The Originals in a 1960s promotional shoot

The Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the 1960s and 1970s. Image File history File links Originals. ... Image File history File links Originals. ... The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the ethereal substance — spirit (Hebrew:rooah or nefesh) — particular to a unique living being. ... The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ...

The group found modest success in the first half of the decade, often working as backup singers for recordings by artists such as Jimmy Ruffin ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted", 1966) and David Ruffin ("My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", 1969). The Originals found their biggest success under the guidance of Motown legend Marvin Gaye, who co-wrote and produced two of the group's biggest singles, "Baby I'm For Real", and "The Bells". Both songs became seminal soul music recordings, and both songs have since been covered: 1990s R&B group After 7 re-recorded "Baby I'm For Real" and made it a hit again in 1992, while another 1990s R&B group Color Me Badd re-recorded "The Bells" for one of their albums. Jimmy Ruffin (born May 7, 1939 in Collinsville, Mississippi) is an African-American soul singer and older brother of David Ruffin, one of the lead singers for The Temptations. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... David Ruffin. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Marvin Gaye on the cover of his classic 1971 album Whats Going On Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... The 1990s refers to the years 1990 to 1999; the last decade of the 20th Century, but in an economical sense The Nineties is often considered to span from the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 to the September 11 attacks in 2001. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... After 7 is a hip-hop and urban band, founded in 1988 by brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds and David Mitchell. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The 1990s refers to the years 1990 to 1999; the last decade of the 20th Century, but in an economical sense The Nineties is often considered to span from the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 to the September 11 attacks in 2001. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Color Me Badd were a male R&B vocal group which was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ...

While the group went on to have more modest success in both the soul and disco fields near the end of the decade, including "Down To Love Town," a #1 dance chart hit, the songs they made with Marvin Gaye are their most memorable notable. Disco is an up-tempo style of dance music (generally between 110 and 136 beats per minute) that originated in the early-1970s, a derivative of funk and soul music, popular with audiences in larger cities all over the world. ... Billboards Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart is a weekly national survey of what songs are most popular in U.S. dance clubs. ...

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart