Biography
The Five Stairsteps earned the nickname “The First Family of Soul” when the Chicago teenage act amassed an impressive five-year string of successes that featured the million-selling “O-o-h Child” plus eight additional singles landing in the Top 20 of Billboard’s R&B list between 1966 and 1970. Although the Jackson 5 later claimed the designation, the Stairsteps kept issuing records until 1976, and the individual members sustained careers as performers, composers, and behind-the-scenes talents long afterward.
Born to Clarence Sr. and Betty Burke, the act assembled in 1958 as a sibling vocal quintet. Betty, fondly known to fans as “Momma Stairsteps,” supplied the group’s name after observing how her children resembled a staircase when lined up in order of age. Clarence Jr., the oldest brother, served as lead vocalist, dance arranger, chief songwriter, and guitarist. Alohe contributed contralto vocals and performed trumpet in her school orchestra. James, the first tenor, took the spotlight on the Top 40 R&B single “Oooh Baby, Baby,” doubled on guitar, and earned three scholarships to the Art Institute of Chicago along with an Artist of the Year Award from the Chicago Board of Education for his drawings. Kenneth handled bass duties with notable skill. Clarence Sr., then working as a Chicago Police Department detective, played bass guitar, supervised repertoire, managed the group, and co-wrote material with Clarence Jr. and Gregory Fowler.
Victory at a talent showcase held at the historic Regal Theater triggered a flood of record-contract proposals. Family friend and neighbor Fred Cash of the Impressions connected the young singers with Curtis Mayfield, who signed them to his Windy C imprint, distributed nationally by Philadelphia’s Cameo Parkway. Their debut single paired the upbeat Mayfield composition “Don’t Waste Your Time” with the Clarence Jr.-penned ballad “You Waited Too Long”; the B-side reached number 16 on the Billboard R&B chart in spring 1966 and both sides proved popular locally. Subsequent releases included the gentle “World of Fantasy” backed with “Playgirl’s Love,” the moody “Come Back” coupled with “You Don’t Love Me,” and the atmospheric “Danger! She’s a Stranger” paired with “Behind Curtains.” These tracks largely appeared on the 1967 album The Five Stairsteps.
When Cameo Parkway closed at the close of 1967, Windy C moved operations to Art Kass’s New York-based Buddah Records under the guidance of former Cameo Parkway executive Neil Bogart, newly installed as co-president. Clarence Jr. produced the group’s second album, Our Family Portrait, in Chicago; the addition of their three-year-old brother prompted the temporary billing Five Stairsteps & Cubie. The set generated the singles “Something’s Missing,” a revival of Jimmy Charles & the Revellettes’ 1960 hit “A Million to One,” and “The Shadow of Your Love.” After transferring to Mayfield’s Curtom label, they scored further chart entries with “Don’t Change Your Love,” “Baby Make Me Feel So Good,” “Madame Mary,” and the midtempo “We Must Be in Love,” often sharing bills with the Impressions.
Reverting to the Five Stairsteps name upon their return to Buddah, the group issued their only certified million-seller in spring 1970: Stan Vincent’s “O-o-h Child,” which climbed to number 14 R&B and number eight pop. Its flip, a reading of the Lennon-McCartney song “Dear Prudence,” reached number 49 R&B. The following year, now billed simply as the Stairsteps, they placed two more Buddah singles: “Didn’t It Look So Easy” and “I Love You-Stop.” They appeared in the 1970 documentary film Soul to Soul, recorded at a benefit concert in Yankee Stadium, and performed on the syndicated television program Soul. By the early 1970s Alohe had married and departed along with Cubie. Kenneth subsequently played bass on Billy Preston’s tours and recordings; Preston later facilitated an introduction to the Beatles that led to a contract with George Harrison’s Dark Horse label, distributed by A&M. The resulting February 1976 album 2nd Resurrection was produced by Billy Preston, Robert Margouleff, and the Stairsteps themselves. Its single “From Us to You,” credited to Clarence Jr. and Kenneth Burke, became their strongest chart success since “O-o-h Child,” peaking at number ten R&B.
Four Stairsteps members joined keyboardist Dean Gant to create the Invisible Man’s Band, whose Mango single “All Night Thing” reached number nine R&B in spring 1980. Kenneth, later known professionally as Keni, established himself as a premier session bassist while also writing, producing, and recording; his résumé includes work with Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, the O’Jays, the Jones Girls, and Keith Sweat. Clarence Jr. passed away in 2013; Cubie, who issued a solo single in 1982, died in 2014; and James Burke died on February 19, 2021, at age 70.
