R&B vocal group from the Edmondson Heights area of West Baltimore, they were once known as the Edmondson Village Temptations. Backed by the rhythm of Changor & Company they went on to gain international recognition as a successful recording group.
The vocal group consisted of Marvin Brown (lead), Steve Jackson, Elton Lynch and Byron Summerville. A fifth vocalist named Fenwick left the group early on to attend college. Their musical backup band consisted of Willie Bennett (sax), Keith Glascoe (guitar), Ronald McNair (drums), Aaron Samuels and Reginald Smith aka ‘Nicky’ (bass ex-Commancheros). Carroll Armstrong managed the group,
A 1978 lineup for the “Brand New Day” album featured Brown (lead), Jackson, and Lynch with Clarise Smith, and Yvonne Jones.
The Softones performed throughout the Baltimore / Washington area while also touring extensively throughout the east coast, Virgin Islands, Europe and Japan. Over the years they shared bills with many top recording acts including the Moments, Chi-Lites, Curtis Mayfield, Temptations, Miracles, O’Jay’s and many others. The Softones continued touring and performing at large concert events into the ‘00s.
During the ‘80s it was the Softones who were heard on Baltimore television and radio with the advertisement for weather forecaster Bob Turk to the tune of the Temptation’s “My Girl.” Group members combined with the Vandals recorded as Pegasus in the ‘90s.
Below left: The Softones – H&L Records (1970s) – Below right: The Tones – circa 1983
Due to some legal wranglings over the name, the trio of Brown, Jackson, and Lynch recorded as the Tones in 1983 produced by Melvin Miles on Criminal Records. They reached the national charts with the single “One More Time” and appeared in the 1982 Baltimore film classic “Diner.” Lynch later formed another group along with Darnell Carter (ex-Inclinations), and Kevin Muldrow (ex-Grand Jury). Known as the New Softones, they released a mid-’80s single “Come Back” on Exact Change Records.
Marvin Brown’s recording of “La La Means I Love You” was included on a 1984 compilation album “The Best of The Del Fonics” and released in 1987 on a 12” single.
The Softones scored four national R&B hits during the mid-’70s. Their 1979 record releases listed below were performed by the Softones and First Class featuring vocalists Marvin Brown, Elton Lynch, Tony Yarborough, and Sylvester Redditt.
In later years Marvin was replaced with Harry Easley (ex-New Extensions…).
Marvin Brown & his B Street Boys appeared on the 1992 CD by Cruel Shoes. Carter went on to become a member of Motown group the Legendary Lead Singers of The Temptations.
In early ‘00s the band consisted of Nat (guitar) replaced with Clayton McLendon, Mark Easley (bass –First Class, David Bach Consort…) replaced with Bill Harris (ex-Panama, Priority – went with Manhattans in 2001), Roland Williams (drums ex-BADD), Kenneth Trusty (drums), and dual keyboards of Jimmy Jones and Wilbur.
Marvin Brown and Steve Jackson later sang with Johnny Johnson’s Fonics, an offshoot of the Delfonics. Williams later with the Spindles.
Softones discography:
1971 ThereStreet 001 Any Street / How Did I Lose?
1972 AVCO 4594 Any Street
1972 AVCO 4601 My Dream / How Did I Lose
1973 AVCO 4613 I’m Gonna Prove It / God Save America
1973 AVCO 4616 I’m Gonna Prove It / Guns
1973 AVCO 4619 Can’t Help Fallin’ In Love / What Is Life
1973 AVCO 4626 The First Day / Everybody Knew but Me
1973 AVCO 4629 Never Let a Woman Like That Go By /And I Remember Your Face
1975 AVCO 4654 Hey There, Lonely Girl / Extraordinary People
1975 AVCO 4663 That Old Black Magic / Why, Why, Baby
1976(12”) H&L 2003 Call It Love / Love Child
1976 H&L 4671 Love Child /Girl, We’ve Got to Keep On
1976 H&L 4680 Go on With the Show /
1977 H&L 4685 Laundromat / And I Remember Your Face
1978 H&L 4697 That’s What Love Can Do /Sweet Dreamer
1981 Park-Way 1559 Space Cadet / I Just Had to Dance
1986 Whatever’s Clever Listen to Your Heartbeat
Albums by the Softones:
1973 AVCO 11011 The Softones
1977 H&L 69018 Black Magic
1978 H&L 69029 Brand New Day
Record releases by the Softones & First Class:
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 Love Minus One / (First Class)
1979 Park-Way 1001 The Softones & First Class Together
Record releases by the Tones:
1983 Criminal 1702 One More Time / Do It Light
1983(LP) Criminal 1704 Here’s to You
Record and CD releases by the New Softones:
1989 Exact Change 210 Come Back / (instrumental version)
1997(CD) Forevermore 4602 At Last
1998(CD) Forevermore Carla My Love
