The Controllers (R&B band)

The Controllers are an American soul and R&B vocal group, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, who had a series of successful recordings in the late 1970s and the 1980s.[1]

The Controllers
Origin	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Genres	Soul, R&B
Years active	1975–1997
Labels	Juana (1977-1980); CMP (Private label/1982); MCA (1984-1987); Capitol (1989); Malaco (1997)
Website	http://www.insidethejukejoint.com/TheControllers.htm
Members	Leonard Brown
Past members	Rickey G. Lewis Larry McArthur Reginald McArthur

Career

Originally part of an eight-member gospel group, the group became four in number by the time they entered junior high school, comprising Reginald McArthur (baritone lead), Rickey G. Lewis (tenor lead), Larry McArthur and Lenard Brown. Their growing reputation in the Birmingham area led to an introduction to Cleveland Eaton, bassist for the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Under Eaton's guidance, The Soul Controllers, as they were then called, recorded their first single, called "Right On Brother, Right On". It became a regional hit while they were still attending Fairfield High School.[2]

In 1976, the group came to the attention of Juana Records, run by Frederick Knight, also from Birmingham. Recording at the Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi, their first single on Juana charted, but it was their second release, "Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose", that really established them. The song, a ballad lasting over eight minutes on the album, climbed to #8 on US Billboard R&B chart,[3] and #3 on the Cash Box soul chart in 1977. The group's on-stage performances also helped them to open for Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, B.B. King and The Temptations.

A follow-up ballad, "Heaven Is Only A Step Away" climbed to #37 R&B,[3] but despite the release of two more albums on Juana, the group failed to find another major single success.

In 1983, the group signed with the late Jimmy Bee, a San Francisco based manager, and got a recording contract with MCA Records. Their first release on the label, "Crushed" (which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica) returned them to the charts, reaching #30 R&B, in 1984 and two years later, "Stay" climbed to #12.[3] Their cover version of the Marvin Gaye song, "Distant Lover" also proved popular. These hits led to a series of appearances on Soul Train and performances at the Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. During this time, the group also performed on MTV, BET's Video Soul and on HBO.

Under the guidance of Bee, the Controllers made a move to Capitol Records in 1989 for the album Just In Time, which failed to produce any hits but rekindled their popularity among the group's loyal following.[2]

After a break from touring and recording, the four returned in the late 1990s, and joined Malaco Records for their self-produced album, Clear View, which contained a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", and a revised "Somebody's Gotta Win".[4]

Lenard Brown and Reginald McArthur were co-hosts of a syndicated talk show in the Southeastern United States, Inside The Juke Joint, where artists, songwriters, arrangers and musicians talk about their careers and lives.[5]

Reginald McArthur (born Reginald Duwayne McArthur on September 25, 1954) died on April 19, 2018 at age 63.[6]

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Peak chart position
		^US R&B
1977	In Control	146
1978	Fill Your Life With Love	—
1979	Next in Line	47
1984	The Controllers	47
1986	Stay	25
1987	For the Love of My Woman	72
1989	Just in Time	—
1997	Clear View[2]	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		^US Dance [3]	^US R&B [3]	^UK [7]
1976	"The People Want Music"	—	82	—
	"This Train"	—	—	―
1977	"Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose"	—	8	—
1978	"Heaven Is Only One Step Away"	―	37	―
	"If Somebody Cares"	—	65	—
1979	"I Can't Turn The Boogie Loose"	42	90	—
1980	"Let Me Entertain You"	84	—	—
	"We Don't"	―	43	―
1981	"I Gambled On Your Love And Lost"	―	―	—
	"My Love Is Real"	―	76	―
1984	"Crushed / Nothing Can Stop This Feeling"	―	30	―
1986	"Distant Lover"	―	34	―
	"Stay"	―	12	77
	"Break Out The Love"	―	—	―
1987	"Sleeping Alone"	―	24	―
1988	"Play Time"	―	69	―
1989	"Temporary Lovers"	―	43	―
	"I Wanna Be With U (Right Now)"	―	—	―
	"Just In Time"	―	87	―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

1. "The Controllers: Biography by Ron Wynn". Allmusic. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
2. "The Controllers - Soul Walking Biography". Retrieved November 30, 2015.
3. "The Controllers Top Songs - Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
4. "The Controllers". The Malaco Music Group. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
5. 98.7 Kiss FM - The Juke Joint with Lenard Brown and Red G McArthur, Saturday: 8am – 10am. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
6. "Reginald McArthur September 25, 1954 - April 19, 2018". Chambersfuneralhome.net. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
7. "THE CONTROLLERS - full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2020.

External links

• Album and Singles Discography at Discogs.