The Emotions

R&B / soul vocal trio The Emotions – formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1967 – are best known for their 1977 hit “Best of My Love.” Originally members of gospel act the Hutchinson Sunbeams, sisters Sheila, Jeanette, and Wanda Hutchinson left the comfort of their family act and pursued a soul music career as The Emotions. Their debut single, “I Can’t Stand No More Heart Aches,” was released on Brainstorm Records in 1967, and was followed by three singles on Twin Stacks Records in 1968. After those singles failed to chart, the trio signed with Volt Records – a subsidiary of Stax Records – in 1969. Working under the guidance of Stax team Isaac Hayes and David Porter, The Emotions achieved chart success with 1969’s “So I Can Love You,” reaching number 3 on the R&B / Soul Singles chart and number 39 on the Hot 100. They continued to chart on the R&B chart with singles like “The Best Part of a Love Affair,” “Heart Association,” and “I Could Never Be Happy.” When Stax / Volt Records closed their doors in 1975, The Emotions signed with Columbia Records, began working with producer / songwriter Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) and released two Top 20 R&B singles in 1976: “Flowers” (number 16) and “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” (number 13). Their commercial momentum led to the success of their 1977 Rejoice album and the international hit single “Best of My Love,” which topped the Hot 100 and R&B singles charts as well as landing in the Top 10 or Top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK. The song went on to win the trio a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus. They released more singles that charted in the R&B charts but didn’t achieve international success again until 1979 when they provided vocals on Earth, Wind & Fire’s hit single “Boogie Wonderland,” a Top 10 hit in the US, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the UK. In the 1980s, The Emotons’ commercial momentum began to stall, and they released their final album, If I Only Knew, in 1985. The Emotions went on to work with several artists including Tyler Collins, Nancy Wilson, LL Cool J, George Duke, Smokey Robinson, Snoop Dogg, and others.