The Best Disco In Town Was Built In Philly

Admittedly I am not the disco historian that I once was, however while going through some of my old disco sides I came across this classic from The Ritchie Family. Little did I know that the girls who were singing and 1/2 of the talented team that, um, nurtured their creativity, were from Philly.

The original trio of The Ritchie Family included Gwendolyn Oliver, Cheryl Mason Jacks
and Cassandra Ann Wooten and while the band made their name in the dancing days of the late 70's they actually got their start in an R&B group in Philly called Honey & The Bees and were also background singers at the legendary Sigma Sound studios.

Ritchie Rome

The Richie Family took their name from Philly arranger and producer, Ritchie Rome one of the guys responsible for the group and its success, the other being Jaques Morali who created The Village People. When Morali came up with with the idea of recording a disco album at the Sigma Sound studios (anybody remember Bowie's Sigma Sound disco classic?). Ultimately they began working with Rome and Morali who chose the girls after they auditioned to go out on tour with Rome. The original lineup recorded three albums together with Rome and Morali.

The Best Disco In Town - The Ritchie Family

The Ritchie Family at Discomuseum.com