From Detroit the fabulous Spinners with their classic Rubberband Man 3:34

The Spinners Rubberband Man album version 7:15
     "So much rhythm, grace, & debonair for one man?  Lord!!!"

       In 1963 a group of young singers from Detroit calling themselves The Spinners joined the Motown label.  They came to the attention of Motown's Berry Gordy through Henry Faqua.  Faqua was Gordy's Brother-in-Law as well as a member of the Spinners and an executive at Tri-Phi records.  Motown bought out Tri-Phi and the Spinners came with the package as did Marvin Gaye.  At Motown The Spinners were considered a good, not great, singing group and they had limited commercial success.  Eventually they were relegated to the backwaters of Motown and the paradoxically named V.I.P. label.
      In 1972 The Spinners Motown contract was expiring.  Aretha Franklin, a fan of the group, suggested they join her at Atlantic Records.  They made the move but in the process lost lead singer GC Cameron who had signed a separate contract with Motown and could not make the jump.  He was replaced by his cousin Phillipe Wynne.  Wynne already at Atlantic had a strong reputation in the music industry from his time spent singing in Bootsy Collins band and then later with James Brown.  They hooked up with Philadelphia record producer & songwriter Thom Bell and they now had in place the makings of a chart topping super-group.
      From 1973 to 1978 The Spinners release 5 Gold records which eventually garnered them a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  They released 15 singles in a row that charted  top 10 on the R&B charts including 6 #1 hits.  They attained major crossover success in 1974 when they hit #1 in the country with the song Then Came You with Dionne Warwick.  This was followed in 1975 with the song Games People Play with Barbara Ingram.  Producer Thom Bell reported later that Ms. Ingram didn't sing on that record and the female voice was actually provided by group member Henry Fambrough sped up to emulate a female voice.  Ingram and then later Wynne disputed that claim.  Ingram is credited in most places and there is no definitive proof that contradicts it.  The controversy has never been fully resolved and, to my knowledge, Fambrough's never commented one way or the other but it is interesting to note that he is a baritone.  Personally I believe Barbara Ingram sang the part and Bell's comment was intended as a joke or for publicity.
      In 1976 the Spinners hit it big again, reaching #2 on the national charts, with Rubberband Man.  The song is about as much fun as you can have with music and voices.  It features a witty lyric describing a short fat musician that comically plays a rubber band stretched between his bare feet.  Wynne provides catchy commentary during each bridge including the rhythm, grace, and debonair quote at the top of the post. The song dares you to not tap your feet or dance.  Each time I hear it I smile.  The song has remained in the national psyche resurfacing every few years in movies, on TV, as well as being covered whole or through sampling by other music artists.  It was used in the movie Stripes in the early 80's as well as the Muppet Show.  It showed back up again each time baseball pitcher Carlos Marmol entered the game at Wrigley Field for the Cubs.  Then it famously was featured in the very funny Office Max Commercial  linked here.
      Fifty two years later The Spinners are still a touring act albeit with only one original member, Henry Fambrough, still performing.  Most of the early members of the band have passed away but the music they made lives on.  They were a great vocal group who hit their stride and left an indelible impression on the music world.  Please take a moment to enjoy Rubberband Man one of the most fun songs to ever come out of the record industry.

The Detroit Spinners Essentials at amazon