The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Valerie Holiday, Freddi Poole, and Jessie Wagner. The group were particularly successful in the UK, achieving 13 Top 50 hit singles between 1974 and 1985.
The original members were Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. Porter and Turner were eventually replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott and then subsequently by Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday. The line-up from 1967 to 1976 was Pinkney, Valerie Holiday and Sheila Ferguson, who would go on to sing lead on most of the group's biggest hits. This line-up topped the US Hot 100 as featured vocalists on the MFSB single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" in 1974, and had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single "When Will I See You Again", which was a huge international hit, reaching the Top 5 in seven countries, including number two in the US and topping the UK Singles Chart. When Pinkney left the group in 1976, she was replaced by a returning Helen Scott. This line-up had four UK Top 20 hits, including "Woman in Love", which reached number three in 1979. Ferguson left for a solo career in 1986.
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Links to Peel[]
According to available tracklistings on this site, Peel played a track from the group on his show in 1972 via their single, 'There's So Much Love All Around Me' and also played a tune on his programme in 1990 via the 'The Classic Soul Years 1965' compilation album.
Shows Played[]
- 14 January 1972: Maybe (b-side of single There's So Much Love All Around Me) Mojo
- 1990
- 13 February 1990: Gee Baby (v/a 2xLP - The Classic Soul Years 1965) Connoisseur Collection