Biography
Originally comprising siblings Wanda Butler, born December 29, 1952, and Larry Butler, born January 31, 1951, together with Jim Grant, born August 26, 1955, the lineup known as Odds & Ends shared the same mother while Jim’s father differed. Hailing from Dorchester, GA, the three performed in local schools and churches until the family relocated to Philadelphia once Wanda, who went by Doll, reached age 13.
Philadelphia radio personalities Sonny “the Mighty Burner” Hobson and Jerry “the Geater with the Heater” Blavatt quickly captivated the transplanted Southern teenagers. Drawing on their innate ability, they assembled Doll and the Odds & Ends, developed secular material, and used Regina Grant’s basement as a practice space. Doll and Larry first rehearsed Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell-styled duets, yet Regina insisted Jim participate, and the others agreed; Jim disliked singing intensely enough that Larry paid him to attend sessions. Jim’s sole lead vocals during the group’s run were Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Edwin Starr’s “Twenty Five Miles,” while he preferred dancing behind his siblings. Regina urged the trio to harmonize because she herself had sung gospel with relatives in Georgia without commercial success.
Early basement rehearsals featured Kenneth Jackson on guitar, Tyrone Braxton on piano, Kenny Stone on xylophone, and an unnamed drummer, though these musicians were replaced once recording began. Robert Hawes observed the group at family events such as cookouts and weddings, assumed management, and arranged an audition with Bobby Martin and Thom Bell that led to a contract with Today Records under the name Odds & Ends. Their debut single, “Let Me Try,” issued in August 1970 and produced by Bobby Martin, gained regional traction in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York without national crossover; Doll delivered the lead in a style that belied her youth, while Larry and Jim’s high harmonies caused many listeners to assume a female ensemble. The B-side, “Foot Track,” offered a brisk up-tempo contrast.
Doll was pregnant with her first child, Keith, during the initial session, a circumstance that displeased the producers and label. Already married with one child by age 18, she faced additional tension when arrangers Bell and Martin began disputing production choices. The follow-up, “Love Makes the World Go ’Round,” appeared in January 1971 under Thom Bell’s production and matched the appeal of Deon Jackson’s earlier version, becoming their strongest seller even though live bookings showed little increase. Their third release, “Who Could Doubt My Love” backed with “Foot Track,” lightly echoed Holland-Dozier-Holland’s “Who Could Ever Doubt My Love” and featured Linda Creed on backing vocals; it marked Bell’s final involvement.
Terry Philips handled the December 1971 single “Give Me Something” backed again with “Who Could Doubt My Love.” After Bell and Martin departed, plans for an album collapsed. The final Today single, “Talk That Talk” coupled with a remake of Jay & the Techniques’ “Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie,” credited to Maurice Irby and produced by Patrick Adams, failed to register despite Doll’s strong vocals.
Following five releases, Odds & Ends dissolved. Jim never performed again. Doll later recalled that BMI forwarded Jim a substantial royalty check intended for Philadelphia songwriter James Grant, author of “Stop to Start” for Blue Magic and “La La at the End” for Little Anthony & the Imperials. She described their collaborative process by noting that Larry supplied initial lyrics, she refined them and added a verse on ballads, Larry completed the melody, and Jim contributed the background parts. A younger brother, Michael, received similar maternal encouragement yet struggled with severe stage fright.
Toward the close of the 1970s the same three members formed Unity with Mark King and recorded for United Artists Records after Perception/Today retained the Odds & Ends name. They also appeared as Three Million on Cotillion, again changing identity when the label asserted ownership of Unity. Larry exited music around 1991 after an unsuccessful attempt to launch the gospel group the Butlers, which included Doll and Regina Grant and yielded nearly an album’s worth of material. Jim later operated a hauling business, while Doll, now known by her married name Wanda Maultasby, ceased performing after the death of her third manager, Reggie Wilder, in 1994; Wilder had been promoting her as a solo artist, an opportunity she later regretted declining earlier.
Philadelphia radio personalities Sonny “the Mighty Burner” Hobson and Jerry “the Geater with the Heater” Blavatt quickly captivated the transplanted Southern teenagers. Drawing on their innate ability, they assembled Doll and the Odds & Ends, developed secular material, and used Regina Grant’s basement as a practice space. Doll and Larry first rehearsed Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell-styled duets, yet Regina insisted Jim participate, and the others agreed; Jim disliked singing intensely enough that Larry paid him to attend sessions. Jim’s sole lead vocals during the group’s run were Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Edwin Starr’s “Twenty Five Miles,” while he preferred dancing behind his siblings. Regina urged the trio to harmonize because she herself had sung gospel with relatives in Georgia without commercial success.
Early basement rehearsals featured Kenneth Jackson on guitar, Tyrone Braxton on piano, Kenny Stone on xylophone, and an unnamed drummer, though these musicians were replaced once recording began. Robert Hawes observed the group at family events such as cookouts and weddings, assumed management, and arranged an audition with Bobby Martin and Thom Bell that led to a contract with Today Records under the name Odds & Ends. Their debut single, “Let Me Try,” issued in August 1970 and produced by Bobby Martin, gained regional traction in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York without national crossover; Doll delivered the lead in a style that belied her youth, while Larry and Jim’s high harmonies caused many listeners to assume a female ensemble. The B-side, “Foot Track,” offered a brisk up-tempo contrast.
Doll was pregnant with her first child, Keith, during the initial session, a circumstance that displeased the producers and label. Already married with one child by age 18, she faced additional tension when arrangers Bell and Martin began disputing production choices. The follow-up, “Love Makes the World Go ’Round,” appeared in January 1971 under Thom Bell’s production and matched the appeal of Deon Jackson’s earlier version, becoming their strongest seller even though live bookings showed little increase. Their third release, “Who Could Doubt My Love” backed with “Foot Track,” lightly echoed Holland-Dozier-Holland’s “Who Could Ever Doubt My Love” and featured Linda Creed on backing vocals; it marked Bell’s final involvement.
Terry Philips handled the December 1971 single “Give Me Something” backed again with “Who Could Doubt My Love.” After Bell and Martin departed, plans for an album collapsed. The final Today single, “Talk That Talk” coupled with a remake of Jay & the Techniques’ “Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie,” credited to Maurice Irby and produced by Patrick Adams, failed to register despite Doll’s strong vocals.
Following five releases, Odds & Ends dissolved. Jim never performed again. Doll later recalled that BMI forwarded Jim a substantial royalty check intended for Philadelphia songwriter James Grant, author of “Stop to Start” for Blue Magic and “La La at the End” for Little Anthony & the Imperials. She described their collaborative process by noting that Larry supplied initial lyrics, she refined them and added a verse on ballads, Larry completed the melody, and Jim contributed the background parts. A younger brother, Michael, received similar maternal encouragement yet struggled with severe stage fright.
Toward the close of the 1970s the same three members formed Unity with Mark King and recorded for United Artists Records after Perception/Today retained the Odds & Ends name. They also appeared as Three Million on Cotillion, again changing identity when the label asserted ownership of Unity. Larry exited music around 1991 after an unsuccessful attempt to launch the gospel group the Butlers, which included Doll and Regina Grant and yielded nearly an album’s worth of material. Jim later operated a hauling business, while Doll, now known by her married name Wanda Maultasby, ceased performing after the death of her third manager, Reggie Wilder, in 1994; Wilder had been promoting her as a solo artist, an opportunity she later regretted declining earlier.
Albums
Singles
