Wikipedia

The Hues Corporation

Not to be confused with Howard Hughes Corporation.

The Hues Corporation was an American pop and soul trio, formed in Santa Monica, California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 single "Rock the Boat", which sold over 2 million copies, hit number one, and helped establish disco as a sound.[1]

The Hues Corporation
The Hues Corporation in 1970: Karl Russell, H. Ann Kelley and St. Clair Lee (left to right)
The Hues Corporation in 1970: Karl Russell, H. Ann Kelley and St. Clair Lee (left to right)
Background information
OriginSanta Monica, California, United States
GenresPop, soul, disco, R&B
Years active1969–ca. 1980
(reunited in the 1990s)
LabelsRCA, Warner Bros.
Past membersSt. Clair Lee
Fleming Williams
Hubert Ann Kelley
Tommy Brown
Karl Russell
Kenny James

Group name and background

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Before achieving mainstream success they were the opening act for a list of headliners that included Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell. The original band had a lineup of three singers and three sidemen. The sidemen were Joey Rivera from the Checkmates; Monti Lawston; and Bob "Bullet" Bailey, formerly of the Leaves. Bailey, Rivera, and Lawston left the band to form Goodstuff.

The group's name was a pun on the Howard Hughes Corporation, with the 'hue' (a synonym of 'color'). The band's members at the time of their first album were St. Clair Lee (born Bernard St. Clair Lee, April 24, 1944, San Francisco, California; died March 8, 2011), Fleming Williams (born December 26, 1943, Flint, Michigan; died February 15, 1998)[2] and Hubert Ann Kelley (born April 24, 1947, Fairfield, Alabama).[3] The original choice for the group's name was The Children of Howard Hughes, which their record label turned down.

Career

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The group was formed in 1969.[4] Songwriter Wally Holmes founded the group with his friend Bernard St. Clair Lee. Female singer H. Ann Kelley was found at a talent show in Los Angeles. As a result of notices placed in southern California record stores, Karl Russell turned up.[5] They recorded a single "Goodfootin'" / "We're Keepin' Our Business" that was released by Liberty Records in 1970. It did not chart.[4][6]

Still with Karl Russell, the group's first big break came in 1972, when they were invited to appear in the blaxploitation film, Blacula, starring William Marshall. They were also asked to record three songs for the film's soundtrack: "There He Is Again", "What the World Knows", and "I'm Gonna Catch You". After their participation in the Blacula-project Karl Russell was replaced by Fleming Williams and the group signed with RCA Records; their second single for the label, "Freedom for the Stallion", from the album of the same name, became a moderate hit, reaching #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The third single from the album, "Rock the Boat", became a #1 hit on the Billboard chart and the group's signature song. The bass player on the session for "Rock the Boat" was Wilton Felder, not James Jamerson as previously reported. "Rock the Boat" was written by Holmes, who also wrote the Blacula songs, and was released in the U.S. in February 1974 and in the UK in July of that year.[7] It went to #1 for one week in the U.S. and #6 for two weeks in the UK, staying for 18 weeks in the U.S. chart with a gold disc awarded by the RIAA on 24 June 1974.[7] The track sold well over two million copies.[7] The song is considered one of the earliest disco songs. Some authorities proclaim it to be the first disco song to hit #1, while others give that distinction to "Love's Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a chart-topper from earlier in 1974.

After the success of "Rock the Boat", the Hues Corporation's other charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100 included "Rockin' Soul" (1974, #18), "Love Corporation" (1975, #62), and "I Caught Your Act" (1977, #92).

The group was unable to duplicate the success of their earlier hits and disbanded sometime around 1980. Whereas some sources claim the year of disbanding as early as 1978, archive footage of a television special for the Chilean TV in 1979 promoting their performance at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival proves the opposite. Furthermore, in 1980 the Hues Corporation released one last single in the US and a sixth album in at least New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa. With the renewed popularity of disco music in the 1990s, the group reunited for tour dates and special events, including the PBS special Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion.

Group members

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Karl Russell was replaced by Fleming Williams who sang the male lead part on "Rock the Boat". Williams left not long after its recording.[8]

Williams was initially replaced by Tommy Brown.[5] In an interview with Gary James, St. Clair Lee said that after some time Williams was brought back into the group and in turn replaced Tommy Brown.[9]

Around 1975, Karl Russell rejoined the band taking over the role of lead singer after Fleming Williams had left for good.[10][9]

Around 1979, Kenny James took over as lead singer from Karl Russell.[11] James can be seen in the Chilean TV-footage from 1979 promoting their performance at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival and is also shown on the cover of the group's last album Boogie Me, Move Me from 1980.

