The Emotions

Biography

The Emotions are an American female vocal group from Chicago, Illinois, who achieved mainstream success during the 1970s. The original lineup comprised sisters Wanda Hutchinson, Sheila Hutchinson, and Jeanette Hutchinson. The group debuted on Volt Records with the release of their top-ten R&B single "So I Can Love You×So I Can Love You1970 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1So I Can Love You2:53A2Somebody Wants What I Got3:13A3Going on Strike2:40A4I Found My Man2:42A5Got to Be the Man2:48B1The Best Part of a Love Affair3:33B2I Like It2:31B3My Letter3:47B4Day Dreams3:20B5It’s Not Fair3:19B6Two Lovers3:06" in 1968. Following the decline of Volt Records and its parent company, Stax Records, the group transitioned to Columbia Records in 1975.
During the mid-1970s, the Emotions achieved mainstream success with Wanda and Sheila as lead singers and Maurice White as their production team. The group achieved their first gold-selling album with Flowers×Flowers1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love4:03A2Me for You4:18A3You've Got the Right to Know2:36A4We Go Through Changes0:57A5Special Part3:53B1No Plans for Tomorrow3:42B2How Can You Stop Loving Someone4:18B3Flowers4:24B4God Will Take Care of You0:47 in 1976. The following year, they released their album Rejoice×Rejoice1977 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Best of My Love3:42A2A Feeling Is3:36A3A Long Way to Go3:49A4Key to My Heart5:21A5Love's What's Happenin'3:19B1How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away4:42B2Don't Ask My Neighbors4:27B3Blessed4:38B4Rejoice5:21 to platinum-selling success. The album's single, "Best of My Love×Best of My LoveMay 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABest of My Love3:40BA Feeling Is3:35", peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and earned them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus.
Throughout the group's history, the lineup continued to change with later members Theresa Davis, Pamela Hutchinson, and Adrianne Harris. VH1 listed the group as one of the 18 Most Influential Girl Groups of All Time. Their single "Best of My Love" was listed atop Billboard's Most Successful Girl Group Songs of All-Time list.

1957–1968: Early beginnings and The Hutchinson Sunbeams

The group originally formed as the Hutchinson Sunbeams in 1957, comprising Joe Hutchinson and his daughters Sheila Hutchinson, Wanda Hutchinson, and Jeanette Hutchinson. Based in Chicago, Illinois, they performed gospel songs at local churches and eventually became the opening act for American singer Mahalia Jackson. In 1958, they made their first televised appearance, on The Jerry Van Dyke Show. Over the early years of their career, The Hutchinson Sunbeams went through several name changes, becoming The Sunbeams, The Heavenly Sunbeams, Hutch Stereo's, and Three Ribbons and a Beau.
After graduating from Parker High School, the group moved forward as a trio with their father instead managing the group. While performing in a talent contest at the Regal Theatre in Chicago in 1968, the group secured a recording deal with Stax Records, although some reports state that Pervis Staples brought the group to Stax Records. Upon signing with Stax's subsidiary label Volt Records, the group adopted the name The Emotions.

1969–1974: Career breakthrough and lineup changes

In 1969, The Emotions released their debut album titled So I Can Love You×So I Can Love You1970 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1So I Can Love You2:53A2Somebody Wants What I Got3:13A3Going on Strike2:40A4I Found My Man2:42A5Got to Be the Man2:48B1The Best Part of a Love Affair3:33B2I Like It2:31B3My Letter3:47B4Day Dreams3:20B5It’s Not Fair3:19B6Two Lovers3:06 on Stax, which peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot R&B LP's chart. The album's lead single and title-track "So I Can Love You," written by Sheila, was their first major hit, peaking at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The album's second single, "The Best Part of a Love Affair," achieved moderate success by peaking at number 27 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The group began releasing non-album singles: "Stealing Love", "When Tomorrow Comes," and "Heart Association," all of which peaked in the Top 40 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. In 1970, Jeanette departed from the group to focus on her marriage and family. She was replaced by her friend Theresa Davis. In 1971, The Emotions released their second album, Untouched×Untouched1972 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Take Me Back3:26A2Nothing Seems Impossible3:07A3Boss Love Maker3:25A4It’s Been Fun3:05A5Love Ain’t Easy Onesided2:50B1Blind Alley3:07B2Show Me How3:22B3If You Think It (You May as Well Do It)3:07B4Love Is the Hardest Thing to Find2:46B5Tricks Are Made for Kids3:47B6Boy, I Need You2:57. The album's single, "Show Me How", became another successful hit, peaking at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 on the Soul Singles chart. In 1972, they released more singles: "My Honey and Me", "I Could Never Be Happy", and "From Toys to Boys"; all of which peaked in the Top 40 of the Soul Singles chart.
The Emotions perform the gospel song "Peace Be Still" from the pulpit of the Friendly Will Baptist Church in Watts in a sequence shot several weeks after the Wattstax concert in 1973. The group recorded an album titled Songs of Innocence and Experience to be released in 1973, but the album was shelved when Stax Records became financially unstable. Despite this, they continued to release more singles in 1973, including "Runnin' Back (and Forth)×Runnin' Back (And Forth)1973 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARunnin' Back (And Forth)2:31BI Wanna Come Back3:23", "Peace Be Still", and "What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas×What Do the Lonely Do at ChristmasDecember 1973 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWhat Do the Lonely Do at Christmas3:24BWhat Do the Lonely Do at Christmas (instrumental version)3:18". In 1974, they found minor success with the release of the single "Put a Little Love Away×Put a Little Love Away1974 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Put a Little Love Away3:102I Call This Loving You3:05", which peaked at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 53 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. By 1975, Stax Records became defunct, and the Emotions briefly disbanded.

