The Whatnauts

Emerging from Baltimore, this vocal ensemble specialized in heartache material that resonated strongly with committed followers of 1970s soul, even as their recordings seldom attracted sufficient mainstream R&B support to become hits. Billy Herndon, the lead singer, joined Garrett Jones and Gerald Pinkney to cut several memorable singles for Stang, although the group's most pointed topical track, "Message From a Black Man," surfaced in 1970 on A&M. Their signature release, "I'll Erase Away Your Pain," climbed to number 14 on the R&B chart in 1971, while a partnership with the Moments yielded "Girls," which reached a peak position of number 25.