Gil Saunders obit

Gil Saunders: Former Lead Singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Has Died

 He was not on the list.

*Just 24 hours after the passing of Danny Ray, the legendary “Cape Man” for James Brown, we learn of the passing of Gil Saunders, best known as the decade-long lead singer of the legendary act Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Saunders died today (02-04-21) after long battles with M.S. and, more recently, lung cancer.

The Philadelphia born Saunders boasted a powerful, gruff voice that was the near-perfect touch to handle both the group’s 70s hits on tour, and also the lead on The Talk It Up album. The LP was released on the Philly World label to tepid response in the U.S., but become a moderate hit in other parts of the world, managing to chart three singles, “Today’s Your Lucky Day”, “Don’t Give Me Up” and “I Really Love You.” It became the Blue Notes’ final charting album.

Saunders left the Blue Notes in the mid-90s and progressed to a solo career, not long before Melvin’s untimely death in 1997 at age 57. Saunders continued to record singles into the 00s, with some local success for the songs “I Beg You to Stay,” “In the Heat,” and “Let’s Turn In.”

Saunders was born in Philadelphia and sang in church from an early age. He developed his style after David Ruffin of The Temptations and Marvin Junior of The Dells and, encouraged by family and friends, pursued a career in music. He formed his first group as a teenager, which eventually merged into a neighborhood act called New Day. During a live performance, he was noticed by the Philadelphia singer, songwriter and producer Harold Melvin. Following a tour of England, Melvin recruited Saunders, in 1982, to replace then lead singer David Ebo in his group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.

They toured extensively overseas with acts like Billy Paul and The Three Degrees. During a London concert performance, Saunders was introduced as the new lead singer of Harold Melvin & Blue Notes. In 1984, Saunders sang lead on the international dance music hit "Today's Your Lucky Day" from the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' album Talk It Up (Tell Everybody).

The album produced three Billboard R&B chart hits, "Today's Your Lucky Day", "Don't Give Me Up" and "I Really Love You". Saunders was also co-lead with Melvin on the track "What We Both Need (Is Love)" which was popular on the local Philadelphia radio station WDAS-FM.

The Talk It Up (Tell Everybody) album was recorded at Alpha International Studios in Philadelphia. The vocal line-up included Saunders with Melvin, Bill Spratley, Dwight "Blackey" Johnson and Rufus Thorne. The video for "Today's Your Lucky Day" which featured the female vocalist Nikko, was filmed at a transformed club in south Philadelphia designed to look like a Las Vegas-style casino.

Saunders recorded and toured with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes for ten years before pursuing a solo career. His performances with the group were documented in a 1986 P.B.S. television special.