All Platinum, Park-Way, and Sugarhill labels.
First Class performed at the Apollo Theater in New York opening for Melba Moore. They performed in their hometown occasionally including a well-received 1979 appearance at the Ritz, and more recent venues included The Gentlemen II, Pikesville Armory…. The group collaborated with the Softones on a 1981 LP and single. Featured vocalists were Marvin Brown, Elton Lynch, Tony Yarborough, and Sylvester Redditt.
Record releases include the following:
1973 Thereway 3778 What Is Life – Part 1 / Part 2
1974 Today 1528 What About Me / Outside Your World (Pt.1)
1975 Ebony Sounds 187 The Beginning of My End / It’s Never Too Late
1975 Ebony Sounds 188 You Don’t Know What You’re Doing
1976(LP) All Platinum 3018 Going First Class
1976 All Platinum 2365 Me and My Gemini – Part 1 / Part 2
1977 All Platinum 2368 This Is It / Filled with Desire
1977 All Platinum 2372 Coming Back to You / This Is It
1979(12”) Park-Way 1557 Candy / Don’t Listen to Your Friends
1981 Bevnik 1700 Love Is Real / (instr)
First Class with the Softones:
1979 Park-Way 1553 Carla My Love / (instrumental version)
1979 Park-Way 1554 Tell Me What You Want / Laying My Heart on The Line
1979 Park-Way 1555 (Softones) / Laying My Heart on The Line
1979(LP) Park-Way 1001 The Softones and First Class Together
