The Ebonys

The Ebonys, a New Jersey vocal quartet formed in 1968, produced emotionally charged, theatrical ballads that soul listeners still regard as essential, despite a sales history that never matched the music's depth. Signed to Philadelphia International at the height of its run of innovative, cross-genre smashes, the group owed its discovery to Leon Huff, who assembled the lineup of Jenny Holmes, David Beasley, James Tuten, and Clarence Vaughan. Their debut chart entry, the 1971 single "You're the Reason Why," reached number ten on the R&B side. Two years later came their finest recording, "It's Forever," which stopped at number 14 and proved to be their final hit; subsequent Philadelphia International sides, though carefully executed, never found comparable commercial traction.