The Matador-Major Lance-'64-Okeh 7191.wmv

Major Lance (April 4, 1939[1] September 3, 1994) was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul.Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi. Major was his given forename.[2] As a child, he relocated with his family to Chicago, attending Wells High School - the same school as Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler - taking up boxing and also singing as a member of the Five Gospel Harmonaires.[3][4] In the mid-1950s, he and singer Otis Leavill formed a group, the Floats, who broke up before recording any material. Lance became a featured dancer on a local TV show, and presenter Jim Lounsbury secured him a one-off record deal with Mercury Records, who released his single "I Got a Girl", written and produced by Curtis Mayfield, in 1959. The record was not successful, and Lance worked at various jobs over the next few years.[3]

In 1962 he signed with OKeh Records on Mayfield's recommendation.[3] His first single, "Delilah", was not successful, but established his partnership with a writing and arranging team of Mayfield, Carl Davis, and Johnny Pate, often with members of Mayfield's group The Impressions on backing vocals. Together they developed a distinctive, Latin-tinged sound which epitomised Chicago soul in contrast to music recorded elsewhere.[3][2]

The second Okeh single, "The Monkey Time", became a #2 Billboard R&B chart and #8 pop hit in 1963. A succession of hits followed quickly, including "Hey Little Girl" (1963), "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" (his biggest hit, reaching #5 in the US pop chart and #40 in the UK, where it was his only chart success), "The Matador" (the only one not written by Mayfield) and "Rhythm" (1964), and "Sometimes I Wonder", "Come See", and "Ain't It A Shame" (1965).[5][6]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Blessed with a warm, sweet voice, Major Lance was one of the leading figures of Chicago soul during the '60s and the top-selling artist for OKeh Records during the decade. Lance not only had a lovely voice, but his material was excellent... It was urban, uptown soul and while it was considerably less gritty than its Southern counterpart, its breezy rhythms and joyous melodies made songs like "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" some of the most popular good-time R&B of its era."[3]

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[MrRonnieG]

In the Fall of 1964 I was beginning my senior year @ Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs, California (SoCal) and I just want to thank Major Lance and Curtis Mayfield for making the best time of my life just a little bit better. Everyone should be so lucky as to enjoy their 17th year as much as I did ~ great friends, great music, my '57 Chevy and the best memories an old man could ever have.

[raredoowop]

@MrRonnieG .good for you,

[vdwest4592]

I was ten years old when I first heard this song and I thought it was great! Thanks for preserving Major Lance's music.

[raredoowop]

@vdwest4592 .it's my pleasure

[polishblacksoul]

So damn positive! Thanks a lot for this amazing upload, brotha!

[raredoowop]

@polishblacksoul it's my pleasure

[standingbeark]

aaahhh, sounds of my youth!

[djdavemick]

One of Major's best. That awesome Chicago soul sound (think Jerry Butler/Curtis Mayfield).

[AAZ323]

I saw him live in Belgium twice. First time in disco Time Out in Ruisbroek (Antwerp), and the second time in Club Number One in Mechelen. Both in 1973.

[AAZ323]

I saw him live twice in Belgium. First time in disco Time Out in Ruisbroek (Antwerp) and the second time in Club Number One in Mechelen. Both in 1973.

[OldGoldSoul]

MAJOR LANCE DIED IN 1994  R.I.P.