The Montclairs

Formed in East St. Louis, the soul vocal ensemble the Montclairs produced several poignant ballads during the early 1970s that never received the recognition they warranted. Kevin Sanlin, Phil Perry, George McLellan, David Frye, and Clifford Williams first appeared on Arch in 1969, then shifted to Paula throughout the following decade. No single climbed inside the R&B Top 30, though “Beggin’ Is Hard to Do” and “Dreaming out of Season” came closest, while “Prelude to a Heartbreak” and “Make Up for Lost Time” remain warmly recalled. Sanlin and Perry later worked together as a duo.