(May 28, 2019) They are Detroit legends, and an act that toured the world for decades delivering some of the most unique soul sounds around. And he was there from the beginning. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of Willie Ford of The Dramatics, the man who held down the bottom end of those great Dramatics harmonies.
While never reaching "supergroup" status in the public's eyes, the Dramatics have been one of the most prolific, consistently entertaining groups of the last half century. Another of the great non-Motown Detroit groups formed in the late 60s, the Dramatics went through significant personnel changes over their early years as the group struggled to find a hit. They ultimately found it on Stax/Volt Records with "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," a latin-tinged cut lyrically based on a comic phrase popularized by Flip Wilson. It was an instant hit on both the pop and soul charts, and began a string of great cuts for the group penned by Tony Hester. The follow-ups "In The Rain" and "Toast to the Fool" were even better, and have remained in active play on many stations ever since.
While the group had various compositions, once L.J. Reynolds replaced William "Wee Gee" Howard in 1973, the core of the group was set for several decades. With Reynolds' gruff baritone and Ron Banks' soaring falsetto, Willie Ford's bass sound, the smooth Lenny Mayes and singer and group choreographer Larry Demps, a unique group harmony and stage show was created and that kept The Dramatics at the top of the charts for the remainder of the 70s and early 80s.
In the mid-seventies, as Stax was failing, the group and producer Don Davis switched to ABC records where they released a number of successful albums and top 10 singles, though their coverage was, at that point, limited to the Soul radio. Hits like "Be My Girl," "Shake It Well" and "Fell For You" (later remade by Snoop Doggy Dogg) carried the group into the early 80s, when their popularity began to wane. They split up in 1982 as Reynolds and Banks both embarked on solo careers (Reynolds achieving some limited success with the hit "Key to the World"), and Demps went back to school to become a teacher. But The Dramatics reunited in 1986 with Somewhere In Time and its great crossover hit, "One Love Ago."
While other popular 70s groups had trouble sustaining recording careers, the Dramatics continued to cut a new LP every few years, right up through 2002's Look Inside, a surprisingly strong record that received limited distribution in the U.S. (if you find it, check out the fantastic "Looks Like Rain"). They received national attention for their professionalism in 2001 when they performed a save for "Fly Jock" Tom Joyner, singing two sets during his show's appearance in Detroit on less than 12 hours notice after a cancellation by DeBarge.
In 2003, the group, then consisting of Reynolds, Banks, Winzell Kelly, Ford and Mayes, released Greatest Hits Live, a terrific peek at a 2001 Dramatics performance that showed the group still in fine form and a testament to the longevity of this great soul act. Sadly, group member Lenny Mayes died on November 7, 2004, after a long illness.
In 2006, local Detroit developer Herb Strather honored the Dramatics (along with Freda Payne, the Four Tops and others), with a street named after the group in one of the newest neighborhoods being built in the city.
The Dramatics were honored for their careers when they received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 2008 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards. All of the current members came to the awards as well as the mother of deceased member Lenny Mayes.
Sadly, on March 4, 2010, group falsetto lead Ron Banks died of a heart attack at his Detroit home. Following Banks' death, a battle over the group's name emerged, resulting in two traveling groups now holding the Dramatics name: a more familiar one led by L. J. Reynolds (and featuring Kelly, Donald Albert and Leon Franklin) and another new group led by Ford. Both groups continued to perform regularly around the world for the next several years.
Willie Ford was not as well known to casual fans as some of the other members of his iconic group, but listen to any Dramatics song, and you’ll hear the anchor that he provided, making each song a uniquely “Dramatics song.” He helped deliver a half century of joy to music fans around the world, and a discography that will live on. Rest in peace, Mr. Ford.
By Chris Rizik
Funeral Home Tues June 11
Swanson Funeral Home
14751 W. McNichols
Detroit
Funeral Wed June 12
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2300 W. Chicago
Redford, Michigan