Biography
True Movement received long-overdue attention after nearly 26 years when Britain’s Goldmine/Soul Supply Records placed the wistful ballad “What a Lovely Way to Meet” on the Essential Sweet Soul Collection. Four digitally enhanced True Movement tracks also appear among the 14 selections on the new compilation Soul Sounds Cleveland.
Arthur Hayes formed the group in 1974; its original Cleveland, OH members were Hayes, William Thomas, Phillip Coghill, Ernest Mims, and Wayne Harris. After Hayes was murdered in a crime, Harris left the lineup in grief. The remaining trio was soon completed by Levell “Sonny” Cochran and John Cofer. Modeling themselves after the Temptations, the Chi-Lites, the Intruders, the Dramatics, and similar acts, they began drawing crowds across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
Entrepreneur Leonard Jackson admired their stage presence and signed them to his Miyistic Insight label. Frequent personnel shifts nevertheless continued to interfere. Sonny exited for a solo career before the first session and brought Kenny “Keino” Redd aboard in his stead; Sonny himself released “Ghetto Boy” on Miyistic Insight in 1974. Thomas spent two albums with Kinsman Dazz on 20th Century Fox Records; after his departure, the group evolved into the Dazz Band on Motown.
Unable to maintain a fifth member, True Movement recorded as a quartet in 1974 and produced what many consider C-Town’s prettiest soul floater, “What a Lovely Way to Meet.” The single sold locally without national breakthrough yet found its strongest audience in England, where it became a favored bootleg item. A follow-up, “Depression,” failed to chart, prompting the group to disband. In 1982 they resurfaced as Avatarr with the lilting falsetto ballad “So Glad I Found You” on Miyistic Insight Records.
After Avatarr, Sonny and Keino continued as a duo in clubs and cabarets. Coghill joined the Sound Band in 1990, then formed Masterpiece with Keino and Larry Hancock. Hancock had earlier recorded with the Intertains on Uptown and with S.O.U.L. on Musicor Records. Masterpiece dissolved in 1993 when Coghill linked up with Ronnie Love and the Drifters.
Arthur Hayes formed the group in 1974; its original Cleveland, OH members were Hayes, William Thomas, Phillip Coghill, Ernest Mims, and Wayne Harris. After Hayes was murdered in a crime, Harris left the lineup in grief. The remaining trio was soon completed by Levell “Sonny” Cochran and John Cofer. Modeling themselves after the Temptations, the Chi-Lites, the Intruders, the Dramatics, and similar acts, they began drawing crowds across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
Entrepreneur Leonard Jackson admired their stage presence and signed them to his Miyistic Insight label. Frequent personnel shifts nevertheless continued to interfere. Sonny exited for a solo career before the first session and brought Kenny “Keino” Redd aboard in his stead; Sonny himself released “Ghetto Boy” on Miyistic Insight in 1974. Thomas spent two albums with Kinsman Dazz on 20th Century Fox Records; after his departure, the group evolved into the Dazz Band on Motown.
Unable to maintain a fifth member, True Movement recorded as a quartet in 1974 and produced what many consider C-Town’s prettiest soul floater, “What a Lovely Way to Meet.” The single sold locally without national breakthrough yet found its strongest audience in England, where it became a favored bootleg item. A follow-up, “Depression,” failed to chart, prompting the group to disband. In 1982 they resurfaced as Avatarr with the lilting falsetto ballad “So Glad I Found You” on Miyistic Insight Records.
After Avatarr, Sonny and Keino continued as a duo in clubs and cabarets. Coghill joined the Sound Band in 1990, then formed Masterpiece with Keino and Larry Hancock. Hancock had earlier recorded with the Intertains on Uptown and with S.O.U.L. on Musicor Records. Masterpiece dissolved in 1993 when Coghill linked up with Ronnie Love and the Drifters.