The Three Degrees

For over six decades, the banner of The Three Degrees has flown high and proud in the realms of
show business.
The Three Degrees began as a trio of teenagers in 1963: Fayette Pinkney,
Shirley Porter, and Linda Turner. They were brought together by Richard
Barrett, a singer, songwriter, and producer, who had been a member of The
Valentines, a doo-wop group in the 1950s. He is credited with discovering
Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Chantels, and Frankie Lymon, whom he
also managed.
They were signed to the Philadelphia-based label Swan Records, and released
their first single, ‘Gee Baby (I’m Sorry)’, in 1963. Linda Turner and Shirley
Porter were soon replaced by Janet Harmon and Helen Scott. Between 1963
and 1966, The Three Degrees recorded another six singles for Swan Records, none of which charted.
In 1966, Helen Scott left the group to start a family. She was replaced by Sheila Ferguson, who was
also signed to Swan Records and managed by Richard Barrett. Janet Harmon left the group and was
replaced by Sonia Goring. In 1967, Sonia left and was replaced by Valerie Holiday.
So, the lineup was Fayette Pinkney, Sheila Ferguson, and Valerie Holiday,
all of whom played key roles in crafting the group’s signature sound. This
lineup would conquer the world and establish The Three Degrees as a
high-class international act.
In 1968, they released a one-off recording on Warner Bros/Seven Arts.
The A-side, ‘Contact’, became big on the UK Northern Soul scene in the
early 1970s. The B-side was a sublime ballad, ‘No No Not Again’,
highlighting the group’s incredible harmonies. Two further singles were
released on Metromedia, followed by one on Neptune (an early Gamble
& Huff label): ‘What I See’.
In 1970, they were signed to Roulette, where they
had a hit with ‘Maybe’. The song was written by Richard Barrett, and recorded in
the early 1960s by The Chantels and by an earlier line up of The Three Degrees.
Valerie Holiday wrote the compelling monologue at the beginning of the song
and sang lead. ‘Maybe’ reached #4 in the R&B charts and #29 in the Hot 100. A
further four hits were achieved on Roulette, for whom they recorded nine
singles between 1970 and 1972.
In 1973, they rejoined Gamble & Huff on their newly formed label,
Philadelphia International Records (PIR), and recorded their first album
(backed by MFSB), simply titled ‘The Three Degrees’.
The first single released on PIR was ‘Dirty Ol’ Man’, a sassy uptempo
disco-soul anthem, it features playful yet sharp lyrics
that call out an married man’s unwanted advances. This
first single showcased the group’s vocal prowess and
the era’s signature blend of soulful defiance and danceable grooves. The song was
banned by the BBC, but became a huge hit across the rest of Europe. In the
Netherlands and Belgium, ‘Dirty Ol’ Man’ reached the top of the charts, earning The Three Degrees
their first-ever No. 1 hit and a gold record. This marked the beginning of their international success!
In the UK, the second single to be released was ‘Year of Decision’, which became a hit. In the rest of
Europe, ‘When Will I See You Again’ was the second single released. ‘When Will I See You Again’
became a massive hit in Europe but didn’t make it to No. 1 until the song was released in the UK. In
August 1974, ‘When Will I See You Again’ went to No. 1 on the UK charts, earning The Three Degrees
their second No. 1 hit and golden single. The lyrics of the song delve into themes of longing and
yearning for someone’s presence, capturing the emotions of lost love. It
celebrates love, hope, and human connection with its rich harmonies and
touching message.
The song would become The Three Degrees’ signature song, reaching the top
of the charts worldwide and captivating listeners with its soulful melodies and
heartfelt lyrics. The Three Degrees received a platinum award for selling more
than a million copies of ‘When will I see you again’.
While celebrating their enormous success in Europe, The Three Degrees brought their talent and
beauty to Japan. On June 30, 1974, they won the Gold Prize with ‘When Will I See You Again’ at the
third annual Tokyo Music Festival. And that was the beginning of their major success in Japan.
In the meantime, ‘Year of Decision’ was released in Europe as the third single and became their third
big hit across the continent. Just after the release of ‘Year of Decision’, another PIR single was
released: T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia). Don Cornelius contacted Gamble & Huff and asked
them to provide him with a theme song for his TV show, ‘Soul Train’. T.S.O.P. was mainly an
instrumental song, but it featured vocals by The Three Degrees. A few months after being used on
‘Soul Train’, the song was released as a single and became another huge success.
The Three Degrees were now enjoying huge success, particularly in Europe
and Japan. Their second PIR album, released in 1975 under the title ‘Take
Good Care of Yourself’ in the UK, ‘With Love’ in the rest of Europe, and
‘International’ in Japan, reflected this success. The Japanese edition of the
album featured songs in foreign languages such as ‘Somos Novios’, ‘Nigai
Namida’, and even a Japanese version of ‘When Will I See You Again’ (‘Tenshi
no Sasayaki’). Besides the studio albums already mentioned, they released
‘The Three Degrees – Live’ and ‘The Three Degrees – Live in Japan’ on the PIR label.
