MFSB™ HISTORY
Gold Records with Philly International Records,
Grammy Awards with Motown

Throughout the years, there have been several musicians, on each instrument, in MFSB. There are 3 distinct periods of MFSB's evolution.

1. Original – Original MFSB featured:
Carl Chambers and Earl Young on drums;
Norman Harris, Roland Chambers and Bobby Eli on guitar;
Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass;
Vince Montana and Larry Washington on vibes and percussion,
Leon Huff and Thom Bell on keys.

The original period lasted from the late 1960’s through the mid 70’s. Songs like Cowboys to Girls, Love Train, Me and Mrs. Jones, I’ll Be Around, and The Love I Lost were recorded by the Original MFSB.

2. In-Between-ers – The “In-Between-ers” featured:
Charles Collins on drums;
Michael “Sugar Bear” Foreman on bass;
Dennis Harris and TJ Tindall on guitar;
Leon Huff, Victor Carstarphen, and Lenny Pakula on keys.

This period featured songs like, She Used to be My Girl; Wake Up Everybody, You’ll Never Find, I Don’t Love You Anymore, and Enjoy Yourself. This was also the time Gamble and Huff moved into their world headquarters at 309 South Broad St. This was an important period, also. For it proved conclusively that Gamble and Huff could create hits with whomever they chose. This period lasted from about 1974 through 1976.

3. Music Family – The Music Family featured;
Dennis Harris on guitar;
Keith Benson and Quinton Joseph on drums;
Jimmy Williams on bass;
Leon Huff and Dexter Wansel on keys.

MFSB Music Family was the final incarnation. While MFSB Original recorded the most Gold singles – MFSB Music Family recorded more Gold and Platinum LP’s than any previous group. This is because MFSB Music Family’s first recording turned out to be Teddy Pendergrass’ first solo album. “TP” was the biggest selling artist at “PIR.” And as if recording Philadelphia International’s biggest artist, ever, wasn’t enough, MFSB Music Family also recorded “PIR’s” biggest single, ever, – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.

MFSB Music Family stayed on with Gamble and Huff for seven years, from 1977 until the first PIR era came to a close, in 1983.

There were other musicians outside the rhythm sections that also helped to define MFSB – Zach Zachary, Bobby Martin, Jack Faith, Don Renaldo, Fred Joiner, the Sweeties (Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Barbara Ingram), and a few others. However, the only constant throughout the entire fourteen year run was none other than Leon Huff – co-founder of Philadelphia International and MFSB.

Key MFSB Members

Drums:
Keith Benson, Carl Chambers, Charles Collins, Quinton Joseph,
and Earl Young

Bass:
Ronnie Baker. Michael “Sugarbear” Foreman, Anthony Jackson,
Jimmy Williams

Guitar:
Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, Norman Harris, T Life, and TJ Tindall,

Keys:
Victor Carstarphen, Leon Huff, Lenny Pakula, Dexter Wansel

Others:
Bobby Martin, Vince Montana, Don Renaldo, the Sweeties,
Larry Washington, Zach Zachary

MFSB GOLD DISCOGRAPHY...