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On CD Hues Corporation Rock the Boat Golden Classic 12" version (BMG, 1990)
Formed in 1969 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Their name was taken as a pun on the Howard Hughes billion-dollar corporation. They had
been performing for five years when their biggest hit, 'Rock The Boat', arrived. The vocal
trio consisted of Hubert Ann Kelly (b. 24 April 1947, Fairchild, Alabama, USA; soprano),
St. Clair Lee (b. Bernard St. Clair Lee Calhoun Henderson, 24 April 1944, San Francisco,
California, USA; baritone) and Fleming Williams (b. Flint, Michigan, USA; tenor).
Their first record, 'Goodfootin'', was recorded for Liberty Records in 1970 but failed to
hit. They
signed with RCA Records in 1973 and made the charts with a song called 'Freedom For The
Stallion'. 'Rock The Boat', originally a forgotten album track, was released in 1974 as
the next single and reached number 1 in the US pop charts and number 6 in the UK, becoming
one of the first significant disco hits. Tommy Brown (b. Birmingham, Alabama, USA)
replaced Williams after the single hit and their only other chart success came later that
same year with 'Rockin' Soul', which peaked at number 18 in the US chart and reached
the Top 30 in the UK. The group continued to record into the late 70s, but they were
unable to repeat their earlier success. However, in 1983 'Rock The Boat' made another
chart appearance when Forrest took the single to the UK Top 5 position.
Rock the boat
by Hues Corporation(RCA, 1974)