Philippé Wynne

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Philippé Wynne (April 3, 1941 – July 13, 1984), born Phillip Walker, was an American R&B singer. Best known for his role as the lead singer in the group, The Spinners (a role he shared with fellow group member Bobby Smith), Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away", "The Rubberband Man", "One of a Kind (Love Affair)", "I'll Be Around", "Mighty Love", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", and "Then Came You" (with Dionne Warwick). After leaving The Spinners, Wynne never regained the same success, although his voice was featured in hits such as "(Not Just) Knee Deep". Wynne died of a heart attack while performing at a nightclub.

Biography

Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wynne began his singing career as a gospel singer. He soon switched to R&B and attained some measure of success, singing with Bootsy Collins's Pacesetters in 1968 with James Brown's J.B.'s shortly thereafter. Then Wynne 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 main lead vocalist for The Spinners. He sang with the group until 1977, leading them to a number of top-selling albums and singles.

Wynne then launched a solo career, but it was not as successful. His fortunes turned upwards again as he joined George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic around 1979. He performed with them on several recordings, and was a featured vocalist on the Funkadelic single "(Not Just) Knee Deep", as well as continuing his solo career which produced the album Wynne Jammin' (1980).

On July 13, 1984, while performing at Ivey's nightclub in Oakland, California, Wynne suffered a heart attack and died the following morning.

References

Romanski, Patricia and Holly George-Warren (Editors). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. New York, NY: Fireside, 2005.