The Emotions

by Bill Dahl and Ron WynnA trio of sisters with a strong gospel base, the Emotions (based in Chicago) were one of the leading female R&B acts of the 70s. Lead singer Sheila Hutchinson and her sisters Wanda and Jeanette were only teenagers when they crashed the soul charts in 1969 with the engaging So I Can Love You, but they sang gospel as children and enjoyed secular fame locally before signing with Memphis-based Volt and working with producers Isaac Hayes and David Porter. When Stax folded in 1975, the group hooked up with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, an association that led to the number one pop/R&B hit Best of My Love in 1977.Two years after Best of My Love, Maurice White and the Emotions collaborated on Boogie Wonderland, which was both a number two R&B and number six pop hit. They issued three more albums on Whites ARC label from 1979 to 1981, but were unable to duplicate their earlier success. They moved to the Red label for the 1984 LP Sincerely, which included the single All Things Come in Time. They issued three other singles from the album, but none made much impact, though each one charted. They then signed with Motown, but issued only one album, If I Only Knew. Sheila Hutchinson was a featured vocalist on Garry Glenns Feels Good to Feel Good in 1987. Pam and Jeanette Hutchinson did background vocals on Helen Baylors gospel song Theres No Greater Love in 1990. Wanda Hutchinson and Jeanette sang on Earth, Wind & Fires Heritage in 1990.