1975–1982: Columbia Records and subsequent releases

Through an association with Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, the group signed with Columbia Records in November 1975. White worked with the group on their third album, Flowers×Flowers1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love4:03A2Me for You4:18A3You've Got the Right to Know2:36A4We Go Through Changes0:57A5Special Part3:53B1No Plans for Tomorrow3:42B2How Can You Stop Loving Someone4:18B3Flowers4:24B4God Will Take Care of You0:47, which saw the return of Jeanette and was released in June 1976. Flowers marked their first entry on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 45, and their first time charting within the top ten of Soul LP's chart, peaking at number 5. While the album's lead single and title-track "Flowers" became a minor hit in the United States, it became a popular hit in New Zealand, peaking at number two on the New Zealand Top 40 Singles chart and earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). The album's second single, "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love", peaked at number 13 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and number 4 on the Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart, marking their first entry on the chart. By January 1977, the album Flowers earned a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 500,000 copies within the United States. In the same year, Jeanette withdrew from public performances with the group, only appearing on the recording of their albums. Her role was filled by her younger sister, Pamela Hutchinson, for concert tours and televised performances.
Wanting to capitalize off of their success, The Emotions began working with Maurice White again on their fourth album, titled Rejoice×Rejoice1977 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Best of My Love3:42A2A Feeling Is3:36A3A Long Way to Go3:49A4Key to My Heart5:21A5Love's What's Happenin'3:19B1How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away4:42B2Don't Ask My Neighbors4:27B3Blessed4:38B4Rejoice5:21. Released in June 1977, Rejoice, peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and atop of the Soul LP's chart. The album's lead single, "Best of My Love×Best of My LoveMay 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABest of My Love3:40BA Feeling Is3:35", became their first song to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles chart. "Best of My Love" was certified platinum by the RIAA. The song also earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group, or Chorus at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. "Don't Ask My Neighbors" was issued as the second single and also became successful, peaking at number seven on the Hot Soul Singles chart. In November 1977, Fantasy Records (using the newly-acquired Stax Records name imprint) released Sunshine, a compilation album of previously recorded songs and singles during The Emotions' duration on Stax/Volt Records. The album spawned a single titled "Shouting Out Love" which reached number 31 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
In April 1978, The Emotions released their fifth album Sunbeam×Sunbeam11 July 1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Smile3:16A2Love Is Right On4:20A3Time Is Passing By3:20A4Walking the Line4:30A5Ain't No Doubt About It3:27B1Love Vibes3:14B2I Wouldn't Lie4:34B3My Everything3:44B4Spirit of Summer2:24B5Whole Lot of Shakin'3:19B6Music Box0:44, which rose to number 12 on the Top Soul Albums chart and number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album received gold certication in the US by the RIAA. "Smile", the album's lead single, reached number six on the Hot Soul Songs chart. Continuing their music relationship with Maurice White, the group collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire on the song "Boogie Wonderland". The song became their second top-ten international hit, and was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). "Boogie Wonderland" received a nomination for Best Disco Recording at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1980. Hoping to capitalize off of the success of "Boogie Wonderland," the group wanted to include the song on their sixth studio album, Come into Our World×Come Into Our World16 November 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1What’s the Name of Your Love?3:44A2Cause I Love You3:40A3Come Into My World4:40A4On & On4:02B1I Should Be Dancing4:16B2Where Is Your Love?3:57B3The Movie4:10B4Layed Back3:08B5Yes, I Am4:04, released in October 1979 on Maurice White's ARC Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. "Boogie Wonderland," however, was not included on their album, and The Emotions later filed a lawsuit against the group for unpaid royalties. The album, Come into Our World, was not a commercial success and failed to produce any major hits as the single "What's the Name of Your Love?" stalled at number 30 on the Hot R&B Songs chart. The group recorded another album called New Affair×New Affair28 August 1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1All Night, Alright4:30A2Love Lies3:51A3Now That I Know4:06A4There’ll Never Be Another Moment4:36B1Turn It Out5:04B2New Affair3:13B3Here You Come Again4:13B4When You Gonna Wake Up3:51, released in 1981 on ARC Records. With the ARC label defunct in 1981 and the decline in disco music, the group's mainstream success began to fade. By 1982, the group was released from Columbia Records.

