The Dramatics

The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics) are a soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for there 1972 hit song, "In the Rain".

Career

The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 as the Dynamics. They changed their name by 1967, when they garnered their first minor hit, "All Because of You." However, the group did not break through until their 1971 single, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," which broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9. Their members at this time were Ron Banks, William "Wee Gee" Howard (who died of a heart attack on February 22, 2000 at age 49), Elbert Wilkins (who died of a heart attack on December 13, 1992 at age 45), Willie Ford and Larry Demps. Shortly after the success of their first album, Howard and Wilkins left the group. They were replaced by L.J. Reynolds and Leonard "Lenny" Mayes. Through the 1970s, the group appeared on Soul Train and continued to have hits, including the #1 R&B hit, "In the Rain", "Toast to the Fool", "Me and Mrs. Jones", "I'm Going By The Stars In Your Eyes" and "Be My Girl."

The Dramatics also were guests on the Snoop Doggy Dogg song "Doggy Dogg World". The song appeared on Snoop's 1993 debut album "Doggystyle".

The group continues to tour and presently consists of Banks, Reynolds, Ford, Winzell Kelly and Michael Brock, who replaced Mayes (who died of lung cancer on November 8, 2004 at age 53).

The Dramatics were also mentioned in the novel "The Algiers Motel Incident" by John Hersey (ISBN 0-8018-5777-5). They were staying at the Algiers Motel, following a performance at Detroit's Fox Theatre, during an alleged murder by members of the Detroit Police Department, which was one of the incidents which sparked the Detroit Riots of 1967.

The Dramatics "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" appeared in the 2005 documentary "Sunday Driver", as well as the movie "Wattstax" and the 2007 Petey Greene biopic, Talk To Me.

Discography

Albums

*1972: "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" (Volt) - US Pop #20, US R&B #5
*1973: "A Dramatic Experience" (Volt) - US Pop #86, US R&B #11
*1974: "Dramatically Yours" * (Volt) - US R&B #36
*1974: "The Dells vs. The Dramatics" (Cadet) - US Pop #156, US R&B #15
*1975: "The Dramatic Jackpot" (ABC) - US Pop #31, US R&B #9
*1975: "Drama V" (ABC) - US Pop #93, US R&B #10
*1976: "Joy Ride" (ABC) - US Pop #103, US R&B #11
*1977: "Shake It Well" (ABC) - US Pop #60, US R&B 10
*1978: "Do What You Wanna Do" (ABC) - US Pop #44, US R&B #6
*1979: "Anytime, Anyplace" (ABC) - US R&B #15
*1980: "10 1/2" (MCA) - US Pop #61, US R&B #14
*1980: "The Dramatic Way" (MCA) - US R&B #38
*1982: "New Dimension" (Capitol) - US R&B #40
*1986: "Somewhere in Time" (Fantasy)
*1988: "Live" (Volt)
*1989: "Positive State of Mind" (Volt) - US R&B #80
*1990: "Stone Cold (Volt)
*1999: "If You Come Back to Me" (Volt)

* credited as "Ron Banks & the Dramatics"

Compilations

*1976: "The Best of the Dramatics" (Stax)
*2000: "Ultimate Collection" (Hip-O)
*2005: "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dramatics" (Hip-O)
*2007: "The Very Best of the Dramatics" (Stax)

ingles

External links

*allmusic|id=11:difexqe5ldhe
* [http://www.soultracks.com/the_dramatics.htm The Dramatics biography and updates at Soul Tracks]
* [http://www.soulexpress.net/dramatics_discography.htm The Dramatics discography + L.J. Reynolds, Ron Banks, Jeannie Reynolds and Five Special at Soul Express]