The Hues Corporation
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 in Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Founder | Wally Holmes, Bernard St. Clair Lee |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica , United States |
| Products | Pop and soul music recordings |
The Hues Corporation was a trio from the United States specializing in pop and soul music, established in Santa Monica, California, in 1969. Their most notable achievement is the 1974 chart-topping single "Rock the Boat", which sold more than two million copies and significantly contributed to the rise of disco music.
Group name and background
Prior to gaining widespread recognition, they served as opening acts for prominent performers such as Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell. Initially, the ensemble consisted of six members: three vocalists—Joey Rivera (formerly with the Checkmates), Monti Lawston, and Bob "Bullet" Bailey (previously part of the Leaves)—alongside three instrumentalists. Rivera, Lawston, and Bailey eventually departed to create the band Goodstuff.
Their name is a play on words referencing the Howard Hughes Corporation, with "hue" symbolizing color. At the time their debut album was released, the group comprised St. Clair Lee (born Bernard St. Clair Lee on April 24, 1944; died March 8, 2011), Fleming Williams (December 26, 1943 – February 15, 1998), and Hubert Ann Kelley (April 24, 1947 – July 20, 2023). The record company initially declined their original name choice, The Children of Howard Hughes.
Career
The formation of the group in 1969 was spearheaded by songwriter Wally Holmes and Bernard St. Clair Lee. Female vocalist H. Ann Kelley was discovered during a talent contest in Los Angeles, while Karl Russell joined after responding to advertisements placed in Southern California record stores. Their debut single, "Goodfootin'" / "We're Keepin' Our Business," launched through Liberty Records in 1970, failed to enter the charts.
With Karl Russell as a member, their major breakthrough occurred in 1972 when they contributed three tracks—"There He Is Again," "What the World Knows," and "I'm Gonna Catch You"—to the soundtrack of the blaxploitation film Blacula. After this period, Fleming Williams replaced Russell and the band secured a contract with RCA Records. Their follow-up single under RCA, "Freedom for the Stallion," from an album sharing its title, peaked at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The subsequent release, "Rock the Boat," achieved No. 1 status on Billboard and became their hallmark track. Bassist Wilton Felder contributed to this recording session. Written by Holmes, "Rock the Boat" debuted in February 1974 in the United States and later in July in the UK, where it reached No. 1 for one week domestically and No. 6 for two weeks overseas. It remained on U.S. charts for eighteen weeks and earned a gold certification from the RIAA. Selling over two million copies, it is recognized as one of disco’s pioneering hits.
After "Rock the Boat," additional singles that charted on Billboard's Hot 100 were "Rockin' Soul" (No. 18 in 1974), "Love Corporation" (No. 62 in 1975), and "I Caught Your Act" (No. 92 in 1977). Despite efforts, they were unable to match their prior commercial success and disbanded around 1980—though some accounts suggest as early as 1978—corroborated by footage from a Chilean television special aired in 1979 and a last single released alongside a sixth album distributed in regions including New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa. The disco resurgence during the 1990s led to reunion tours and appearances such as on PBS’s Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion.
Group members
Fleming Williams took over from Karl Russell as the male lead vocalist on "Rock the Boat," but departed soon after the track was recorded.
Following Williams, Tommy Brown briefly assumed the lead role. St. Clair Lee later mentioned that Williams came back to replace Brown. Around 1975, after Williams' final exit, Karl Russell returned to lead vocals. By 1979, Kenny James had become the frontman, featured in Chilean television footage promoting their appearance at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival and on the cover of their 1980 album Boogie Me, Move Me.
Hubert Ann Kelley left the ensemble to pursue a career in ministry.
During the 1990s, St. Clair Lee reformed the group, bringing in Bruce Glover and Elaine Woodard as fresh members.
According to the Social Security Death Index, Fleming Williams passed away in February 1998; however, some reports suggest September 1992 as the date. His death followed a prolonged illness and battles with substance abuse. A 2011 theatrical production in his hometown of Flint depicted his passing as a suicide.
St. Clair Lee, a founding member, died of natural causes on March 8, 2011, in Lake Elsinore, California, at age 66. He was survived by his mother, sons, and sister.
Original member Hubert Ann Kelley died on July 20, 2023, in Los Angeles at the age of 76.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Label | Highest chart rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | CAN | ||||
| 1973 | Freedom for the Stallion | RCA Victor | 20 | 59 | 10 | |
| 1974 | Rockin' Soul | 147 | 40 | — | ||
| 1975 | Love Corporation | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | I Caught Your ActTemplate:Efn-ua | Warner Bros. | — | — | — | |
| 1978 | Your Place or Mine | — | — | — | ||
| 1980 | Boogie Me, Move MeTemplate:Efn-ua | — | — | — | ||
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not issued in that market. | ||||||
Compilation albums
- Best of the Hues Corporation – RCA Victor (1977)
- Rock the Boat – Collectables Records (1991)
- Rock the Boat – The Best of the Hues Corporation – RCA (1993)
- The Masters – Eagle Records (1997)
- The Very Best of the Hues Corporation – Pickwick Records (1998)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | BE (FLA) | BE (WA) | CAN | CAN AC | GER | IRE | NL | NZ | UK | US | US AC | US R&B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 | "Goodfootin'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972 | "There He Is Again" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | "Freedom for the Stallion" | 86 | 16 |
63 |
9 |
- |
"Miracle Maker (Sweet Soul Shaker)" |
- |
1974 | "Rock the Boat"
18 6 2 1 1 7 9 4 8 6 1 12 2
|
"Rockin' Soul"
71 22 — 33 40 32 — 9 — 24 18 — 6 - |
1975 | "Love Corporation"
—
—
31
79
—
—
—
26
39
55Cite error: Invalid |
"I'll Take a Melody"
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
54Cite error: Invalid |
"One Good Night Together"
— — — — — — — — — — — — |
"You Showed Me What Love Is"
— — — — — — — — — — — — - |
1977 | "I Caught Your Act"
— — — — — — — — 6 — 92 — 61 |
"Telegram of Love"
— • • • • • • • • • • • • - |
1978 | "Give Me Everything"
• • • • • • • • • • • • |
"With All My Love and Affection"
• • • • • • • • • • • • - |
1980 | "Something in Return"
• • • • • • • • • • • • |
"Boogie Me, Move Me" (New Zealand-only release)
• • • • • • • • • • • • - |
"Sugar Town" (Japan-only release)
• • • • • • • • • • • • -} See also
External links
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