Wade Herbert Flemons (September 25, 1940 – October 13, 1993) was an American

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

singer, songwriter, and musician. He was a founding member of the band

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling ba ...

Early life

He was born in Coffeyville, Kansas to Samuel and Kathyrine Flemons. His father was a minister, who introduced him to gospel music. After his parents' marriage ended in divorce, Wade moved to

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in northwestern Calhoun County, Michigan, United States, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a tota ...

, where his mother was living, in 1955.

Career

While attending

Battle Creek Central High School Battle Creek Central High School (BCCHS) is a State school, public Secondary school, high school in Battle Creek, Michigan, Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. It is the sole high school in the Battle Creek Public Schools district, and one of f ...

, Flemons came up with his first hit tune entitled "Here I Stand", a song which he wrote and recorded with his band, the New Comers. Released in 1958 by Chicago-based

Vee-Jay Records Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana, in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a ...

under his own name, the tune peaked at #19 on the

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Hot Soul Songs chart and #80 on the Billboard

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...

. "Here I Stand"'s success soon earned him appearances upon both

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'' (AB) is an American Music television, music performance and dance television series that aired in various iterations from 1952 to 1989. It was hosted by Dick Clark who also served as the program's Television producer, pr ...

and the

Alan Freed Albert James "Alan" Freed (December 15, 1921 – January 20, 1965) was an American disc jockey. He also produced and promoted large traveling concerts with various acts, helping to spread the importance of rock and roll music throughout Nor ...

Show. A follow-up single from his self-titled debut solo album, "Easy Lovin'" cracked the top ten hit on the Hot Soul Songs chart, while peaking at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his most commercially successful solo single. His later rendition of

Percy Mayfield Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He was also a songwriter, known for the songs "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song f ...

's "

Please Send Me Someone to Love "Please Send Me Someone to Love" is a blues ballad, written and recorded by American blues and soul singer Percy Mayfield in 1950, for Art Rupe's Specialty Records. It was on the Billboard's R&B chart for 27 weeks and reached the number-one p ...

," also reached #20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. Flemons eventually started working as a musician and vocalist at Chicago recording studios, gaining a reputation as a prolific songwriter. During his career, he wrote as many as 200 songs for both himself and other musicians. An early songwriting partner of his was

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey. ...

, later the founder of

. Having a good rapport with White, in 1969 he became part of his band called the Salty Peppers. Flemons subsequently went on to join White in his next musical venture, becoming one of the lead vocalists - and part-time keyboardist - in Earth, Wind, & Fire. He performed and composed upon the band's 1971 debut LP and 1972 sophomore album. Following disagreements with White, Flemons left the group soon after their second LP was released and was soon followed by most of his original EWF bandmates. Some of Flemons' solo songs are still revered, upon the UK's

Northern soul Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the Midlands in the early 1970s. It developed from the British Mod (subculture), mod scene, based on a particular style of African American music, Black American ...

scene.

Personal life

Flemons married in 1980; he and his wife Brenda had a daughter and three sons. He died from cancer in

Battle Creek Battle Creek is a city in northwestern Calhoun County, Michigan, United States, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a tota ...

, Michigan, at age 53. A United States Army veteran who served in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

, he was buried at the

Fort Custer National Cemetery Fort Custer National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located just outside the village of Augusta in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It encompasses , and had 33,000 interments. History Named for General George Armstrong Custer, the ...

Augusta, Michigan Augusta is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 885 at the 2010 census. The village is mostly within Ross Township, though a small portion extends south into Charleston Township. Augusta is situat ...

. One of his sons, Brian Wade Flemons, followed in his father's footsteps and also became a musician."Musician Releases Single, Starts Record Company." ''Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer'', June 14, 1998, p. 22.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Wade Flemons'' (1959), VeeJay LP 1011

Singles

Other releases

1960 * "Little John Green" * "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" / "I'll Come Runnin" 1961 * "At the Party" / "Devil in Your Soul" 1962 * "I Hope, I Think, I Wish" / "Ain't These Tears?" * "Half a Love" / "Welcome Stranger" 1963 * "I Came Running (Back From the Party)" / "That Time of Year" 1964 * "I Knew You When" / "That Other Place" * "Watch Over Her" / "When It Rains It Pours" 1965 * "Empty Balcony" / "Where Did You Go Last Night" 1968 * "Jeanette" / "What A Price to Pay" * "Two of a Kind" / "I Knew You'd Be Mine"

References

Notes

External links

Discography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Flemons, Wade 1940 births 1993 deaths American soul singers Musicians from Coffeyville, Kansas Entertainers from Battle Creek, Michigan Singers from Kansas Vee-Jay Records artists Earth, Wind & Fire members Deaths from cancer in Michigan 20th-century American singers