HERLEY JOHNSON DIES

altSoul collectors on the whole and Philly followers particularly shall be unhappy to be taught of the demise on 30th December of Philly soul stalwart Herley Johnson Jr., finest remembered for his work with cult group the Ambassadors. Shaped within the mid-1960’s, the quintet have been first signed to Atlantic the place they launched three singles earlier than shifting to the legendary Jimmy Bishop’ Arctic Data in 1968. Their largest hit was 1969’s ‘I Actually Love You’ whereas their ‘Soul Summit’ LP is vastly collectable. Little marvel, the Ambassadors channelled the basic Philly candy soul sound whereas album credit embody enter from individuals like Bobby Martin, with assist from Philly studio legends like Vince Montana, Norman Harris, Leon Huff, and Bobby Eli.

After the demise of the Ambassadors, three members -Herley Johnson Jr., Robert Todd and Orlando Oliphant later fashioned Creme D’Cocoa whereas Johnson additionally labored for some time beneath the solo alias, Jay Novelle.