The Dramatics
This R&B vocal group was formed in Detroit in 1964 as the Sensations. They changed their name to the Dramatics in 1965 and originally consisted of lead Larry Reed, Rob Davis, Elbert Wilkins, Robert Ellington, Larry Demps (b. 23 February 1949), and Ron Banks (b. 10 May 1951, Detroit, Michigan, USA). Ellington quickly dropped out and left a quintet. The Dramatics were a typical '60s stand-up vocal group, specializing in romantic ballads, but ably made the transition to the disco era in the late '70s with aggressive dance numbers. They made their debut on the charts with a minor R&B hit in 1967, All Because Of You, which like all their releases in the '60s was issued on a small Detroit label. Around 1968, Reed and Davis were replaced by William Wee Gee Howard and Willie Ford (b. 10 July 1950) respectively. 
The reshaped quintet's fortunes flourished when Detroit producers Don Davis and Tony Hestor took command of their career and got the group signed to Memphis based Stax, in 1971. US hits with the label included Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (R&B number 3 and pop number 9 , 1971), In The Rain (R&B number 1 and pop number 5 pop, 1972), and Hey You! Get Off My Mountain (R&B number 5 and pop Top 50, 1973). In 1973 Howard left to establish his solo career as Wee Gee, and new lead L.J. Reynolds (b. 1953, Saginaw, Michigan, USA), previously of Chocolate Syrup, was recruited by group leader Ron Banks, while Wilkins was replaced by Lenny Mayes. 
In 1974 the Dramatics left Stax, and the following year began an association with Los Angeles-based ABC while still recording in Detroit under Davis and Hestor. US hits at ABC included the ballad Me And Mrs. Jones (R&B number 4 and pop Top 50, 1975), Be My Girl (R&B number 3, 1976), and Shake It Well (R&B number 4, 1977). Switching to MCA in 1979, the group secured their last Top 10 hit with Welcome Back Home (R&B number 9, 1980). Shortly afterwards L.J. Reynolds left to establish a solo career, and in 1981 Craig Jones was recruited in his place, but in an age of self-contained groups the stand-up vocal group could not compete and disbanded in 1982 after Ron Banks left to start a solo career. The Dramatics were reunited in the late '80s for SOMEWHERE IN TIME where their grasp of superior soul remained as sure as ever.