The Friends of Distinction
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Biography
Known for the classics "Grazing in the Grass" and "Going in Circles", The Friends of Distinction is a soul vocal group. Formed in Los Angeles in 1968, it originally featured Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, who had previously been members of The Hi-Fi's and collaborated with Ray Charles, as well as singers Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love. Discovered by American soccer player Jim Brown, who became their manager, the quartet signed with RCA Records and immediately enjoyed their biggest success with the track "Grazing in the Grass", a sung version of Hugh Masekela's instrumental that reached No. 5 in the R&B charts and No. 3 in the pop charts. From the same Grazin' album, "Going in Circles " reached #15 and was covered by Isaac Hayes, The Gap Band and Luther Vandross. Pregnant, Barbara Love left the group, giving way to Charlene Gibson, lead singer of the hit "Love or Let Me Be Lonely " (#6 in the pop charts), from the album Real Friends (1970). Two more hits followed, with "Time Waits for No One", a Neil Sedaka track from the Whatever album at no. 60, and "I Need You" (no. 79), from Friends & People (1971). Charlene Gibson and Jessica Cleaves were succeeded by other female singers before the group split up in 1975. While Elston and Butler considered reforming the group, Butler died on April 29, 1990 at the age of 52. Elston nevertheless continued the project with other performers, until his death on March 4, 2025 at the age of 86. Meanwhile, Jessica Cleaves also passed away on May 2, 2014, aged 65.
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