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It was a lovely autumnal day 8th October, when Sheila Ferguson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sheila attended more than 10 schools as a child and just missed out on graduating valedictorian (1st in her class) at Roosevelt Junior High School, all because she couldn't draw! That's right ladies and gentlemen, Sheila Ferguson is hopeless at art, and I really can get away with saying that, because I am her daughter!
During her years at Germantown High School, she was asked by a teacher what she wanted to do with her life. Sheila replied, "I want to be a psychologist but first, I have such a major crush on Marvin Gaye, that if I were to become a singer for just a little while, I could meet him and then continue with my studies".
Now, it is often assumed that all black singers, come directly from the gospel church, and yes, many black singers have. But Sheila Ferguson did not! Don't get me wrong, she had nothing against the church, it's just that she was always afraid somebody might ask her to get up and sing, which as a child absolutely petrified her! No, the accolade of changing Sheila from listener to singer goes to the one and only 'Miss Nancy Wilson'.
There was a time during Sheila's teenagehood when Sheila would come home from school and listen to Nancy Wilson day in and day out. She began to secrete herself in the vestibule of her dad's house, before anyone else came home from work. The accoustics there were just so damn good. And there she, literally, found her voice. She would sing to the top of her lungs, until she could feel her heart swell. And she would sway and close her eyes to feel the emotion of the melody and the taste of the lyrics. I suppose one could say that Sheila Ferguson was a closet singer!! But from those days on, Sheila's destiny was preordained, once something sticks in Sheila's mind, she never lets go until she achieves it.
There that same high school teacher introduced her to Richard Barrett, who was to become her manager and mentor.
Richard had been the lead singer of a 1950's singing group called 'The Valentines'. He had also managed and/or produced such great acts as, 'The Chantels', 'Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers', 'Little Anthony and The Imperials', 'The Flamingos'-the very kind of vocal harmony groups Sheila loved. Richard also wrote and produced many of the biggest hit records for these groups: 'Maybe', 'Look In My Eyes', 'He's Gone', 'I'm Not A Juvenile Deliquent', 'Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop', ' I Only Have Eyes For You', 'Don't Say Goodnight', 'Lily Maebelle', and many more.
Sadly Richard Barrett was ripped off very badly in New York and much of the money due to him at that time cleverly stolen. But aside from being one of the first black and successful producers on Broadway, Richard was always very proud of the accolade paid to him by 'The Beatles', when they said on prime-time American television, that Richard Barrett's recording of, 'Some Other Guy' (which Richard wrote), was one of their biggest and earliest influences in American Soul Music. When Sheila first met Richard, he was in the process of recording three other young hopefuls from West Philadelphia. Various girls came and went, almost from week to week, until finally the exact line-up stabilised. But in the beginning they consisted of Fayette Pinkney, Shirley Porter and Linda Turner. Their first single was entitled, 'Gee Baby I'm Sorry,' and Richard named the girls 'The Three Degrees', meaning three varying degrees of excellence.
Meanwhile .... up and over at Germantown High School, Sheila Ferguson became Richard's one and only solo artist. Richard Barrett recorded Sheila with her first solo single entitled, 'Little Red Riding Hood'.
Both of Richard's acts namely, 'Sheila Ferguson', and 'The Three Degrees', recorded for the Swan Record Label, the label which released the 'Beatles' first single 'She loves You' in America. (Can you believe that Swan didn't keep the Beatles signed up, what a dumb move, eh?) Down at 9th and Bainbridge streets, Swan had a rehearsal room with the piece of mirror where the girls were grilled into creating and practicing their dance routines - they insisted on looking absolutely identical. Sheila and The Three Degrees quickly became great friends and soon began recording with one another. Sheila would always sing backing vocals on their records, (and sometimes a quiet lead), to fatten up and enrich their sound. And they, in turn, would sing backing vocals on her recordings, which of course fattened her records making them sound so professionally done. They all travelled around together doing, what they called in those days 'Record Hops'. Today, we would call them, P.A's or personal appearances.
Both acts achieved some local success in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York with their recordings and personal appearances. However, and most significantly for Sheila, her first professional appearance was at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City.
SOLO CAREER, THE APOLLO...AND MARVIN GAYE! The Apollo Theatre that had hosted so many famous artistes, like Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Josephine Baker, Pearl Bailey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan,Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Lionel Ritchie, Luther Vandross, Lavern Baker, Fats Domino, The Drifters, Billy Eckstine, Gloria Lynne, Lou Rawls, Richard Pryor "Moms" Mabley-the list goes on and on. The Three Degrees were appearing there as well as Sheila but the main headliner was none other than Sheila's major crush hearthrob, soon to be husband (she wished) - Mr Marvin Gaye!.
Sheila went into the star's dressing room plucking up her courage, knees a knockin', and finally met the man of her dreams. She says, "when I first laid eyes on him, he was like an angel in white, it was as if he were wearing a halo above his head. He was just so beautiful, I don't think I spoke cause my lips were quivering, but I think I must've been able to babble somethin' or other!"
She and Marvin talked for a while and at that point in her young and impressionable life, Sheila lost her crush on Marvin Gaye.... but instead, she gained her love for the maddening crowd. Sheila decided to become a professional singer. Her friendship with Marvin would continue until his tragic death, but her love of what he stood for and achieved in such a short time will remain in her heart forever. After that week at The Apollo Theatre, Sheila Ferguson had to come down to earth in order to finish her high school education and to graduate with the class of 1965 at Germantown High. But all during that time, Sheila continued to record for The Swan Label. She also began to write some of own her material.
Under the tutelage of Richard Barrett, Sheila recorded the first two songs she ever wrote, 'I Weep For You' and 'Don't Leave Me Lover'.
Some of the other songs she recorded were, 'How Did That Happen', written by Lamont Dozier (later to write many of the Supreme's hits) and two songs entitled 'And In Return' and 'Are You Satisfied" written by General Johnson, later to become known to the world as the lead singer of 'The Chairman Of The Board'.
Sheila considered herself to be, primarily, a ballad singer. But Richard selected two up- tempo numbers for her to record, songs especially written for her by a talented up and coming songwriter by the name of Leon Huff. Leon would later team up with the immensely gifted and prolific Kenny Gamble, to form the legendary ‘Philadelphia International Records’. These early songs were entitled ‘Heartbroken Memories’ and ‘Signs Of Love’ and in them one can hear the beginning of the style and sophistication which was about to emerge.
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"My years as lead singer of The Three
Degrees were among the most special of
my career,not just for the many wonderful
fans I met and am still in contact with,
but also because of all the tremendously
talented musicians, songwriters and
producers with whom we worked.
Here are some my favourite photos
and moments from that era which I hope will
bring back as many happy memories for
you as they do for me.
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