The Emotions

The Emotions comprised of:

Sheila Hutchinson (b. 17th December 1953, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., lead vocal)

Wanda Hutchinson (b. 17th December 1951, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)

and Jeanette Hutchinson (b. February 1951, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)

The Emotions were formed in 1968 in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

Initially, when four and six years old respectively, they began singing Gospel in the mid 1950's.

Their father, Joe Hutchinson, taught the girls how to play and sing music.

Prior to that incarnation they went under the names of the Heavenly Sunbeams (making an guest appearance in 1958, on television, on the Jerry Van Dyke show).

Later they were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams up until 1968.

Their admirers included the Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

Their father re-titled the girls as Three Ribbons And A Bow, however they were soon to become the Emotions.

As a group they recorded in their hometown up until a chance recommendation of the late Pervis Staples of the Staple Singers, they found a recording home at the Stax Record label.

Pervis had recorded with the group previously for the Twin Stacks imprint.

Whilst the girls were children they had some local success locally before signing with the Memphis-based Volt imprint.

Here they worked alongside the producers Isaac Hayes and David Porter.


The Emotions first release, 'So I Can Love You' was released in 1969.

The song reached the U.S. Top 40.

They toured with many of the Stax artists, including The Staples Singers and others including The Jackson 5, Sly and the Family Stone, The O'Jays and Stevie Wonder.

Other singles followed in 1971, 'Show Me How', and in 1972, 'I Could Never Be Happy'.

Jeanette, at one time, was replaced by her cousin, Theresa Davis.

She later returned to the group, while a fourth sister, Pamela, joined the group when Theresa Davis departed.

By 1976, the Emotions had relocated to the Columbia imprint, where they began a fruitful liaison with Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire.

Here their 1976 debut for the label, 'Flowers', title track, has become a Soul Classic amongst purists.

In 1977, the group enjoyed their most successful moment to date, with the release of 'Best Of My Love', which hit the number one spot in the States.

The parent album 'Rejoice' included the songs 'Don't Ask My Neighbours', 'Blessed' (an Anita Baker favourite) and 'A Feeling Is'.

Two years later and a collaboration with Earth, Wind and Fire, continued their chart success.

'Boogie Wonderland' hit the top spot again and maintained the high profile of both groups.

Three more albums followed on Maurice White's ARC label between 1979 to 1981.

The Emotions then relocated to the Red label for the 1984 LP, 'Sincerely'.

The album included the single "All Things Come in Time.'

They issued three other singles from the album.


They then signed with Motown Records, and released one album, entitled 'If I Only Knew'.


Sheila Hutchinson was a featured vocalist on the late Garry Glenn's 'Feels Good to Feel Good' offering in 1987.


Pam and Jeanette Hutchinson recorded background vocals on Helen Baylor's gospel song 'There's No Greater Love' in 1990.


Wanda Hutchinson and Jeanette contributed to Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Heritage' set in 1990.

Sheila Hutchinson released a solo single entitled 'Keep A Little Lovelight Burning' / 'Ill Be There For You' the same year, that became a popular song with the U.K.'s Soul purists.

The song was distributed by Soul Bowl Records.

The following year, the sisters released the song 'I Want To Thank You For Your Love' for the movie soundtrack 'BeBe's Kids'.

The Emotions were inducted into the R & B Hall of fame on the 4th October 2001, at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.