Randy Cain, one of the founding members of the legendary Philadelphia singing group the Delfonics, died over Easter weekend at his New Jersey home. "I'm gonna miss him. We grew up together since 1968," group member Wilbert Hart told the Philadelphia Daily News.

Formed in the early 1960s in Philly by brothers William "Poogie" and Wilbert Hart and schoolmate Cain, the Delfonics established a reputation as a solid young vocal group and William Hart as a fine young songwriter.  They signed with local Cameo-Parkway Records and released a number of singles on that label and on small MoonShot Records, none of which received much attention outside of Philadelphia.  Then the group became one of the early acts to team with young producer/arranger Thom Bell, and the combination struck immediate pay dirt on Bell Records.  They hit both the Pop and Soul top five in 1968 with the Bell/William Hart composition "La La Means I Love You," a now-classic soul ballad highlighted by Hart's plaintive falsetto lead.

More hits followed over the next few years, including the memorable "Ready Or Not Here I Come," "You Got Yours And I'll Get Mine" and their other top ten Pop hit, "Didn't (I Blow Your Mind This Time)," which won the 1970 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. Cain left the group in 1971 and was replaced by Major Harris (who later scored a #1 solo hit with "Love Won't Let Me Wait").  Bell also stopped working with the Delfonics about this time due to his increasingly busy schedule as well as creative differences with the group.

The Delfonics continued to hit the lower ends of the Soul charts through the mid-70s, when Harris left for a moderately successful solo career. Over the next 30 years, the group split and reconnected, often with varying combinations of former members (including Harris, Cain, each Hart brother) and others.

Randy Cain will be missed.

update:

A Memorial Service will take place for Randy Cain on Saturday, April 25, 2008 at 11 am. The service will be held at Christ Baptist Church located at 950 Jacksonville Road in Burlington City NJ where Reverend Frederick Johnson is the Senior Pastor.

Randy Cain was a founding member of Philly soul band the Delfonics and who sang on such hits as "La La Means I Love You," and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," died Thursday April 9, 2009. He was 63 years old.   For service information contact Christ Baptist Church at 609-387-1234.

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