THE FALCONS
The Falcons were a Detroit vocal group who not only made one of the first soul records, but spawned both Eddie Floyd and Wilson Pickett.
In 1955, Eddie Floyd and Bob Manardo worked together in a Detroit jewelry store and decided to form a group. Manardo brought in Tom Shetler while Floyd recruited Arnett Robinson, who came up with the group’s name. Finally, Willie Schofield came aboard. Manardo and Shetler were white, making the Falcons one of rock ‘n’ roll's first mixed-race groups.
In 1956, the Falcons auditioned for Mercury Records. Their debut release, “Baby That’s It,” came out in August. Not longer after, Manardo and Shetler enlisted in the military, reducing the Falcons to a trio. Their manager, Robert West, acquired two new members: guitarist Lance Finnie and lead tenor Joe Stubbs (brother of the Four Tops’ Levi Stubbs). About a month after the new guys came aboard, Arnett Robinson quit the group; his replacement was Mack Rice. The “classic” Falcons were now born.
Their next several releases were on labels owned by Robert West. It was on his Flick imprint that the Falcons got their first taste of the big time. One of the earliest soul records, “You’re So Fine” was released in January 1959 and quickly took off in Detroit. West negotiated a distribution deal with Unart, a division of United Artists. The song became a national hit, going #2 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart and #17 pop.
In the summer of 1960, Wilson Pickett, 19, joined the Falcons to replace the departing Joe Stubbs. Pickett’s first lead was on the Sam Cooke-written “Pow! You’re In Love,” released in January 1961. Not long after, the Falcons’ United Artists contract expired and was not renewed. Robert West would now put out their material on his new imprint, Lu-Pine.
In January 1962, West issued “I Found a Love,” a remarkable ballad with a Pickett lead that was pure Southern church. Though far too gutbucket for the pop charts, where it stalled at #75, “I Found a Love” was an R&B smash, going to #6 on that survey.
In 1963, Pickett left the Falcons to launch his solo career. Not long after, Willie Schofield got his draft notice and the group broke up. However, Robert West did not want to give up the name; so he approached another of his groups, the Fabulous Playboys, and asked if they would become the new Falcons. The Playboys, having been together for seven years, were reluctant to give up their established name. However, they agreed to do so when West convinced them that they would make a lot more money as the Falcons.
In 1964, West was shot in a dispute over the management of singer Mary Wells. Needing a long period of recovery, he could no longer manage the Falcons. Frank Kocian took over and recorded them on his Big Wheel label. Their most successful release was “Standing On Guard,” a #29 R&B hit in 1966. In all, Kocian put out three singles on the Falcons, who disbanded in 1970.
In 1965, Mack Rice wrote and recorded “Mustang Sally,” which became a big hit for his former bandmate, Wilson Pickett, a year later. In 1966, Eddie Floyd signed with Stax Records in Memphis and hit paydirt with “Knock On Wood.” Joe Stubbs went on to sing with two Motown groups, the Contours (“Do You Love Me”) and the Originals (“Baby, I’m for Real”).
In 1980, Joe Stubbs, Mack Rice, Willie Schofield, and Lance Finnie teamed up with James Gibson to form a new Falcons group.
Joe Stubbs, 55, died on February 5, 1998. Wilson Pickett, 64, died on January 19, 2006. Mack Rice, 82, died on June 27, 2016. And Willie Schofield, 81, died on March 30, 2021.
Rock critic Dave Marsh included both “You’re So Fine” and “I Found a Love” in his 1989 book, The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.
Charted singles:
“You’re So Fine” (1959) R&B #2, Pop #17
“Just for Your Love” (1959) R&B #26
“The Teacher” (1960) R&B #18
“I Found a Love” (1962) R&B #6, Pop #75
“Standing On Guard” (1966) R&B #29
Other noteworthy Falcons tracks include “Baby That’s It” (1956), “Sent Up,” “Can This Be Christmas” (both 1957), “This Heart of Mine” (1958), “Goddess of Angels” (1959), “Pow!” You’re In Love” (1961), “Take This Love I’ve Got,” “Let’s Kiss and Make Up” (both 1963), “Has It Happened to You Yet” (1964), and “(I’m a Fool) I Must Love You” (1966).
