Honey & The Bees

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the modestly recognized yet capable Philadelphia soul quartet Honey & the Bees issued a series of obscure singles on the Arctic and Josie labels. Assistance came from veteran session players tied to the landmark Gamble-Huff productions of the 1970s, among them Leon Huff on piano and rhythm-section stalwarts Ron Baker, Earl Young, Bobby Eli, and Norman Harris. Songwriting input was supplied in part by Harris and Thom Bell. The group logged years on the club circuit, supporting major soul attractions throughout Philadelphia and along the East Coast, until its dissolution in 1973. Vocalist Gwen Oliver later married Fred Wesley of the JB's, an introduction that occurred when Honey & the Bees opened for James Brown in 1971.