Major Harris

After years of effort, Major Harris finally achieved widespread recognition in the summer of 1975 with the romantic and sensual ballad “Love Won't Let Me Wait.” The track, which featured session singer Barbara Ingram on its suggestive backing vocals, climbed to number five on the pop charts and reached the top of the R&B chart. Born Major Harris III on February 9, 1947, in Richmond, Virginia, he grew up in a household steeped in music: his grandparents had performed in vaudeville, his father earned a living as a guitarist, and his mother directed church choirs. His brother, Philadelphia songwriter Joe Jefferson, penned several Spinners classics, among them “Mighty Love,” “Love Don't Love Nobody,” and “One of a Kind Love Affair.” Another relative, longtime Philadelphia figure Norman Harris, worked as a guitarist, producer, and songwriter while also running his own record company for a time.

Harris accumulated considerable experience before his breakthrough, performing with the Charmers, spending a brief period in Frankie Lymon's Teenagers, recording with the Jarmels, releasing solo singles on Laurie and OKeh Records, and later joining Nat Turner's Rebellion on Philly Groove Records. None of those earlier projects brought lasting attention. He worked with the Jarmels after their success with “A Little Bit of Soap.” His first major opportunity arrived when he replaced Randy Cain in the Delfonics; that initial stint ended in 1974 as he pursued a solo career. During his time with the group, his mellow tenor often complemented lead singer William “Poogie” Hart's soulful falsetto, as heard on “Think It Over Baby,” “Lying to Myself,” and “I Told You So.”

Once he departed the Delfonics, Harris auditioned successfully for W.M.O.T. productions and secured a solo contract with Atlantic Records. The label issued an album that began with the single “Each Day I Wake Up,” credited to the Major Harris Boogie Blues Band. When Atlantic later released “Love Won't Let Me Wait,” the seductive recording sold a million copies and marked the peak of his career. The session took place at Sigma Sound Studio under minimal lighting, with only a small lamp illuminating Harris's lyric stand; backing vocals came from Barbara Ingram, Carla Benton, and Yvette Benson, while MFSB supplied the instrumental backing and Bobby Eli contributed the prominent guitar lines. Eli also produced the date and co-wrote the song with Gwendolyn Woolfolk, who used the pen name Vinnie Barrett.

Later ballads continued to register on the charts for a period before momentum faded and Harris rejoined the Delfonics. As a solo performer he appeared on a strong live album alongside Blue Magic and Margie Joseph, an outing that highlighted his strengths as a stage entertainer even more than as a studio artist. He subsequently toured with the Delfonics lineup that included original members William Hart and Randy Cain; a competing version of the group featured William Hart's brother Wilbert, an original member, along with two additional musicians. Major Harris died in Richmond on November 9, 2012, at the age of 65.