Wilbert Hart

Wilbert "Wil" Hart (born October 19, 1947) is an American soul singer, songwriter, and producer,[1] best known as a founding and last surviving member of the musical group the Delfonics.[2][3]

Wilbert Hart
Hart in 2019
Hart in 2019
Background information
Born (1947-10-19) October 19, 1947
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1965–present
LabelsCameo-Parkway Records Philly Groove Records, Sony BMG, Arista Records, Bell Records

Early life

Hart was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as one of eight children for Wilson and Iretha Hart. He went to Philadelphia public schools and attended Overbrook High School where he and his older brother William were in different vocal groups.[4]

Career

With The Delfonics

Wilbert and William formed the Delfonics in 1965, with William as their primary songwriter, often in collaboration with Thom Bell.[2] Between 1968 and 1974, The Delfonics had a string of hit singles on Philly Groove Records that included "La-La - (Means I Love You)", "Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)", and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" among several others that reached the Billboard R&B and Pop charts.[5][6][7] In 1971 the group won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance, and were featured in the first live televised performance of that ceremony.[8][9] Also in 1971, the group was awarded a Gold Record for "Didn't I (Blow My Mind This Time)".[10]

After several years of hit singles, The Delfonics split into two groups in 1975, with Wilbert and William each leading their own units.[2] The brothers were involved in a legal dispute over the use of the group name, with a judge ruling in 2007 that both could use the name while properly informing the audience of the distinction between the two groups. Henceforth, Wilbert's version was called Wil Hart & The Delfonics, or Wil Hart formerly of the Delfonics.[11]

Other work

Wilbert Hart also worked as a songwriter for other acts while he was active with the Delfonics. In 1970, he wrote and produced three songs for the vocal group Honey & The Bees on their debut album Love.[12] After the original Delfonics disbanded, Hart remained active as a songwriter and producer. In 1977, he contributed to the album This Is Your Life by Norman Connors, and wrote a song under the pseudonym A. Hakeem Waheed.[13]

Hart appeared with his own group on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989.[14] In 1994 he contributed songwriting and production to the album Break of Dawn by rappers Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.[15]

In 1995, Hart and the other original members of The Delfonics were inducted into the Philadelphia Walk of Fame.[16] In 1999 Hart released the solo album Hold on for Love on his own label, Mother Earth Records.[17] In 2005 he released the album Fonic Zone which included a contribution from rapper Rick Ross.[18][19]

In 1997 the song "Hey! Love", by The Delfonics and written by Hart, was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. on the successful album Life After Death. In 2018, the Album was RIAA certified 11 times platinum.[20][21]

In 2013, Hart was featured in "The Story of The Delfonics", an episode of Unsung on TVOne.[22][23] He was also featured in the 2018 documentary film Mr. Soul! about broadcasting personality and TV/theater producer Ellis Haizlip.[24]

On July 14, 2022, Hart's brother William Hart (Co-founder and lead singer of The Delfonics) died after suffering complications during surgery.[25]

As of October 2022, Hart, the only surviving member of The Delfonics, continues to perform and tour with his modern group under the name Wil Hart of The Original Delfonics.[26]

Personal life

Wilbert Hart married his wife Sheila in 1966. They have 12 children, 34 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He currently resides in Willingboro, New Jersey.[27]

Solo discography
See also: The Delfonics § Discography

Albums
  • The Delfonics Return (1981)[28]
  • Hold on for Love (1999)[29]
  • Fonic Zone (2005)[30]

Singles
  • "Stop Confusion" / "Check Out Your Mind" (unknown date)[31]
  • "It's Been A Long Time" (unknown date)
  • "Here For You" (2005)[32]
  • "Hey Love" (2005)[33]
  • "Don't Give In" (2005)

References
  1. "Wilbert Hart | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. "The Delfonics | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. "Delfonics". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  4. "Quick Thoughts on the Delfonics UnSung". riquespeaks. November 26, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  5. "The Delfonics". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  6. "The Delfonics | 2022 Nominees | East Coast Music Hall of Fame | Giving Recognition to East Coast Artists". East Coast Music Hall of Fame. October 21, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  7. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (April 25, 2009). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 16, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  8. "13th Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  9. Chase's Calendar of Events 2020: The Ultimate Go-to Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months. Rowman & Littlefield. September 24, 2019. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-64143-316-7. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  10. "Gold & Platinum The Delfonics". RIAA. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  11. "Hart v. Hart, 18 MS 0302 | Casetext Search + Citator". Casetext.com.
  12. "Honey & The Bees – Love (1970, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  13. "Norman Connors – This Is Your Life (2014, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  14. ""The Arsenio Hall Show" Episode #1.57 (TV Episode 1989) - IMDb". IMDb. March 22, 1989. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  15. "Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock – Break Of Dawn (1994, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  16. "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. July 10, 1995. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  17. "Wil Hart & The Delfonics – Hold On For Love (1999, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  18. "Delfonics: Slow Jam Masters Of The Philly Groove, Fonic Zone, Will Hart, William Hart, Philadelphia, Wilbert Hart, Randy Cain, Major Harris – Soul-Patrol". soul-patrol.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  19. "Fonic Zone - Wil Hart | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  20. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  21. "The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death [Credits]". Genius.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  22. "The Delfonics". TV One. October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  23. Roberts, Kimberly C. "'Unsung' chronicles life, music of the Delfonics". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  24. Chiu, David. "'Mr. Soul!' Documents Pioneering TV Show That Celebrated Blackness Through Music And Talk". Forbes. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  25. Risen, Clay (July 20, 2022). "William Hart, Driving Force Behind the Delfonics, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  26. "Past Classic R&B Music Festival Events by VD&TSG". Classic R&B Events Music Festival. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  27. "Wilbert Hart". IMDb. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  28. "Delfonics Return - The Delfonics | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  29. "Wilbert Hart Albums". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  30. "Fonic Zone - Wil Hart | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  31. "Wilbert Hart Singles". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  32. "Here for You - Will Hart, Rick Ross | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  33. "Hey Love - Wil Hart | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
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