Major Harris, of R&B;’s Delfonics, dead at 65

Major Harris, a smooth-toned R&B; singer whose work on his own and with the Delfonics helped popularize the so-called “Philadelphia sound,” died Friday at the age of 65 in his hometown of Richmond, Va. The cause was congestive heart and lung failure, his sister told the Associated Press.

Harris did time with a series of groups (including Frankie Lymon’s Teenagers) in the 1960s before replacing Randy Cain in the Delfonics, already known by the early ‘70s for hits such as “La-La (Means I Love You)” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” both of which appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 film “Jackie Brown.”

After leaving the Delfonics, Harris set out on a solo recording career; in 1975 his single “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100. (Watch a video of Luther Vandross performing the song below.) Harris later reunited with various members of the Delfonics, performing most recently at a concert last year, according to his sister.

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