Harold Melvin

Harold Melvin ( Philadelphia June 25, 1939 - Philadelphia, March 24, 1997 ) was an American soul singer .

He formed the vocal group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1954. The occupation of the group changed over the years several times. In the late 60s Melvin pulled the young drummer of the band The Cadillacs, Teddy Pendergrass, as lead singer. Their big break came when she early 70s a contract signed with the Philadelphia International Records label, the duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

They had then international hits with ballads like I Miss You and If You Do not Know Me By Now (1972), with Pendergrass as lead singer. Other hits in the "Philly Sound" of the seventies The Love I Lost (1973) Satisfaction Guaranteed (1974) and Do not Leave Me This Way (1977). When Pendergrass in 1976, left the group to pursue a solo career, Melvin was not only looking for a new singer but also a new label; he replaced Pendergrass by David Ebo and went to ABC Records, but could never equal the previous successes. The group continued to exist until Melvin's death in 1997.