Floaters

Formed as a fleeting offshoot by former Detroit Emeralds James Mitchell and Marvin Willis, the Floaters achieved their breakthrough on ABC with the 1977 debut single “Float On,” which reached the top of the R&B chart and number two on the pop side. Despite falling short as either a lyrical or vocal achievement, the track ranked among the year’s top-selling R&B releases. The lineup centered on lead vocalist Charles Clark, supported by Larry Cunningham, Paul Mitchell, Ralph Mitchell, and Jonathan Murray, yet the ensemble proved unable to recapture the momentum of that initial success. Their subsequent releases, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” and “I Just Want to Be with You,” actually showcased stronger performances than the hit; both cuts confirmed Clark’s skill as a ballad interpreter while stalling at only modest R&B chart levels.