Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in the New Orphanage Asylum for Colored Children in Cincinnati, Ohio,[1] Wynne went to Detroit in the early 1960s and began his musical career with his brother Michael Walker as a gospel singer. He soon switched to R&B and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins's Pacemakers in 1968 and with James Brown's J.B.'s shortly thereafter. Wynne then spent time in Germany as the lead singer of the Afro Kings, a band from Liberia, before he replaced his cousin, G. C. Cameron, as one of the lead vocalists for The Spinners. He sang with the group until 1977, during which they achieved several successful albums and singles.
Wynne was one of three lead singers of the Spinners, but after several years with the group, he wanted the group's name changed to Philippe Wynn and the Spinners. When this was denied, he left the group and launched a solo career, with Alan Thicke as his manager.[2] Wynne also shifted his focus to the business end of the music industry, making a publishing group and record label.[3] With Wynne's departure, neither Wynne nor the Spinners would experience the level of success they had when they were together. Wynne's first album Starting All Over was released on Cotillion Records in 1977 but had limited success and no hit singles.[2] He was released from his Cotillion Records contract. He began working with George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic in 1979. He performed with them on several recordings, and was a featured vocalist on the Funkadelic single "(Not Just) Knee Deep" (a No. 1 hit on the Billboard R&B chart).[2] While associated with Parliament-Funkadelic, Wynne also appeared on the Bootsy Collins album Sweat Band. Wynne released what would be his second solo album, Wynne Jammin', in 1980 Uncle Jam Records, a label fronted by George Clinton and Clinton's manager Archie Ivy. However, the album was not a major seller. Wynne made a guest appearance on the song "Something Inside My Head" by Gene Dunlap, and in the song "Whip It" by the Treacherous Three. Wynne's final album was the self-titled Philippé Wynne, released by Sugar Hill Records in 1984.
Family
His parents, DeGree Walker and Annie (née Wynn) divorced in November 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Around 1952, Philippe and his three siblings – Annie Walker, who later became an opera singer, Michael Leon Walker, and Margaret Walker – were placed in the New Orphan Asylum for Colored Children (which closed in 1967), in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, on Van Buren Street. Their father, DeGree Walker, was granted custody after the divorce, although he worked as a contractor in construction and had to travel.[4] Their mother, Annie, had run off to Detroit with another man.[5][6]
I guess the hardest part to take was being there and knowing that both of your parents were still alive.
Around 1956, Philippé and his brother, Michael, ran away from the orphanage and headed to Detroit, Michigan to find their mother. In Detroit, the two formed a gospel group called the Walker Singers. This lasted until Philippe adopted his mother's surname, Wynn (initially without an "e"), and moved on to The Spinners as lead singer.[4][5]
Marriage and children
Wynne married Ava Leflor on February 1, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had two sons, Emmanuel Wynn (1973–2001) and Alvarez Escalante Wynn (1975–1999). Ava was from the Los Angeles suburb of Compton, California, and the four of them moved back to California after Philippé left The Spinners. Philippé and Ava eventually divorced. Wynne died in 1984. His son Alvarez was killed in a drive-by shooting in Compton in 1999. His other son Emmanuel, who was living in Daytona Beach, Florida, drowned two years later in 2001 while trying to save a man. Emmanuel was posthumously given the Carnegie Medal for his heroism.[7]
Death
On July 13, 1984, Wynne suffered a heart attack while performing at a nightclub in Oakland, California. He died the next day, at the age of 43.[8]
^"Deep Online 2/2006". www.soulexpress.net. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
^ abcElias, Jason. "Soul Retrospective: The Spinners". soultrain.com. Soul Train. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
^Williams, Jean (April 2, 1977). "Vocalist Wynn Is Learning Finances". General News. Billboard. Vol. 90, no. 11. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ abc"Former Spinner Remembers Roots," by Allen Howard, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 12, 1981 (retrieved August 18, 2016, via www.newspapers.com, fee required)
^ ab"Cass Class," by Detroitblogger John, Detroit Metro Times, November 25, 2009 (retrieved August 18, 2016)
^"Michael Walker, CD, Oh, Yes! — Presenting ... Michael Walker" (CD review and interview from the "Deep Soul" column), by Patrick Green, Sterling Williams, Billy Price, Soul Express Online, September 2006 (retrieved August 18, 2016)
^"Act Of Heroism Wins Top Award; Emmanuel Wynn, Who Lost His Life Trying To Save Another, Was Given The Carnegie Medal," by Ludmilla Lelis, Orlando Sentinel, April 27, 2001 (retrieved August 18, 2016)
