William Hart, Lead Singer Of The Delfonics, Dies At 77
William “Poogie” Hart, the lead singer of the Grammy-winning R&B group The Delfonics has died, gossip site TMZ reports. He was 77. Hart’s son Hadi told the outlet that William had trouble breathing recently and was taken to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia where he passed Thursday (July 14) from complications during surgery.
Hart created the group with his younger brother Wilbert and added Randy Cain, and producer/arranger Thom Bell. Hart and Bell wrote a majority of their hits including “La-La (Means I Love You),” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “Break Your Promise,” “I’m Sorry,” and “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love).” “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love)” was famously sampled by the Fugees.
The group were popular in the ’60s and ’70s; a lot of their music has been used in films such as Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 Jackie Brown, Spike Lee’s Crooklyn and The Family Man with Nicolas Cage.
In 1971, the group won a Grammy for “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group, Vocal Or Instrumental.
The original band split in 1975 after achieving twelve top-20 hits on Billboard’s R&B and Soul Single Chart. Following the split, William, and Cain added Major Harris and went on to perform into the ’90s and early 2000s.
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