Posted on 05/13/2025 4:08:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway
John Edwards, a former lead singer for legendary R&B and soul group The Spinners, died Sunday. He was 80.
Edwards, who stepped into the spotlight after Philippé Wynne’s departure, carried the group’s legacy forward with grace and soul, according to a post on The Spinners’ official Instagram page.
A cause of death has not been revealed.
Edwards, who was with the group from 1977 to 2000, was praised in the post for not only meeting expectations but elevating the group’s sound during a new era.
He was the group’s last founding member to still be alive.
“We mourn the loss of John Edwards — who bore the weight of the world on his young shoulders when he joined The Spinners," the Instagram post said. “He proved more than capable of bearing the burden, ensuring that the excellence that fans came to associate with The Spinners would continue uninterrupted.”
The post said Edwards is being remembered as an essential part of The Spinners’ enduring legacy — a “magical fraternity” of past and present members whose contributions continue to shape the sound of soul music.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shared a video Sunday afternoon of Edwards, a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee.
The Rock Hall said Edwards’ voice led the group to their global hit “Working My Way Back to You” and their hit 1980 remake of “Cupid.”
“These performances showcased Edwards’ smooth and velvety voice, impressive range, and ability to convey both vulnerability and strength,” the Rock Hall said.
John Edwards HAS DIED |The Final Voice of The Spinners John Edwards DIES AT Age 80|John Edwards dead
Spinners - Working My Way Back To You (Forgive Me, Girl) [Original Video] (1979)
I vividly remember “It’s a Shame”. KFRC I do believed played it on a Monday morning after a 49ers loss. It seemed their kicker Bruce Gosley missed a 36 yard field goal, a chip shot, that would have won the game.
Loved that song.
Maybe he was busy with his vice presidential campaign disaster.
Games people play-great.
Could it be I’m fallin’ in love.
All the originals grew up in the housing project Herman Gardens on Detroit’s west side but went to school in Ferndale and the singer Henry Fambrough said that in 1954 “it was a pretty good neighborhood, nobody getting killed by the gangs but you might get your butt beat up, though.”
Until they had enough hits, they worked at jobs such as “road managers, chauffeurs, chaperones, and salesclerks.”
The story today might have been: Born and brought up in the projects, they had no chance in racist white America but to live lives of career criminals.”
Thanks for the links.
Sometimes I would think of their songs as they were new releases and judge that they weren’t something special at first but then would notice they were still on my mind hours later and finally saw their better value.
70’S
I thought the last founding member died last year. I remember posting about Rubberband Man then.
The Big 610 KFRC
I vividly remember “It’s a Shame”
Co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder. Wonderful guitar intro.
70’s Soul/R&B/funk are my favorite genre of music.
As Stevie Wonder said, Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.
It transcends culture.
Given that, the Spinners are easily in my top five favorite groups. Their music runs from touching (Sadie, Games People Play) to just flat fun (Rubberband Man)
Im not a dancer, but I’ll bop along to the Spinners all day.
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