Bernie Wilson, a founding member of the legendary R&B group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, passed away Sunday due to complications from a stroke and heart attack. Wilson, 64, died at a health care facility in Voorhees, New Jersey. Since the passing of Wilson, the only remaining member of the original five man group is Lloyd Parks.
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes helped define the famed Philly sound of the 70's. The group was formed in the early 50's and named themselves The Charlemagnes. The group changed their name to The Blue Notes in 1954 with a lineup that consisted of lead singer Harold Melvin, Bernard Wilson, Roosevelt Brodie, Jesse Gillis, Jr., and Franklin Peaker. Although they recorded many songs for various record labels, they only managed to receive a little notoriety for two small hits "My Hero" in 1960 and "Get Out (and Let Me Cry)" in 1965.
The quintet celebrated mega success when they recruited crooner Teddy Pendergrass and signed with the famed recording label of Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff's Philadelphia International in 1972. At this time, the classic Blue Notes lineup consisted of Harold Melvin, Wilson, Lawrence Brown and Lloyd Parks along with Pendergrass. Some of the group's most timeless recordings during their 70's musical reign-- "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (1972, their breakout single), "I Miss You" (1972), "The Love I Lost (1973), and "Don't Leave Me This Way" (1975), and socially conscious songs such as "Wake Up Everybody" and "Bad Luck" (both 1975).
Throughout the years, despite having achieved much success, the group's lineup kept changing. Pendergrass left the group in 1976 after a money dispute and after his lobbying efforts to have the name of the group changed to Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass failed. He went on to have a chart-breaking solo career but met a cruel fate when he was left paralyzed after a 1982 car accident. The group never did match or surpass the success they achieved after Pendergrass departed.
Wilson left the famed group in 1977 but kept performing up until a few years ago and had hoped to return to gospel singing.
The famed baritone performed with Parks, Brown and John Atkins as The Blue Notes after leaving Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Parks and Wilson, with Gil Saunders -- also a former Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes member -- toured as a trio for a time in the 1990s.
Funeral arrangements for Wilson are pending.