^Ap (July 16, 1984). "Philippe Wynne, Soul Singer, Is Stricken at Club and Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Philippe Wynne news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Philippe Wynne aka Philippe Escalante Wynn ne Walker April 3 1941 July 14 1984 was an American singer best known for his role as a lead vocalist of The Spinners a role he shared with fellow group members Bobby Smith and Henry Fambrough Wynne scored notable hits such as How Could I Let You Get Away The Rubberband Man and One of a Kind Love Affair After leaving The Spinners Wynne never regained the same success although he was featured in hits by other artists such as Not Just Knee Deep by Funkadelic Wynne died of a heart attack while performing at a nightclub Philippe WynneBackground informationBirth namePhillippe WalkerAlso known asSoul Walker WynneBorn 1941 04 03 April 3 1941Cincinnati Ohio U S DiedJuly 14 1984 1984 07 14 aged 43 Oakland California U S GenresSoul funkOccupation s SingerInstrument s VocalsYears active1968 1984LabelsAtlantic Sugar Hill Contents 1 Life and career 2 Family 2 1 Marriage and children 3 Death 4 Discography 4 1 Albums 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksLife and career EditBorn in Cincinnati Ohio and raised in the New Orphanage Asylum for Colored Children in Cincinnati Ohio 1 Wynne went to Detroit in the early 1960s and began his musical career with his brother Michael Walker as a gospel singer He soon switched to R amp B and attained some measure of success singing with Bootsy Collins s Pacemakers in 1968 and with James Brown s J B s shortly thereafter Wynne then spent time in Germany as the lead singer of the Afro Kings a band from Liberia before he replaced his cousin G C Cameron as one of the lead vocalists for The Spinners He sang with the group until 1977 during which they achieved several successful albums and singles Wynne was one of three lead singers of the Spinners but after several years with the group he wanted the group s name changed to Philippe Wynn and the Spinners When this was denied he left the group and launched a solo career with Alan Thicke as his manager 2 Wynne also shifted his focus to the business end of the music industry making a publishing group and record label 3 With Wynne s departure neither Wynne nor the Spinners would experience the level of success they had when they were together Wynne s first album Starting All Over was released on Cotillion Records in 1977 but had limited success and no hit singles 2 He was released from his Cotillion Records contract He began working with George Clinton s Parliament Funkadelic in 1979 He performed with them on several recordings and was a featured vocalist on the Funkadelic single Not Just Knee Deep a No 1 hit on the Billboard R amp B chart 2 While associated with Parliament Funkadelic Wynne also appeared on the Bootsy Collins album Sweat Band Wynne released what would be his second solo album Wynne Jammin in 1980 Uncle Jam Records a label fronted by George Clinton and Clinton s manager Archie Ivy However the album was not a major seller Wynne made a guest appearance on the song Something Inside My Head by Gene Dunlap and in the song Whip It by the Treacherous Three Wynne s final album was the self titled Philippe Wynne released by Sugar Hill Records in 1984 Family EditHis parents DeGree Walker and Annie nee Wynn divorced in November 1947 in Cincinnati Ohio Around 1952 Philippe and his three siblings Annie Walker who later became an opera singer Michael Leon Walker and Margaret Walker were placed in the New Orphan Asylum for Colored Children which closed in 1967 in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati on Van Buren Street Their father DeGree Walker was granted custody after the divorce although he worked as a contractor in construction and had to travel 4 Their mother Annie had run off to Detroit with another man 5 6 I guess the hardest part to take was being there and knowing that both of your parents were still alive Philippe Wynne 1981 4 Around 1956 Philippe and his brother Michael ran away from the orphanage and headed to Detroit Michigan to find their mother In Detroit the two formed a gospel group called the Walker Singers This lasted until Philippe adopted his mother s surname Wynn initially without an e and moved on to The Spinners as lead singer 4 5 Marriage and children Edit Wynne married Ava Leflor on February 1 1973 in Las Vegas Nevada They had two sons Emmanuel Wynn 1973 2001 and Alvarez Escalante Wynn 1975 1999 Ava was from the Los Angeles suburb of Compton California and the four of them moved back to California after Philippe left The Spinners Philippe and Ava eventually divorced Wynne died in 1984 His son Alvarez was killed in a drive by shooting in Compton in 1999 His other son Emmanuel who was living in Daytona Beach Florida drowned two years later in 2001 while trying to save a man Emmanuel was posthumously given the Carnegie Medal for his heroism 7 Death EditOn July 13 1984 Wynne suffered a heart attack while performing at a nightclub in Oakland California He died the next day at the age of 43 8 Discography EditAlbums Edit Starting All Over Cotillion SD 9920 1977 9 Wynne Jammin Uncle Jam JZ 36843 1980 10 Philippe Wynne Sugarhill SH 9204 1984 11 References Edit Deep Online 2 2006 www soulexpress net Retrieved August 10 2022 a b c Elias Jason Soul Retrospective The Spinners soultrain com Soul Train Retrieved October 26 2014 Williams Jean April 2 1977 Vocalist Wynn Is Learning Finances General News Billboard Vol 90 no 11 p 35 ISSN 0006 2510 a b c Former Spinner Remembers Roots by Allen Howard Cincinnati Enquirer December 12 1981 retrieved August 18 2016 via www wbr newspapers wbr com fee required a b Cass Class by Detroitblogger John Detroit Metro Times November 25 2009 retrieved August 18 2016 Michael Walker CD Oh Yes Presenting Michael Walker CD review and interview from the Deep Soul column by Patrick Green Sterling Williams Billy Price Soul Express Online September 2006 retrieved August 18 2016 Act Of Heroism Wins Top Award Emmanuel Wynn Who Lost His Life Trying To Save Another Was Given The Carnegie Medal by Ludmilla Lelis Orlando Sentinel April 27 2001 retrieved August 18 2016 Ap July 16 1984 Philippe Wynne Soul Singer Is Stricken at Club and Dies The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved August 10 2022 Discogs Philippe Wynne Starting All Over Discogs Philippe Wynne Wynne Jammin Discogs Philippe Wynne Philippe WynneBibliography EditRomanski Patricia and Holly George Warren Editors The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock amp Roll New York NY Fireside 2005 External links EditPhilippe Wynne discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Philippe Wynne amp oldid 1138076911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
