MFSB
Mother, Father, Sister, Brother or MFSB (and there was a less flattering alternative), was the houseband employed by producers Gamble And Huff. Jesse James, Bobby Martin, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Earl Young, Roland Chambers and Karl Chambers came to prominence as the uncredited performers on The Horse, a hit for Cliff Nobles And Co.in 1968. As the James Boys, the septet replicated with a cash-in release, The Mule, and the unit also recorded under other names, including the Music Makers and Family. It was as the instrumental muscle behind the Philadelphia International stable and artists such as the O'Jays and Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes that the group garnered its reputation. TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia), the theme from television's SOUL TRAIN show, was a million-selling single in 1974, but later releases failed to match its exuberance and purpose. Undeniably rhythmic and undoubtedly competent, MFSB nonetheless lacked the focal point that the Three Degrees' voices provided on those early successes.