William Hart, lead singer and founding member of R&B group The Delfonics, passed away last Thursday at the age of 77, U.S. media reported.
Hart co-founded The Orphonics around 1964 with his brother Wilbert Hart, Randy Cain and Richie Daniels. The band was later renamed The Delfonics. Between 1968 and 1974, The Delfonics released five studio albums. Twelve songs made it to the Top 20 of the Billboard charts.
The group recorded hits such as "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" that would later be covered by artistes such as Booker T. & The M.G.'s, Aretha Franklin and Prince.
Their 1968 song "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" was later sampled by The Fugees, giving the song a new lease of life nearly 30 years on. Another hit, "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," featured prominently in Quentin Tarantino's film "Jackie Brown" (1997).
William Hart, nicknamed "Poogie," died of complications from surgery after being admitted to a hospital in Philadelphia last week with respiratory problems.
