For over six decades, The Three Degrees banner has flown high and proud in 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.