Hubert Ann Kelley later left the group to become a minister.[12][13]

In later years, circa the 1990s St. Clair Lee revived the group and recruited Bruce Glover and Elaine Woodard as the new members.[10][12]

Fleming Wiliams died in the 1990s. Many sources claim the date of his death was September 1992,[14] but other sources claim he died in February 1998.[2] According to the Social Security Death Index, Fleming Williams died on February 15, 1998.[15] His death has been attributed to a "long illness", although many others have also alluded to a long struggle with drugs.[2][16] According to The New McCree Theatre in Williams' home town Flint, which in 2011 put on the play "Rock The Boat: The Fleming Williams Story" co-written by Williams' mother, Fleming Williams actually committed suicide in 1998.[17]

Founding member St. Clair Lee died on March 8, 2011, in Lake Elsinore, California. He is said to have died from natural causes at the age of 66, as written in the Los Angeles Times obituaries in March. He was survived by his mother, sons, and sister.[18]

Original member Hubert Ann Kelley died in Los Angeles on July 20, 2023, at the age of 76.[19]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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Year Album Label Peak chart positions
US
[20] 		US R&B
[21] 		CAN
[22]
1973 Freedom for the Stallion RCA Victor 20 59 10
1974 Rockin' Soul 147 40 —
1975 Love Corporation — — —
1977 I Caught Your Act[A] Warner Bros. — — —
1978 Your Place or Mine — — —
1980 Boogie Me, Move Me[B] — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

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  • Best of the Hues Corporation – RCA Victor (1977)
  • Rock the Boat – Collectables (1991)
  • Rock the Boat – The Best of the Hues Corporation – RCA (1993)
  • The Masters – Eagle (1997)
  • The Very Best of the Hues Corporation – Camden (1998)

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[23] 		BE (FLA)
[24] 		BE (WA)
[25] 		CAN CAN AC GER
[26] 		IRE
[27] 		NL
[28] 		NZ
[29][30] 		UK
[31] 		US
[32] 		US AC
[33] 		US R&B
[34]
1970 "Goodfootin'" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1972 "There He Is Again" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1973 "Freedom for the Stallion" — — — 86 16 — — — — — 63 9 —
"Miracle Maker (Sweet Soul Shaker)" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1974 "Rock the Boat" 18 6 2 1 1 7 9 4 8 6 1 12 2
"Rockin' Soul" 71 22 — 33 40 32 — 9 — 24 18 — 6
1975 "Love Corporation" — — 31 79 — — — 26 39 55[C] 62 — 15
"I'll Take a Melody" — — — — — — — — — 54[C] — — —
"One Good Night Together" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"You Showed Me What Love Is" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1977 "I Caught Your Act" — — — — — — — — 6 — 92 — 61
"Telegram of Love" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1978 "Give Me Everything" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"With All My Love and Affection" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1980 "Something in Return" — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Boogie Me, Move Me" (New Zealand-only release) — — — — — — — — — — — — —
1982 "Sugar Town" (Japan-only release) — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Released outside the US with different cover artwork as Not Too Shabby on RCA Victor.
  2. ^ Released with different cover artwork in Argentina (as Bailemos El Boogie).
  3. ^ a b Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".

References

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  1. ^ Ron Wynn. "Hues Corporation - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Fleming Williams". DiscoMusic.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "More Hues Corporation info". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Hoffmann, Frank W. (2005). Rhythm and Blues, Rap, and Hip-hop. Infobase Publishing. p. 127. ISBN 9780816069804.
  5. ^ a b "Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation RCA 0232 July 1974". Super Seventies RockSite.
  6. ^ "Promo Northern Soul 45 HUES CORPORATION "Goodfootin' " Liberty HEAR". Popsike.
  7. ^ a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 345. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  8. ^ "Fleming Williams Born: 12-26-1943 Died: 2-15-1998 (undisclosed)". Disco Museum. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Gary James' Interview With St. Clair Lee of The Hues Corporation". classicbands.com.
  10. ^ a b "The Hues Corporation – "Rock the Boat"". Mental Itch. January 19, 2015.
  11. ^ "Kenny James, Internationally Acclaimed Singer and Dancer". entertalkradio.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Perrone, Pierre (June 13, 2011). "St Clair Lee: Baritone singer with The Hues Corporation, of 'Rock The Boat' fame". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Hues Corporation Page". Soulwalking.
  14. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 - 1993". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  16. ^ Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions. "Interview With The Hues Corporation". Classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  17. ^ McCree revives story of hit-maker Fleming Williams. mlive.com. Retrieved 11 Juli 2018.
  18. ^ Noland, Claire (March 9, 2011). "Bernard St. Clair Lee, who sang 'Rock the Boat' with Hues Corporation, dies at 66". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  19. ^ "Hubert Ann Kelley, original member of The Hues Corporation, passed away on July 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California". Natty Records. September 14, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "The Hues Corporation". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "The Hues Corporation". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  22. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  24. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  28. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  30. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  31. ^ "HUES CORPORATION | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  32. ^ "The Hues Corporation". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "The Hues Corporation". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  34. ^ "The Hues Corporation". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  35. ^ "Hues Corporation - Rock the Boat". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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