The Whispers formed in 1964 in Los Angeles. The original members included the twin brothers, Scotty (Wallace) and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. In 1973, Harmon was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree. Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice featured on virtually all of their hits; he has been compared to Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.The group scored many hits on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and they hit #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1980 with "And the Beat Goes On" (not to be confused with Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On") / "Can You Do the Boogie" / "Out the Box". In 1987, they enjoyed a brief career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100 (it reached #7). The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
