The Independents

The Independents are an American R&B vocal group formed in 1971, consisting of Charles "Chuck" Jackson, Maurice Jackson, Helen Curry, Eric Thomas, and Marvin Jerome Yancy. The group originated from the United States, with members hailing from various cities including Greenville, South Carolina; Chicago; and Clarksdale, Mississippi. Their debut single "Just As Long As You Need Me" marked their entry into the music scene. The Independents released their first album The First Time We Met in May 1972. In 1973, they achieved significant chart success with the song "Leaving Me", which peaked at Number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. The single sold over a million copies, earning them a gold record from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 23, 1973. Following their breakup in 1975, members Charles "Chuck" Jackson and Marvin Jerome Yancy went on to produce and write for notable artists such as Natalie Cole, Phyllis Hyman, and Ronnie Dyson. In 2019, original member Maurice Jackson reformed The Independents with Theo Huff, Rashan Thompson, Vanessa Lainey, Parkas Alexander, and himself.