The Floaters
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | James Mitchell |
| Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Music recordings |
The Floaters were a vocal ensemble specializing in American R&B, originating from the Sojourner Truth housing complex in Detroit, Michigan. Established in 1976, they gained widespread recognition for their 1977 single "Float On", which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, secured the top position on the UK Singles Chart, and reached No. 5 in the Irish Singles Chart.
Career
This group was created by James Mitchell, previously a vocalist with the Detroit Emeralds, alongside his brother Paul Mitchell, Larry Cunningham, Charles Clark, and Ralph Mitchell. The majority of the members originated from Northeast Detroit, close to Hamtramck.
James Mitchell collaborated with Arnold Ingram and Marvin Willis to compose "Float On". The song’s lyrics uniquely present each member by stating their name, zodiac sign, and preferred type of romantic partner. Woody Wilson produced the track, which became an international sensation in 1977 under ABC Records, reaching No. 1 on the US R&B chart, No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.
Later releases such as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" only climbed to No. 28 on the Billboard R&B chart. Over several years, the group issued four studio albums but did not achieve comparable commercial success.
"Float On" has been revisited through numerous covers and samples, including a 2001 rendition by Full Force, interpretations by rap collective Stetsasonic, as well as parodies by Cheech & Chong and British act The Barron Knights. Additionally, Canadian hip-hop duo Dream Warriors incorporated elements of the song in their work.
Larry Cunningham (born June 23, 1951) died on January 10, 2019, aged 67. Paul Mitchell (born May 27, 1949) passed away on December 20, 2021, at age 72.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | AUS | CAN | NL | NZ | UK | ||||
| 1977 | Floaters | 10 | 1 | 28 | 49 | 15 | 36 | 17 |
|
ABC |
| 1978 | Magic | 131 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ABC | |
| 1979 | Float into the Future | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | MCA | |
| 1981 | Get Ready for the Floaters & Shu-Ga | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fee / WP | |
Compilation albums
- Float On: The Best of the Floaters (1998, Half Moon)
Singles
| Year | Single | Highest chart rankings | Certifications | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
AUS |
CAN |
IRE |
NLD |
NZ |
UK | ||||
| 1976 | "I Am So Glad I Took My Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Floaters | |
| 1977 | "Float On" | 2 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| |
| "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1978 | "I Just Want to Be with You" | — | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Magic | |
| "The Time Is Now" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1979 | "Levitation" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Float into the Future | |
| 1981 | "For Your Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Get Ready for the Floaters & Shu-Ga | |
| "Get Ready" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||