The Delfonics’s William Hart dies at 77
William Hart, the influential lead singer of soul group The Delfonics, died in Philadelphia on July 14. He was 77.
According to the New York Times, Hart died at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia from “complications caused during surgery”.
Hart’s unique falsetto and the crisp harmonies of the younger Wilbert and Randy Cain defined the emerging Philadelphia soul sound of the late 1960s. Along with Jamaican Thom Bell, Hart wrote some of the trio’s biggest hit songs, including La-La (Means I Love You), I’m Sorry, Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love), and Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).
The Delfonics’ songs have been covered or sampled by numerous artistes including The Fugees, who sampled Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love) for Ready or Not, one of the big hits from their 1996 multi-platinum album, The Score.
As for reggae covers, Derrick Harriott and Linval Thompson recorded versions of La La (Means I Love You) while Johnny Osbourne did Ready or Not.
William Hart was one of many vocalists from Philadelphia who had a strong influence on Jamaican artistes. Others were Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, Russell Thompkins Jr of The Stylistics, Ted Mills of Blue Magic, and Dee Dee Sharp.
— Howard Campbell