Looking back, their time with Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records earned The Three
Degrees major hit singles, best-selling albums, and, of course, massively successful tours covering
every part of the globe. It was their most successful period in their more than 60 years existence.
In 1976, Richard Barrett signed The Three Degrees to CBS/EPIC. They released the album ‘A Toast of
Love’ (recorded in December 1975) especially for the Japanese market. About the same time, Fayette
Pinkney (who sadly passed away in 2009) left the group and was replaced by
Helen Scott. This lineup — Sheila Ferguson, Valerie Holiday, and Helen Scott
— went one to record only one album for CBS/Epic: ‘Standing Up for Love’.
In 1978, they signed with the European label Ariola.
The label teamed them up with Giorgio Moroder, and
together they moved into the disco scene with their
album ‘New Dimensions’. The first single release, ‘Giving Up, Giving In’,
brought them back into the charts and became a massive hit, especially across
Europe. While ‘Woman in Love’ was released as the follow-up in the UK, ‘The Runner’ was released
as a single in the rest of Europe. That song brought The Three Degrees back to the top 10 in many
countries, while ‘Woman in Love’ made its way up to No. 3 in the UK.
The Three Degrees recorded a second album with Giorgio Moroder for Ariola, titled 3D. Several songs
of the album were released as singles. ‘My Simple Heart’, which was released only in the UK, made it
to the top 10 again.
The group performed for (then-future British monarch) HRH Prince Charles III at his 30th birthday
party in 1978 and were guests at the pre-wedding party for his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer in
1981. His Majesty is arguably the most famous fan of the band, and their 1978 hit, ‘Giving Up, Giving
In’, is said to be his favourite song. Their own television special, The Three Degrees at the Royal
Albert Hall (aka An Evening with The Three Degrees), was recorded in October 1979, in which they
were backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sheila Ferguson decided to leave the group halfway through 1986 . Since tours and concerts had
already been booked, the vacant spot was temporarily filled with several ladies until Cynthia Garrison
joined in 1989. The lineup with Cynthia would remain until 2011
and was the longest-running lineup for The Three Degrees. They
recorded two albums for Ichiban. In 1989 the album ‘And
Holding’ and in 1993 an recorded an album specific for the
Japanese market called ‘Best & New Hits: When Will I See You
Again’, which included 5 re-recorded hits and 5 cover songs.
In the early nineties, they were asked to record a new version of
‘When Will I See You Again’ with Thomas Anders (of Modern
Talking). This version was a big hit in Germany. He also supplied three tracks for their album ‘Out of
the Past, Into the Future’, marking their return to Ariola Records and their most successful album in
15 years. Two singles were released from the album, the re-recording of ‘Dirty Ol' Man’ and a new
song ‘Hurry Hurry’.
A seasonal album, ‘Christmas with The Three Degrees’, was recorded and released in 1998. This
album included a cover of Wham!'s ‘Last Christmas’, which was released as a remixed dance single.
In 2009, the group released their first studio album in over ten years, ‘Undercover’. It contained a
selection of eight cover versions of classic songs by ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, The Supremes,
Lionel Richie and the Bee Gees. The following year, they released new single, ‘Holding Back’.
At the end of 2010, Cynthia Garrison had to leave the group (after more than 20 years as a Degree)
because of health problems. Freddie Pool, an experienced vocalist who has enjoyed past success
both as a solo artist and as a member of other groups, stepped in to replace Cynthia (who sadly
passed away in 2024). In 2015, the threesome returned to the recording studios to record their
tribute to the music of their home city. Entitled ‘Strategy: Our Tribute to Philadelphia’, the album
features their unique rendition of some of the best known and most revered songs from the golden
era of the city. Quite a few of the songs are on the setlist for their shows.
Due to covid and long-covid, Helen wasn’t able to tour and perform. Since shows were already
planned and booked, a replacement had to be found. Nowadays, the lineup consists of Valerie
Holiday, Freddie Pool, and Hazel Payne. Together, they will be gracing the stages of Europe and the
UK from October 2025. Having already been told how well these three ladies are blending together,
there is no doubt that the magic from all those years ago is still sparkling as brightly as the sequinned
gowns we all know and love so well!
The Three Degrees gained a reputation not just for their hits, but also for their elegance and stage
presence, performing in matching gowns and choreographed routines. They continue to tour
worldwide, have performed for royalty in multiple countries, and appeared on major TV specials,
helping them become especially popular in Europe, the UK, and Japan.
As the years went by, record labels changed, music styles changed, and personnel changed. But one
constant remained: Valerie Holiday, who joined in 1967 and continues to be the glue that holds
everything together. She is, without a doubt, a showbiz legend, and her unique style, vocal abilities,
and stagecraft are second to none. The Three Degrees continue to perform well into the 21st
century, carrying forward a legacy of soulful sophistication. With their timeless music and polished
style, they remain an iconic part of the golden age of soul and disco.
So it is that after more than six decades in existence, The Three Degrees are still touring the world
and pleasing fans worldwide.