Born to Clarence Sr. and Betty Burke, the act assembled in 1958 as a sibling vocal quintet. Betty, fondly known to fans as “Momma Stairsteps,” supplied the group’s name after observing how her children resembled a staircase when lined up in order of age. Clarence Jr., the oldest brother, served as lead vocalist, dance arranger, chief songwriter, and guitarist. Alohe contributed contralto vocals and performed trumpet in her school orchestra. James, the first tenor, took the spotlight on the Top 40 R&B single “Oooh Baby, Baby,” doubled on guitar, and earned three scholarships to the Art Institute of Chicago along with an Artist of the Year Award from the Chicago Board of Education for his drawings. Kenneth handled bass duties with notable skill. Clarence Sr., then working as a Chicago Police Department detective, played bass guitar, supervised repertoire, managed the group, and co-wrote material with Clarence Jr. and Gregory Fowler.
Victory at a talent showcase held at the historic Regal Theater triggered a flood of record-contract proposals. Family friend and neighbor Fred Cash of the Impressions connected the young singers with Curtis Mayfield, who signed them to his Windy C imprint, distributed nationally by Philadelphia’s Cameo Parkway. Their debut single paired the upbeat Mayfield composition “Don’t Waste Your Time” with the Clarence Jr.-penned ballad “You Waited Too Long”; the B-side reached number 16 on the Billboard R&B chart in spring 1966 and both sides proved popular locally. Subsequent releases included the gentle “World of Fantasy” backed with “Playgirl’s Love,” the moody “Come Back” coupled with “You Don’t Love Me,” and the atmospheric “Danger! She’s a Stranger” paired with “Behind Curtains.” These tracks largely appeared on the 1967 album The Five Stairsteps.
When Cameo Parkway closed at the close of 1967, Windy C moved operations to Art Kass’s New York-based Buddah Records under the guidance of former Cameo Parkway executive Neil Bogart, newly installed as co-president. Clarence Jr. produced the group’s second album, Our Family Portrait, in Chicago; the addition of their three-year-old brother prompted the temporary billing Five Stairsteps & Cubie. The set generated the singles “Something’s Missing,” a revival of Jimmy Charles & the Revellettes’ 1960 hit “A Million to One,” and “The Shadow of Your Love.” After transferring to Mayfield’s Curtom label, they scored further chart entries with “Don’t Change Your Love,” “Baby Make Me Feel So Good,” “Madame Mary,” and the midtempo “We Must Be in Love,” often sharing bills with the Impressions.
Reverting to the Five Stairsteps name upon their return to Buddah, the group issued their only certified million-seller in spring 1970: Stan Vincent’s “O-o-h Child,” which climbed to number 14 R&B and number eight pop. Its flip, a reading of the Lennon-McCartney song “Dear Prudence,” reached number 49 R&B. The following year, now billed simply as the Stairsteps, they placed two more Buddah singles: “Didn’t It Look So Easy” and “I Love You-Stop.” They appeared in the 1970 documentary film Soul to Soul, recorded at a benefit concert in Yankee Stadium, and performed on the syndicated television program Soul. By the early 1970s Alohe had married and departed along with Cubie. Kenneth subsequently played bass on Billy Preston’s tours and recordings; Preston later facilitated an introduction to the Beatles that led to a contract with George Harrison’s Dark Horse label, distributed by A&M. The resulting February 1976 album 2nd Resurrection was produced by Billy Preston, Robert Margouleff, and the Stairsteps themselves. Its single “From Us to You,” credited to Clarence Jr. and Kenneth Burke, became their strongest chart success since “O-o-h Child,” peaking at number ten R&B.
Four Stairsteps members joined keyboardist Dean Gant to create the Invisible Man’s Band, whose Mango single “All Night Thing” reached number nine R&B in spring 1980. Kenneth, later known professionally as Keni, established himself as a premier session bassist while also writing, producing, and recording; his résumé includes work with Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, the O’Jays, the Jones Girls, and Keith Sweat. Clarence Jr. passed away in 2013; Cubie, who issued a solo single in 1982, died in 2014; and James Burke died on February 19, 2021, at age 70.
Albums
The First Family of Soul: The Best of The Five Stairsteps
2001
2nd Resurrection (Remastered 2022)
1976
Stairsteps
1970
The Stairsteps
1967
Singles
