THE EMOTIONS

The group originally consisted of sisters Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette Hutchinson of Chicago. They sang sacred music as the Hutchinson Sunbeams and toured the gospel circuit with their father. They later transitioned to soul music and renamed themselves the Emotions. They signed with the Memphis-based Stax label and recorded for its Volt subsidiary. Isaac Hayes and David Porter produced the group’s debut album, So I Can Love You, the title track of which became their first hit single in 1969.

The Emotions ran up a string of Soul hits on Volt and appeared in the 1973 concert film, Wattstax. Their second LP, Untouched, came out in 1972, but their third album, Songs of Innocence and Experience, was unissued.

After Stax folded in 1975, the Emotions moved on to Columbia. There, they associated with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. He and Charles Stepney produced the group’s Columbia debut album, Flowers. When Stepney died in 1976, White became the group’s sole producer, helming their their next LP, Rejoice. Its first single, “Best of My Love,” gave the Emotions their greatest success. It topped the Soul chart for four weeks and the pop chart for five. It also was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, as was the Rejoice album. And “Best of My Love” won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Rejoice further marked the debut appearance of the group’s younger sister, Pamela Huchinson.

The single’s success prompted Stax to issue a compilation LP on the Emotions titled Sunshine, a single from which, “Shouting Out Love,” made #31 on the R&B chart. The group’s third Columbia album, Sunbeam, came out in 1978. It produced the top ten Soul hit, “Smile,” and was certified Gold.

Nineteen Seventy-Nine gave the Emotions their second-biggest hit when they collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire. “Boogie Wonderland” reached #2 R&B and #6 pop, was certified Gold by the RIAA, and received two Grammy nominations. Maurice White further produced their next studio album, Come Into Our World, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

In 1983, Wanda and Jeanette Hutchinson appeared on Jennifer Holliday’s Grammy-nominated LP, Feel My Soul. That same year, Wanda and Pamela were featured on Earth, Wind & Fire’s album, Electric Universe. By 1984, the Emotions were on Red Label Records, for whom they released their eighth studio album, Sincerely. Hugh Wyatt of the New York Daily News called it “top shelf.” The following year, they released their ninth LP, If I Only Knew, on Motown.

In 1989, the Emotions appeared on the Tyler Collins album, Girls Nite Out. In 1990, Jeanette and Wanda were featured on EWF’s Heritage album. That same year, they made a guest appearance on Nancy Wilson’s Lady With Song release. In 1995, the Emotions turned up on the jazz group Urban Knights’ self-titled album. Also that year, they appeared on LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith and George Duke’s Illusions. A year later, they performed on Do Or Die by the Gospel Gangstaz. In 1998, the Emotions were featured on the TV series, Motown Live. And a year after that, they were guest vocalists on Smokey Robinson’s Grammy nominated album, Intimate.

In 2001, the Emotions received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s prestigious Pioneer Award. In 2003, they appeared on EWF’s album, The Promise, which Maurice White produced. Its single, “All in the Way,” made Billboard magazine’s Adult Contemporary chart. In 2004, the Emotions appeared on a PBS soul-music special hosted by Patti LaBelle. And in September of that year, Stax finally released the Songs of Innocence and Experience album.

In 2006, the Emotions collaborated with Snoop Dogg on the song “Life,” which appeared on his album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. And in 2016, they guested on Terrace Martin’s Grammy-nominated release, Velvet Portraits.

Pamela Hutchinson, 61, died on September 18, 2020.

Charted singles:

“So I Can Love You” (1969) R&B #3, Pop #39
“The Best Part of a Love Affair” (1969) R&B #27, Pop #101
“Stealing Love” (1969) R&B #40
“When Tomorrow Comes” (1969) R&B #40
“Heart Association” (1970) R&B #29
“You Make Me Want to Love You” (1971) R&B #47
“Show Me How” (1971) R&B #13, Pop #52
“My Honey and Me” (1972) R&B #18, Pop #113
“I Could Never Be Happy” (1972) R&B #23, Pop #93
“From Toys to Boys” (1972) R&B #37, Pop #112
“Runnin’ (Back and Forth)” (1973) R&B #91
“Put a Little Love Away” (1974) R&B #53, Pop #73
“Flowers” (1976) R&B #16, Pop #87
“I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” (1976) R&B #13, Pop #51
“Best of My Love” (1977) R&B #1 (4 weeks), Pop #1 (5 weeks), Dance #11
“Don’t Ask My Neighbors” (1977) R&B #7, Pop #44
“Shouting Out Love” (1977) R&B #31
“Baby, I’m Through” (1978) R&B #59
“Smile” (1978) R&B #6, Pop #102
“Whole Lot of Shakin’” (1978) R&B #44
“Walking the Line” (1978) R&B #58
“Boogie Wonderland” (with Earth, Wind & Fire, 1979) R&B #2, Pop #6, Dance #14
“What’s the Name of Your Love?” (1979) R&B #30
“Where Is Your Love?” (1980) R&B #75
“Come Into My World” (1980) Dance #95
“Turn It Out” (1981) R&B #48, Dance #50
“Now That I Know” (1981) R&B #68
“You’re the One” (1984) R&B #34
“You’re the Best” (1984) R&B #52, Dance #33
“Are You Through With My Heart?” (1984) R&B #87
“All in the Way” (with Earth, Wind & Fire, 2003) R&B #77, Adult Contemporary #25