In Memoriam: One-Hit Wonders on Buddah Records â The 5 Stairstepsâ James Burke and singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly
Remembering James Burke of The 5 Stairstepsâ âO-o-h Childâ and Jim Weatherlyâs âThe Need to Beâ plus âMidnight Train to Georgiaâ as a songwriter
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Feb 24, 2021
In 1970, as the late 1960s bubblegum music era ended for Buddah Records, the label successfully promoted their soul group, The 5 Stairsteps, who had a pair of Top 40 soul hits on the label in 1968, “Something’s Missing” and “A Million to One.” As the new decade began, the Chicago Burke siblings achieved their sole Top 40 pop hit, “O-o-h Child,” with the members singing lead on different parts, beginning with the only female, Alohe “Lannie,” along with her brothers Keni on bass, Dennis on drums and guitar, Clarence, Jr. on guitar, and also on guitar, James, who passed away on February 19 at the age of 70. The soothing “O-o-h Child” became a gold single for the quintet in the year when The Jackson 5 scored 4 consecutive No. 1 singles for Motown.