The Independents (vocal group)

The Independents were an American R&B vocal group active from 1971 to 1975. They scored several hits on the U.S. Pop and R&B charts. Their 1973 song "Leaving Me" reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. Sales of over a million copies led to a gold record being awarded by the R.I.A.A. on May 23, 1973.^[1]

After the group broke up and recording the solo albums, "Passionate Breezes" and "Gonna Getcha Love", Chuck Jackson, along with fellow group member Marvin Yancy, achieved success as the producers and writers for most of Natalie Cole's early chart releases and also had success with Phyllis Hyman and Ronnie Dyson. Jackson is the half-brother of the Reverend Jesse Jackson and is not related to singer Chuck Jackson.

The vocal group The Independents at WTBS (now WMBR) in Cambridge, MA, USA

Members

• Charles "Chuck" Jackson - born 22 March 1945, Greenville, South Carolina^[1]
• Maurice Jackson - born 12 June 1944, Chicago^[1]
• Helen Curry - born Clarksdale, Mississippi^[1]
• Eric Thomas - born Chicago^[1]
• Marvin Jerome Yancy - born 31 May 1950, Chicago^[1]

Discography

Albums

• The First Time We Met - (Wand Records, 1972) - U.S. #127, U.S. Black Albums #18^[2]
• Chuck, Helen, Eric & Maurice - (Wand Records, 1973)
• Discs of Gold (Wand Records, 2009) - U.S. Black Albums #42

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions[3]
		U.S. Pop Singles	U.S. Black Singles
1972	"I Just Want to Be There"	-	38
	"Just As Long As You Need Me, Part I"	84	8
1973	"Baby I've Been Missing You"	41	4
	"It's All Over"	65	12
	"Leaving Me"	21	1
1974	"Arise and Shine (Let's Get In On)"	-	19
	"Let This Be a Lesson to You"	88	7
	"The First Time We Met"	-	20

References

1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 328. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
2. Billboard, Allmusic.com
3. Billboard Singles. Allmusic.com.