For the Royal Air force parachute display team, see RAF Falcons. For other uses, see Falcons (disambiguation).

The Falcons were an American rhythm and blues vocal group, some of whose members went on to be influential in soul music.[1]

History

The Falcons formed in 1955 in Detroit, Michigan on the Mercury Records imprint. After personnel changes in 1956, The Falcons had hits for the Lu Pine Records label with the million-selling "You're So Fine" (1959),[2] and "I Found a Love" (1962).[3] The group recorded under the production wing of Robert West, who gave the group a gospel sound and recorded the singers on his own Flick label. "You're So Fine" was a national hit, charting at No. 17, on United Artists' Unart label after being picked up from Flick.[3]

Joe Stubbs was the lead singer, also on the singles "Just for Your Love" (1959) and "The Teacher" (1960), before Wilson Pickett replaced him in 1960.[3] After 1963, the Fabulous Playboys took over the Falcons name. The later group comprised Carlis 'Sonny' Munro, James Gibson, Johnny Alvin, and Alton Hollowell.[3] This group made the R&B chart in 1966, with "Standing on Guard".[3] In 2005, Munro briefly reformed the group with Frank Garcia, Calvin Stephenson and Charnissa Stephenson.

Deaths

James Gibson died from prostate cancer in 1984.[4]

Joe Stubbs died on February 5, 1998, at the age of 55.

Bob Manardo died from cancer in Warren, Michigan, on March 6, 2004, at the age of 67.[5]

Wilson Pickett died on January 19, 2006, at the age of 64.[6]

Robert Ward died on December 25, 2008, at the age of 70.[7]

Carlis "Sonny" Monroe died on March 24, 2009, at the age of 71.[8]

Alton "Bart" Hollowell died on August 15, 2010, at the age of 76.[9]

Tom Schettler died on March 9, 2015, at the age of 79.[10]

Mark Rice died on June 27, 2016, at the age of 82.[11]

Arnett Robinson died on June 18, 2018, at the age of 75.[12]

Lance Finney died on February 14, 2019, at the age of 80.[13]

Singer and songwriter Willie Schofield (born December 30, 1939) died from acute kidney failure at his home in Southfield, Michigan, on March 30, 2021, at the age of 81.[14]

Francisco "Frank" Garcia II is deceased.[15]

Members

Some members were replaced over time: [16]

  • Eddie Floyd (1955–1962; 1963)
  • Bob Manardo (1955–1956; died 2004)
  • Arnett Robinson (1955–1956; died 2018)
  • Tom Schettler (1955–1956; died 2015)
  • Willie Schofield (1955–1962; 1962–1963; died 2021)
  • Joe Stubbs (1956–1960; 1963; died 1998)
  • Lance Finney (1956–1963; died 2019)
  • Robert Ward (c. 1960; died 2008)
  • Mack Rice (1956–1963; died 2016)
  • Wilson Pickett (1960–1963; died 2006)
  • Ben Knight (1962)
  • Gene "Earl" Martin (1962–1963)
  • Carlis "Sonny" Monroe (1963–1970; 1982–2008; died 2009)
  • James Gibson (1963–1970; died 1984)
  • Johnny Alvin (1963–1970)
  • Alton "Bart" Hollowell (1963–1970; died 2010)
  • Chester Flemings (1959)
  • Francisco "Frank" Garcia II (2005–2008; died)
  • Calvin "Dhaak" Stephenson (2005–2008)
  • Charnissa Stephenson (2006–2008)
  • Joseph Jackson (1929 - 2018)

Discography

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Pop
[17] 		US R&B
[17]
1959 "You're So Fine" 17 2
"You're Mine" 107 ―
"Just for Your Love" ― 26
1960 "The Teacher" ― 18
1962 "I Found a Love" 75 6
1966 "Standing on Guard" 107 29
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 113. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  4. ^ "I Love Detroit - Sonny Munro - Falcons Interview by Rob Moss". Soul Source. January 22, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  5. ^ "The Falcons". Soul Kinda Music. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  6. ^ "Wilson Pickett, 64, Soul Singer of Great Passion, Dies". The New York Times. January 20, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  7. ^ Cartwright, Garth (March 4, 2009). "Robert Ward". The Guardian. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  8. ^ "Mr. Carlis McKinley Munro". O.H. Pye III Funeral Home. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  9. ^ "Alton Hollowell". Tribute Archive. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  10. ^ "Thomas Ford Schettler". Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  11. ^ "BMI Mourns the Loss of Bonny 'Sir Mack' Rice". BMI. June 28, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  12. ^ "Mr. Arnett Robinson". O.H. Pye III Funeral Home. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "Mr. Charles Lance Finney". O.H. Pye III Funeral Home. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  14. ^ "Willie M. Schofield 1939 - 2021". Legacy.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Remembering Francisco Garcia". Facebook. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  16. ^ Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Falcons. Marv Goldberg, based on interviews with Joe Stubbs, Willie Schofield, Mack Rice, and James Gibson. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "The Falcons Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved April 16, 2022.