The Emotions

The Emotions are an all female soul, disco, and R&B singing group. The group was formed in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois in 1968, and originally consisted of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson

History

Origins and early years

Joseph had prayed for talented children before the girls were born, and wasted no time in developing their musical skills. As soon as the girls could talk, he began teaching them music skills, and had them practice in the basement of their home on the south side of Chicago. When Sheila, the youngest, was five years old, they began singing in church choirs and were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams. Joseph's son, Joseph, Jr. (born 1957) would eventually become the Sunbeams' guitarist.

In 1968, the girls changed their name to The Emotions, and released their first album, So I Can Love You, the following year. The album's title track, written by Sheila, was a minor hit single, as was "The Best Part Of A Love Affair".

Jeanette was married in 1970, and quit the act once she became pregnant with her first son, Chicha. She was replaced by a close friend, Theresa Davis, who was in turn replaced by another Hutchinson sister, Pamela. The following year, the Emotions released Untouched, their second album, which featured hits such as "Show Me How" and "If You Think It". During their Stax years, they were produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter

. By 1976 and the Flowers album, they had left Stax and Jeanette had returned to the act. Flowers included the hits "Flowers" and "I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love".

Success with Earth, Wind & Fire

Their association with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire brought them their greatest success. With White's assistance, the Emotions released the albums Rejoice and Sunbeam in 1977 and 1978. The White-produced single "Best Of My Love" spent five weeks at number-one on the US pop chart in 1977. Jeanette left the act for the second time in 1977, to give birth to her second child, Pili, whose father is Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire.

In 1978, Jeanette returned to the act, and the group collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire on another single, "Boogie Wonderland", which was a top 10 hit in 1979. The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records at one point. However, they were not able to repeat the success they had during the disco period.

The Emotions today

The Emotions, today composed of Wanda, Pamela, and Sheila Hutchinson, released their final album in 1996. They continue to perform and make personal appearances. Wanda, now married, resides in Glendale, California and has three daughters, two of whom plan to enter the music industry themselves. Pamela lives in Hollywood, California with her husband and daughter. Sheila still resides in Chicago, where she takes care of her mother Lillian, her youngest sister Keena, and Keena’s daughter (Joseph Hutchinson died in 1985).

The Emotions influence

The Emotions' 1972 Stax track "Blind Alley" formed the basis for Mariah Carey's 1993 Billboard chart-topping hit "Dreamlover" and also the famous "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag" by LL Cool J. Carey continued to show her love with the 1991 hit "Emotions", which samples "Best of My Love". "Blind Alley" was previously sampled in 1988 for Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin'". The Cheryl Lynn hit "Got To Be Real" is based on the bridge of "Best of My Love". Late 1970s family trio, The Jones Girls, was also influenced by the Emotions' sound.

Discography

Albums

1970: So I Can Love You (Stax) - US R&B #45
1972: Untouched (Stax)
1973: Songs of Innocence & Experience (Stax) UK released 2004
1976: Flowers (Columbia) - US Pop #45, US R&B #5
1977: Rejoice (Columbia) - US Pop #7, US R&B #1
1977: Sunshine (Stax) - US Pop #88, US R&B #39
1978: Sunbeam (Columbia) - US Pop #40, US R&B #12
1979: Come Into Our World (Columbia) - US Pop #96, US R&B #35
1981: New Affair (Columbia) - US Pop 168, US R&B #46
1984: Sincerely (Red Label)
1985: If I Only Knew (Motown) - US R&B #54
1996: ''Live in '96 (Sunbeam Records)
2007: Emotional Memory (Independent Label)

Compilations

1979: Chronicle Greatest Hits (Stax)
1996: Best Of My Love: The Best Of The Emotions (Columbia) - US R&B #77
2004: Songs of Innocence and Experience ...And Then Some! (UK Stax/Ace)

Signed Music Artists