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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = The Dramatics| background = group_or_band| origin = Detroit, Michigan , United States | genre = Rhythm & blues , Soul music|soul , Pop music|pop | associated_acts =| years_active = 1962–Present. The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics ) are an United States|American soul music vocal group , formed in Detroit, Michigan|Detroit , Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs " In the Rain (song)|In the Rain " and " Whatcha See is Whatcha Get (song)|Whatcha See is Whatcha Get ", both of which were #1 R& B and Top 10 Pop hits.cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | pages= 292 & 312 | isbn= 0-214-20512-6
Career
The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 recording as the Dramatics in 1965.Their first release in 1965 was entitled:"Bingo"and the b side was entitled:"Somewhere", recorded for the late Ed Wingate's "Wingate" record label,a division of Golden World Records in Detroit,Mi.Wingate changed the name of the group had a mis-print was called the Dynamics to The Dramatics in 1966 for the group's second release:"Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo", the b side was entitled: "Baby I Need You", also released on the Wingate Records label.By 1967, Motown had absorbed the entire Golden World Records operation, including their publishing: Myto Music BMI, The Golden World, Ric Tic, and Wingate Record labels, as well as recording artists :Edwin Star, The San Remo Golden Strings, The Fantastic Four, and J.J.Barnes (who saw no releases on Motown). The Dramatics moved to Sport Records where they garnered their first minor hit single , "All Because of You."
The Dramatics signed to Stax-Volt Records in 1968. However, the musical ensemble|group did not break through until their 1971 single (music)|single , "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," which broke into the Top 40|Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at #9. Their first million selling gramophone record|disc "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was awarded music recording sales certification|gold disc status by the Recording Industry Association of America|R.I.A.A. in December 1971.
Their members at this time were Ron Banks (who died of a myocardial infarction|heart attack on March 4, 2010 at age 58),Cite news |last=McCollum |first=Brian |date=2010-03-04 |url= http://freep.com/article/20100304/ENT04/100304043 |title=Dramatics founder Ron Banks dead at 58 |work=freep.com |accessdate=4 March 2010 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 Rhythm and blues|R& B hit, " In the Rain (song)|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 Rain" also sold over one million copies, and was awarded a music recording sales certification|gold disc . Many of the Dramatics' songs were written by Tony Hester, a Detroit writer/producer who was shot to death in a street robbery in 1980.
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 . In 2002 The Dramatics appeared on Snoop Dogg's sixth studio album "Paid tha cost to be tha boss" on the song "Ballin'" produced by Battlecat.Citation needed|date=March 2010 The group continues to tour and presently consists of 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 concert|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 2003 documentary '' 8 Wheels & Some Soul Brotha' Music , in the 2005 documentary Sunday Driver , as well as the film|movies , Wattstax and Darktown Strutters , and the 2007 Petey Greene biopic , Talk To Me (2007 film)|Talk To Me .
A Dramatic Christmas: The Very Best Christmas of All
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Fantasy
1999
If You Come Back to Me
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Volt (Stax)
2002
Look Inside
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BBEG
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified
A Credited to Ron Banks & the Dramatics.
Live albums
Year
Album
Chart positions
Record label
US
US R& B
1988
Live
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Stax Records
2002
Greatest Hits Live
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Compilation albums
Year
Album
Chart positions
Record label
US
US R& B
1974
The Best of the Dramatics
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Stax Records
1998
Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs
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Hip-O Records
Shake It Well: The Best of the Dramatics 1974-1980
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MCA Records
1999
Say the Word: Their Greatest Love Songs, Vol. 2
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Hip-O
2000
Ultimate Collection
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2005
The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dramatics
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2007
The Very Best of the Dramatics
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Stax Records
"& mdash;" denotes the album failed to chart
Singles
Year
Single
url=Allmusic
US
US R& B
1965
"Bingo"
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1966
"Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo"
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1967
"All Because of You"
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43
1968
"Toy Soldier"
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1969
"Your Love Was Strange"
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1971
" Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get "
9
3
"Get Up and Get Down"
78
16
1972
" In the Rain (song)
5
1
"Toast to the Fool"
67
18
1973
"Hey You& #33; Get Off My Mountain"
43
5
"Fell for You"
45
12
1974
"And I Panicked"
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49
"Choosing Up on You" (A-side)
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30
"Door to Your Heart" (B-side)
62
25
"Highway to Heaven" A
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"Don't Make Me No Promises" (A-side)
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63
1975
"Tune Up" (B-Side)
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74
" Me and Mrs. Jones " A
47
4
"Love Is Missing From Our Lives" (with The Dells )
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46
"(I'm Going by) The Stars in Your Eyes" A
81
22
"You're Fooling You"
87
10
1976
"Treat Me Like a Man"
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49
"Finger Fever"
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23
"Be My Girl"
53
3
1977
"I Can't Get Over You"
101
9
"Shake It Well"
76
4
1978
"Ocean of Thoughts and Dreams"
106
17
"Stop Your Weeping"
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22
"Do What You Want to Do"
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56
1979
"I Just Wanna Dance with You"
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35
"That's My Favorite Song"
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40
1980
"Welcome Back Home"
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9
"Be with the One You Love"
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79
"Get It"
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59
"You're the Best Thing in My Life"
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26
1982
"Live It Up"
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40
"Treat Me Right"
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62
1986
"Luv's Calling"
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"One Love Ago"
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61
"When Love Is Over"
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1988
" Born to Be Wild "
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" We Are the Champions " (with Thomas Hearns )
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1989
" Bridge Over Troubled Water (song)
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93
1990
"Ready 4 Love"
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1996
"Try Love Again"
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82
1997
"The Golden Horn"
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1998
"Saying Goodbye"
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"& mdash;" denotes the single failed to chart
A Credited to Ron Banks & the Dramatics.
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.thedramatics.net/ The Dramatics website
http://www.thedramaticsmusic.com/ The Dramatics Official Website
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4131
http://www.soulexpress.net/dramatics_discography.htm The complete Dramatics discography at Soul Express
http://www.soulandfunkmusic.com/artist/the_dramatics The Dramatics @ soulandfunkmusic.com
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Dramatics.html The Dramatics- A History In Pictures - from the Soulwalking U.K. Website
http://www.soulexpress.net/deep1_2012.htm Interviews with L.J. Reynolds and the new members, Ivery Bell and Donald Albert, at Soul Express
DEFAULTSORT:Dramatics, The Category:Musical groups established in 1962 Category:American soul musical groups Category:Musical groups from Detroit, Michigan Category:American vocal groups Category:Northern soul musicians
