The Whispers

Biography

The Whispers are an American vocal group from Fresno, California. Scoring hit records since the late 1960s, they are best known for their two number-one R&B singles, "And the Beat Goes On×And the Beat Goes On1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAnd the Beat Goes On7:30BCan You Do the Boogie6:07" in 1979 and "Rock Steady×Rock Steady1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksARock Steady5:10B1Rock Steady (instrumental)5:08B2Are You Going My Way5:08" in 1987. The Whispers scored 15 top-ten R&B singles, and 8 top-ten R&B albums with two of them, The Whispers and Love Is Where You Find It×Love Is Where You Find It4 December 1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1In the Raw5:53A2Turn Me Out5:53A3Cruisin' In3:01A4Emergency4:18B1Say Yes5:14B2Love Is Where You Find It5:22B3Only You4:28B4Small Talkin'4:02, reaching the No. 1 spot. They have earned two platinum and five gold albums by the RIAA.

Career

The Whispers formed in 1963 in Watts, California. Original members included identical twin brothers Wallace "Scotty" and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell. After being invited to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1966 by Sly Stone, the group relocated to that area where they began developing a reputation as a show-stopping live act. Walter Scott was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War during that period for eighteen months, returning to the group in 1969 after discharge. After Harmon injured his larynx in a driving accident in 1973, he was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree.
After a series of singles on Los Angeles-based label Dore, the group signed to small L.A. label Soul Clock, run by producer Ron Carson, who was responsible for their breakthrough hit "Seems Like I Got to Do Wrong" in 1970. Moving to the larger New York-based Janus label, they continued to be produced by Carson, before he sold all of his master recordings to Janus, with the group then recording mainly in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s.
In 1978, the group signed to Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records. They hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1979-80 with "And the Beat Goes On×And the Beat Goes On1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAnd the Beat Goes On7:30BCan You Do the Boogie6:07"/"Can You Do the Boogie"/"Out the Box". In the UK, "And the Beat Goes On" peaked at No. 2 and "It's a Love Thing×It's a Love Thing21 February 2000 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1It's a Love Thing3:482And the Beat Goes On3:243One for the Money5:134My Girl3:375Contagious3:596Some Kinda Lover4:007I Can Make It Better3:528(Let's Go) All the Way4:509(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out4:0610This Kind of Loving4:5511In the Raw5:5012Tonight4:0613Keep on Lovin' Me5:4514Rock Steady4:4715Special F/X5:0616Lady5:03" became their second top 10 in 1981 peaking at No. 9. In 1987, their song "Rock Steady×Rock Steady1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksARock Steady5:10B1Rock Steady (instrumental)5:08B2Are You Going My Way5:08" reached No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 10 on the US Cash Box Top 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
The Whispers later established their own production company, Satin Tie Productions, through which they released their independent 2006 album For Your Ears Only×For Your Ears Only2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Get It On4:542Don't Say No5:073Butta5:404Love Won't Let Me Wait5:255Love Strokin5:256Hold On5:137Livin It Up4:448Love4:309Can I Get Next to You4:2610Diamonds4:3911It's You5:0612For Your Ears Only4:5413I Sing This Song for You4:0814The Whispers Love You Too4:21.
The group opened Game 2 of the 1989 World Series at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum with their rendition of the National Anthem.
Marcus Hutson left the group in 1992 due to prostate cancer. According to the Whispers' website, when Hutson succumbed to it on May 23, 2000, they vowed to never replace him, and started performing as a quartet.
Jerry McNeil resigned from his position as the keyboardist in the latter part of 1993 in order to spend more time with his family.
In 2014, the Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
The Philadelphia soul songwriter team of Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Bunny Sigler, and Ronnie Baker provided several of the Whispers' songs, including "A Mother for My Children" and "Bingo×Bingo1974 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1A Mother for My Children3:15A2Someone's Waiting3:37A3Will You Be Mine3:37A4Little Red Riding Hood3:40A5Bingo5:19B1Once More With Feeling3:22B2God Gave Me Everything3:56B3Where There Is Love3:53B4What More Can a Girl Ask For3:40B5Don't Take Your Love3:00B6Broken Home3:28."
Nicholas Caldwell died of congestive heart failure at his San Francisco home on January 5, 2016, at the age of 71.
Founding member Gordy Harmon died at his home in Los Angeles on January 5, 2023, at the age of 79.
Founding member Walter Scott died after a brief illness on June 26, 2025, at the age of 81, leaving Wallace Scott as the last surviving original member.

