The best of soul is coming to the Schuster Center on January 31 at 8 p.m. with 70’s Soul Jam. All your soul favorites from the 70’s are back and more dynamic than ever!  Outstanding soul artists The Stylistics, Delfonics, Chi-Lites, and The Manhattans share the Schuster Center stage.

THE STYLISTICS
The Stylistics, a Philadelphia-based quartet is one of the most accomplished soul bands ever.  With their charisma, style and harmony, they evolved into a best-selling group with a remarkable 10 straight top-ten hits in the 1970’s.  Their first single, “You’re A Big Girl Now” produced by the ingenious creator, Thom Bell, won the hearts of a nation and became a top-ten hit instantly.  Under the production of Bell, The Stylistics went on to produce 12 consecutive top-ten hits from 1971-1974.  This was not the end of success for the soulful Stylistics.  Songs, such as the Grammy Nominated hit, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, introduced a different, smoother style to the soul scene. Their other hits include “Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart”, “You Are Everything” “Betcha By Golly Wow” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New”.

DELFONICS
The Delfonics, known for their sleek, soulful “Philadelphia sound” have graced the stage and the airwaves for nearly 40 years.  The combination of sexy melodies and showmanship has made this threesome a worldwide success.  Under the guidance of Thom Bell, The Delfonics released their chart topping hit song, “La La Means I Love You” in 1968.  With their momentum and popularity growing, the group then released hit singles, “You Get Yours, I’ll Get Mine”, “I’m Sorry”, and “Ready of Not”.  But their success certainly did not end there.  In 1971, The Delfonics were awarded a Grammy for the single, “Didn’t I”.  The group, which has changed R&B’s past, continues to influence the present and future of soul music.

MANHATTANS
The Grammy, gold and platinum award winning group, have sold over twelve million records throughout their career.  With hits, such as “Kiss And Say Goodbye” and “There’s No Me Without You”, The Manhattans have established themselves as a soul music icon.  Under the direction of Edward “Sonny” Bivens, the group created fresh and innovative sounds of soul.  Since 1990, The Manhattans have performed throughout the United States and Canada.  In 1994, The Manhattans, under the guidance of producer Stephen C. Washington, released the “Now” album.  Included in this album is the gospel classic “Touch The Hem of His Garment” and the original “Save The Best For Last”.

CHI-LITES
The Chi-Lites have shaped the sound of soul in the Midwest since the 1970’s.  With 11 top ten R&B singles during a single decade, The Chi-Lites proved to be consistent with their popular style and sound.  Some of their top-selling singles on the 70’s were “Have You Seen Her” and “Oh Girl”.  These soulful ballads were all embraced by a nation and topped the R&B charts. In the early 1990’s, The Chi-Lites entered the studio with a dynamic blend of all new material.  Songs, such as “Happy Music”, add an up-tempo flare to their music, while “Solid Love Affair” brings listeners back to a more traditional ballad.  The magic of The Chi-Lites has proven to be undiminished and will always be a vital sound to Chicago soul.