I have always wondered if Helena Ferguson is also Helen Ferguson

The clips are below

 

 

 

It does sound like her, more so on "party". Others may know more though

I guess they are the same person, with a 3 year gap between the releases ... but even though you'd think confirmation would be found on the net, I can't find any interview info on Helena ... her 45 was a Top 30 soul hit & top 100 pop hit in late 67 (it was a sleeper as it had been released that August). The Ohio Players are supposed to be the musicians on her hit track (they had a Compass 45 release not long after her 45 was issued). Looking at her Compass promo pic, she does seem old enough to have cut other stuff 3 years earlier.

Her Compass stuff was bought in by the label but they eventually got behind it (& her) ... they organised a US tour for her (to promote her follow-up 45) in early 68.

Sir Shambling likes her stuff but he didn't make any connection with the 20th Century Fox lady ...

 https://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/F/helena_ferguson/index.php

Edited October 29, 20186 yr by Roburt

Helena seemed to split from her Dakar Productions / Compass Recs mastermind (Lincoln Kilpatrick) after her 2nd Compass 45 release. She moved on to a deal with Congress Records, where she worked with Freddie Scott / Lou Toby (69). Compass itself ceased business in summer 68.

Lincoln also severed ties with Compass & leased a 45 by the Da-Kars (no doubt his in-house backing band) to Josie early in 68.  

 

Edited October 29, 20186 yr by Roburt

35 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Helena seemed to split from her Dakar Productions / Compass Recs mastermind (Lincoln Kilpatrick) after her 2nd Compass 45 release. She moved on to a deal with Congress Records, where she worked with Freddie Scott / Lou Toby (69). Compass itself ceased business in summer 68.

Lincoln also severed ties with Compass & leased a 45 by the Da-Kars (no doubt his in-house backing band) to Josie early in 68.  

 

Mega stuff.....thanks....hopefully with all this help we will find out

Same Philadelphia lady, who also had a record out with Swan Records.

What did she do on Swan as can't find anything.  Here's what's on Dave Rimmer's site: https://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/hferguson.htm

... and nothing under Helen(a) Ferguson on Swan discography https://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/swan.htm

- was she part of group or under another name?

1 hour ago, SoulStrutter said:

... and nothing under Helen(a) Ferguson on Swan discography https://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/swan.htm

- was she part of group or under another name?

That's Sheila on Swan.

Hi Chalky - yes Sheila of 3 Degrees had solo recordings on Swan but RobbK suggested that Helen(a) Ferguson cut a record with Swan ... unless it's another Swan label ... but unlikely as Philly lady / Philly label ... or I'm getting the wrong end of the stick .... but the topic was originally about Helena/Helen Ferguson

I think someone got Helena and Sheila Ferguson mixed up. I've always seen Helena referred to as a "New York singer" not a Philly singer. I did a quick google search and found out she was married to Lincoln Kilpatrick who produced "Where's The Party" and "My Terms". 

 

As an aside, it states in one of those presumably 1960's cuttings posted from Roburt that "Hey Woman" by "Kenny Bernard" was making it big in England - Was there any truth to this?

11 hours ago, SoulStrutter said:

Hi Chalky - yes Sheila of 3 Degrees had solo recordings on Swan but RobbK suggested that Helen(a) Ferguson cut a record with Swan ... unless it's another Swan label ... but unlikely as Philly lady / Philly label ... or I'm getting the wrong end of the stick .... but the topic was originally about Helena/Helen Ferguson

Hi mate. I think Robb is maybe getting his Ferguson’s mixed up?

22 hours ago, SOUL INC said:

As an aside, it states in one of those presumably 1960's cuttings posted from Roburt that "Hey Woman" by "Kenny Bernard" was making it big in England - Was there any truth to this?

The best way (these days) to check out if a soul release was doing well after it's UK release is to check out old charts in Blues & Soul mag ... ahead of that (say in 66) it's Record Mirror's R&B chart that gives the best indication ..

Edited October 31, 20186 yr by Roburt

On 30/10/2018 at 14:34, the yank said:

I think someone got Helena and Sheila Ferguson mixed up. I've always seen Helena referred to as a "New York singer" not a Philly singer. I did a quick google search and found out she was married to Lincoln Kilpatrick who produced "Where's The Party" and "My Terms". 

 

Sorry.  You are right.  I misremembered Sheila's name as "Helen", and thought the two must be the same.  My long-term memory is getting worse.  🤯