1983–1990: Label changes

In 1983, Wanda and Jeanette went on to appear on Jennifer Holliday's album Feel My Soul, while Wanda and Pamela were featured on Earth, Wind & Fire's album Electric Universe. In 1984, The Emotions reformed with the lineup of Wanda, Sheila, and Pamela. They released their eighth studio album titled Sincerely×Sincerely1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11All Things Come in Time5:262Are You Through with My Heart3:533You're the One4:004Can't Blow out the Candle3:575Sincerely4:16Disc 21You're the Best6:202You Know I'm the One5:013Never Let Another3:414I Can Do Anything5:38, on behalf of the newly formed Chicago-based Red Label Records. Although the album peaked higher than its two predecessors on the Top R&B Albums chart (then called the Top Black Albums chart), it produced minor charting singles: "You're the One", "You're the Best", and "Are You Through with My Heart?".
In 1985, Pamela departed from The Emotions as the group signed with Motown Records. She was replaced by Adrianne Harris, and The Emotions released their ninth studio album, If I Only Knew×If I Only Knew1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Supernatural4:352The Good Times4:203Miss Your Love5:074If I Only Knew (What I Know Now)4:295Just a Girl in Love4:246Shine Your Love on Me5:517Giving You All I Got4:238Closer to You4:109Eternally4:43, in January 1985. Their contract with Motown was short-lived when the album produced no charting singles. The Emotions went on to perform background vocals on Tyler Collins' "Whatcha Gonna Do" for her album Girls Nite Out (1989). Jeanette and Wanda performed background vocals on Earth, Wind & Fire's album Heritage (1990). In the same year, The Emotions also performed background vocals on Nancy Wilson's album A Lady with a Song (1990).

1996–1997: Bigger than Bubblegum

In 1996, The Emotions (Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette) released a live album titled Live In '96 on their own record label, Sunbeam×Sunbeam11 July 1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Smile3:16A2Love Is Right On4:20A3Time Is Passing By3:20A4Walking the Line4:30A5Ain't No Doubt About It3:27B1Love Vibes3:14B2I Wouldn't Lie4:34B3My Everything3:44B4Spirit of Summer2:24B5Whole Lot of Shakin'3:19B6Music Box0:44 Records. In May 1997, the group starred in the stage production titled Bigger than Bubblegum, a musical based on the lives of The Emotions. Bigger than Bubblegum opened at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California on May 18, 1997.

1998–present: Recent activities

In 1998, they featured on an episode of Motown Live with fellow girl group Divine and made a guest appearance on Smokey Robinson's album Intimate (1999). In 2000, Pamela rejoined the group as Jeanette departed. The Emotions went on to guest on Earth, Wind & Fire's 2003 album The Promise, which was produced by Maurice White. A song from the album featuring The Emotions called "All in the Way" rose to No. 13 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. As well, the group appeared on a 2004 PBS soul music special hosted by Patti LaBelle, where they performed "Best of My Love×Best of My LoveMay 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABest of My Love3:40BA Feeling Is3:35". Within September of that year, Songs of Innocence and Experience was released by Stax Records. The Emotions went on to collaborate with rapper Snoop Dogg on a track called "Life" for his album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006).
In 2009, Sheila departed from the group, and Wanda's daughter Wyann Vaughn was added to the lineup. In 2014, Wanda, Sheila, Pamela, and Theresa appeared in a featured episode of the music documentary program Unsung; chronicling the group's history of success and hardships. In July 2016, Jeanette (now known as Jeanette Marie Hawes) released her first solo album, No Regrets. On September 18, 2020, Pamela Hutchinson died at the age of 61 after battling to health challenges for several years. Following Pamela's death, Wanda's daughter Wendi Vaughn was added to the lineup. In 2022, Crystal Wilson (mother of singer Shanice) was briefly added to the lineup, replacing Wendi Vaughn until 2024.

Legacy

The Emotions have sold more than 5 million records worldwide. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 Most Influential Girl Groups of All Time. The Emotions won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1978 and were nominated for Best Disco Recording in 1980. They were also nominated twice at the American Music Awards, winning the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Song for "Best of My Love×Best of My LoveMay 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABest of My Love3:40BA Feeling Is3:35" in 1978 and then receiving a nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group in 1979. On November 8, 2001, they became the honorary recipient of the Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In March 2015, "Best of My Love" was listed atop Billboard's Most Successful Girl Group Songs of All-Time list. In 2025, Billboard ranked the single "Best of My Love" at number 9 on their list of Top 50 Love Songs of All Time. On September 4, 2025, The Emotions were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Project Love Chicago.
The Emotions has been cited as a musical influence or source of inspiration by numerous musical acts, such as En Vogue, Destiny's Child, Anita Baker, Shanice, Regina Belle, Lalah Hathaway, Jade, Erykah Badu, Kirk Whalum, Sheena Easton, Teena Marie and Fantasia. The Emotions have been sampled by rappers such as Big Daddy Kane, Tupac Shakur, LL Cool J, Wu Tang Clan, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Salt-N-Pepa, De La Soul, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest and The Notorious B.I.G. Artists such as Toni Braxton, 112, Mariah Carey, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Mary J. Blige, Ginuwine, Keyshia Cole, Tamia, and Janet Jackson have also sampled the girl group.