Major Harris

by Andrew HamiltonAfter years of trying, Major Harris finally scored a big hit with the romantic, sensual Love Wont Let Me Wait in the summer of 1975. The ballad, with sexy backing vocals supplied by session singer Barbara Ingram, made its mark at number five on the pop charts while topping the R&B chart. He was born into a musical family on February 9, 1947, in Richmond, VA, as Major Harris III. His grandparents worked in vaudeville, his father was a professional guitarist, and his mom led the church choirs. His brother is Joe Jefferson, a Philadelphia songwriter whos responsible for many of the Spinners hits like Mighty Love, Love Dont Love Nobody, and One of a Kind Love Affair. His cousin is longtime Philly stalwart Norman Harris, a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and former record company owner. Harris paid major dues: he sang with the Charmers, was briefly a member of Frankie Lymons Teenagers, recorded with the Jarmels, issued solo singles on Laurie and Okeh Records, and later sang with Nat Turners Rebellion on Philly Grove Records. None of his previous efforts brought him fame or success. He recorded with the Jarmels after they hit with A Little Bit of Soap. Harris first big break came when he joined the Delfonics, replacing Randy Cain; his first tour of duty with them ended in 1974 when he went solo. While with the group his mellow tenor was featured on quite a few recordings as a foil to lead William Pookie Harris soulful falsetto, as is evident on Think It Over Baby, Lying to Myself, and I Told You So. Having left the Delfonics, he passed a solo audition for W.M.O.T. (We Men of Talent) productions and was signed as a solo act. An album was produced and released on Atlantic Records. The first release, Each Day I Wake Up, was credited as being by the Major Harris Boogie Blues Band. When Atlantic later sprung Love Wont Let Me Wait on the public, the seductive ballad achieved a million in sales and became the high mark of Harris career. It was recorded in a darkened Sigma Sound Studio with only a small light at Harris lyric stand: Barbara Ingram, Carla Benton, and Yvette Benson supplied the backing vocals. M.F.S.B. played on the tracks with that distinctive, prevalent guitar supplied by Bobby Eli, who also produced the session and wrote the song with Gwendolyn Woolfolk (under her pen name of Vinnie Barrett). Subsequent ballads by Harris fared well on the charts for a while, but when the hits dried up Harris went back to the Delfonics. As a solo act he was featured on an excellent live recording with Blue Magic and Margie Joseph, which showed that he was an even better entertainer than recording artist. He now tours with one of the two groups called the Delfonics; his version features original members William Hart and Randy Cain. (The other group includes William Harts brother, Wilbert (an original member), and two new guys.)