The Three Degrees

In Philadelphia in the early 1960s the female vocal trio The Three Degrees formed, rooted in soul, R&B and later the disco that emerged from the local scene. Founded around Fayette Pinkney, the group went through several lineup changes before stabilizing in the 1970s with Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday, the formation most commonly associated with The Three Degrees. After initial recordings for various labels, their direction became clear at Philadelphia International Records under producers Gamble and Huff, with the 1973 album The Three Degrees and a string of orchestral soul singles. Collaboration with the studio group MFSB resulted in 1974’s TSOP — The Sound of Philadelphia, while “When Will I See You Again,” released the same year, established The Three Degrees in the international soul repertoire. The trio then shifted toward a disco-tinged soul sound, notably with the albums New Dimensions (1978) and 3D (1979), recorded in Europe and produced in a more electronic setting. Despite recurring personnel changes, The Three Degrees continued performing across the UK, Europe and the United States—touring, appearing on television and recording occasionally—maintaining continuity through their vocal harmonies and the blend of classic soul, pop and disco influences that has defined the group since its beginnings.