Awards and recognition

March 18, 1980 – RIAA Gold Record for the single "And the Beat Goes On×And the Beat Goes On1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAnd the Beat Goes On7:30BCan You Do the Boogie6:07".
March 18, 1980 – The Whispers earned RIAA Gold & Platinum status for their album, "The Whispers".
March 12, 1981 – The Whispers earned a RIAA Gold Album for their recording of "Imagination×Imagination15 December 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Imagination6:15A2It’s a Love Thing5:10A3Say You (Would Love for Me Too)5:03A4Continental Shuffle4:35B1I Can Make It Better7:14B2Girl I Need You4:19B3Up on Soul Train4:51B4Fantasy4:21".
November 9, 1982 – The album "Love Is Where You Find It×Love Is Where You Find It4 December 1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1In the Raw5:53A2Turn Me Out5:53A3Cruisin' In3:01A4Emergency4:18B1Say Yes5:14B2Love Is Where You Find It5:22B3Only You4:28B4Small Talkin'4:02" became their third RIAA Gold Album.
July 20, 1987 – The Whispers received a RIAA Gold Album for their recording of, "Just Gets Better with Time×Just Gets Better With Time9 April 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1I Want You5:452Special F/X5:123Rock Steady4:514No Pain, No Gain4:125In the Mood4:486Just Gets Better With Time4:327Love’s Calling4:578Give It to Me5:219And the Beat Goes On6:36".
February 9, 1988 – The Whispers received a RIAA Platinum Album for their recording of "Just Gets Better with Time".
May 24, 1991 – The Whispers received a RIAA Gold Album for their recording of "More of the Night×More of the Night1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1More of the Night6:032My Heart Your Heart5:193Mind Blowing4:564Don't Be Late for Love5:125You Are the One5:266Is It Good to You6:177Innocent5:168Girl Don't Make Me Wait4:279Misunderstanding5:4910Forever Lover4:4911Babes4:1512I Want 2B the 1 4U4:0613Help Them See the Light5:2514Innocent (Heat of the Heat edit)4:38".
2002 – The Whispers were honored with an NAACP Image Award.
2003 – The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
2005 – The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter.
2007 – The Whispers were presented with an American Black Music Award in Las Vegas.
2008 – The Whispers were winners of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award.
2012 – Soul Music Hall Of Fame Award.
2013 – Presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for their 50 years in the Music Industry on the Soul Train Cruise.
2014 – The Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

Current members

Wallace "Scotty" Scott (born September 23, 1943 , Fort Worth, Texas) (1963–present)
Leaveil Degree (born July 31, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana) (1973–present)

Former members

Marcus Hutson (born January 8, 1943, St Louis, Missouri; died 23 May 2000) (1963–1992)
Gordy Harmon (born 1943; died January 5, 2023, Los Angeles, California) (1963–1973)
Nicholas Caldwell (born April 5, 1944, Loma Linda, California; died January 5, 2016, San Francisco, California) (1963–2016)
Walter Scott (born September 23, 1943, Fort Worth, Texas; died June 26, 2025, Los Angeles, California) (1963–2025)

Former musical directors

Grady "G" Wilkins, Jr. – musician, writer, producer, vocalist, keyboardist and musical director of the Whispers. Born December 30, 1955 in San Francisco, California, and died December 19, 2013.
Fulton L. Tashombe – musician, vocalist, composer, arranger, producer, sound engineer, music educator, actor, keyboardist and musical director of Headlights. Born January 7, 1950 in San Francisco, California, and died October 14, 2017.
Robert “Cass” Harris - First Band Director

Supporting musicians

Emilio Conesa – Musical Director/guitar
John Valentino – saxophone
Dewayne Sweet – keyboards
Richard Aguon – drums
Magic Mendez – producer, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocalist
Harmony Blackwell – playback engineer, background vocals
Tim Gant - Keyboards
Mio Flores - percussionist