Entertainment

The Whispers Will Be Home for the Holidays at the Paramount

Published

9 years ago

November 4, 2015

The smooth velvety voices of The Whispers will come back to the Bay Area Nov. 28 at Oakland’s Paramount Theater.

Presented by Bay Area Productions, The Whispers’ “Home for the Holidays” concert will feature one of the most chart-topping R & B vocal groups of all time.

The legendary group, composed of twin brothers Walter and Wallace Scott, began singing with their friends 50 years ago. The group currently includes Nicholas Caldwell and Leaveil Degree. As balladeers of the 60s and 70s, The Whispers sang, “I’m Gonna Make You My Wife,” “Chocolate Girl,” and “Olivia.”

“It’s been an incredible feeling after five decades – we’ve gone from (being) daydreaming teens from the projects to our daydream coming true for the past 50 years,” said Walter Scott. “Our popularity, longevity and loyal fans are a true blessing.”

Scott also says the group considers Oakland home and that the city put them on the map. “The stations in L.A. wouldn’t play our record, but Sly Stone, the musical director of KDIA, played our regional hit, “The Dip,” on the radio, and the rest is history.”

With hits like “It’s a Love Thang,” “Lady” “And the Beat Goes On,” they emerged as leading romantic singers of their generation with gold albums charting numerous R&B favorites throughout the seventies and eighties.

The Whispers signed to Solar and Capitol Records and were the first artists featured on Soul Train, hosted by Don Cornelius. They gained national attention with albums, “One For The Money,” “Open Up Your Love,” and “Headlights” producing two singles, “All the Way” and “Olivia,” that made Billboard’s Top 20 R&B Charts.

Their first platinum album, “The Whispers,” featured “A Song For Donny,” in tribute to the late Donny Hathaway. “Just Gets Better With Time” and “Rock Steady” are other successful favorites along with “Lady,” written by group member Nicholas Caldwell.

“We were known as balladeers for two decades until the 80s with our R&B hit “And the Beat Goes On,” which went double platinum,” said Scott. A collaboration with Babyface produced “Rock Steady” landing at #1 for R&B and the US Top 10 pop charts.

“Toast to the Ladies” was released in 1995, a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Babyface once again on the album “Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface.”

In 2006, The Whispers formed “Satin Tie Productions” and released “For Your Ears Only.” In 2009, they produced their first gospel album, “Thankful.”

Prior to coming to Oakland, the Whispers will spend seven days in Europe, performing in London, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam. As for the future, Scott says fans can expect another album in mid-2016.

“We look forward to coming to Oakland – Oakland has been there from the beginning,” he said.