Les Humphries Singers
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 in Hamburg, West Germany |
| Founder | Les Humphries |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Hamburg , West Germany |
| Products | Pop, gospel, country, folk, rhythm and blues, psychedelic music |
The Les Humphries Singers was a pop vocal ensemble established in Hamburg, West Germany, by English vocalist Les Humphries. Operating between 1969 and 1980, the group secured multiple chart successes throughout Germany and Europe. Their sound was a fusion of gospel, country, folk, rhythm and blues, and psychedelic music influences. Distinguished by its extensive and diverse membership—at times surpassing 30 individuals—the group featured future solo artists such as John Lawton, Jürgen Drews, and Liz Mitchell.
History and members
Born John Leslie Humphreys on 10 August 1940 in Croydon, Surrey, England, Les Humphries served as a band sergeant major in the Royal Navy. Motivated by the achievements of the Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel group, he founded the Les Humphries Singers in Hamburg in 1969. The initial roster included Humphries himself, Jimmy Bilsbury, Malcolm Magaron (lead vocals), along with Jürgen Drews, Judy Archer, En David, Myrna David, Peggy Evers, Dornee Edwards, Henner Hoier, Heike Kloen, Liz Mitchell, Victor Scott, and Tina Werner.
The group was notable for its ethnically diverse vocalists; some members like John Lawton were also involved with other musical acts. Jürgen Drews went on to establish a successful solo career highlighted by his 1976 German hit "Ein Bett im Kornfeld," which was a rendition of The Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow." Linda Thompson (originally Linda Übelherr), active between 1973 and 1974, later became part of Silver Convention and pursued solo endeavors under the name Linda G. Thompson. Henner Hoier (member from 1970 to 1971) had previously played with the Rivets and the Rattles before launching a solo career and eventually returning to those bands.
Among other prominent members were Liz Mitchell, who later became the lead singer of Boney M., and John Lawton, who performed with the German progressive/hard rock band Lucifer's Friend before fronting Uriah Heep.
In 1974, the Les Humphries Singers appeared in the German movie Es knallt - und die Engel singen, directed by Roberto Leoni and produced by Dieter Geissler Filmproduktion.
Les Humphries died on 26 December 2007 in Basingstoke, England due to a heart attack following pneumonia.
List of current and former members
- Les Humphries (1969–80) (died 26 December 2007)
- Jimmy Bilsbury (1969–77, 1982, 1992) (died 10 March 2003)
- John Lawton (1971–76) (died 29 June 2021)
- Earl Jordan (1972–76, 1982)
- Barry St. John (1972–73) (died 24 July 2020)
- Jürgen Drews (1969–??)
- Victor Scott (1970–76, 1982, 1992) (died 10 May 2020)
- Christopher Yim (1971–76, 1992)
- Peggy Evers (1970–76)
- Judy Archer (1970–76)
- Elvira Herbert (1972–75) (died 8 March 1980)
- Dave O'Brien (1973–76)
- Sheila McKinlay (1973–75, 1982, 1992)
- Enry David-Fascher (1970–72)
- Myrna David (1971–72)
- Malcolm Magaron (1970–72)
- Claudia Schwarz (1974–76)
- Emily Woods-Jensen (1974–76, 1992)
- Dornée Edwards (1970–71)
- Maddy Verhaar (1975–76)
- Lil Walker
- Don Adams (1974–75) (died 1995)
- Tina Kemp-Werner (1970–74)
- Barbara Johnson
- Gail Stevens (1974)
- Goldy Kloen-Evert (1970–71)
- Irene Bendorf (1971)
- Renate Andersen-Bilsbury (1974–76, 1982)
- Liz Mitchell
Musical background and style
The Les Humphries Singers achieved European acclaim by merging pop with gospel cover songs. Their musical approach, reminiscent of the disco group Boney M., fused elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, and disco, enhanced with psychedelic sound effects such as phasing and flanger. They employed extensive studio choruses to replicate the energy of live performances. Their ethnically diverse members and unique fashion sense contributed a hippie-inspired dimension to German-produced pop sung in English.
Hits and later reunions
Among their notable successes were "Mexico" (1972), which drew inspiration from the country tune "The Battle of New Orleans," and "Mama Loo" (1973), influenced by The Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann." Subsequent album releases featured modified lyrics for "Mexico," likely due to copyright constraints. Representing Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976, they performed "Sing Sang Song" by Ralph Siegel as a reduced six-member lineup instead of their customary large group, ultimately placing 15th. This event signaled the start of their waning popularity. Additionally, they served as the house vocal ensemble on the international television program The International Pop Proms, collaborating with artists including James Last.
Although the group dissolved in 1976, they briefly reunited from 1991 to 1993 to perform their classic hits live. In 2006, original members established "The Original Singers," excluding Humphries, and incorporated new artists to re-record their classics alongside fresh material. Later, in 2009, former members Jürgen Drews, Tina Kemp-Werner, Judy Archer, and Peggy Evers-Hartig initiated the "Les Humphries Singers Reunion."
Filmography
- 1974 - Es knallt - und die Engel singen, directed by Roberto Leoni (credited as Butch Lion)
- 2008 - Die Les Humphries Singers - Aufstieg Und Fall Einer Poplegende, directed by Andreas Fischer