Delegation -

Delegation was an English soul-funk band from Birmingham that made the 1977 album The Promise of Love on State Records, followed by the 1979–82 Ariola titles Eau de vie, Delegation, and Deuces High.

Members: Ricky Bailey (vocals), Len Coley (vocals, 1975-79), Roddy Harris (vocals, 1975-80), Bruce Edwin Dunbar (vocals, 1979-84), Aston Ray Patterson (vocals, 1980-?), Kathy Bryant (vocals, 1984-?)

Background

Delegation formed in Birmingham in 1976 when singers Len Coley and Roddy Harris recruited Jamaican-born singer Ricky Bailey for a vocal trio initially called Rumours.

Bailey moved with his parents to Birmingham as a teenager and formed the Five Star Cadets, his first group. Songwriter-producer Ken Gold found the trio while seeking a three-man soul act after his work with the Real Thing. Gold secured a contract with State Records and developed material for the group with songwriter Micky Denne.

State released “The Promise of Love” in July 1976 (b/w “It Only Happens”) under the Rumours name. Representatives for Graham Parker & The Rumour threatened legal action over the name, prompting Coley, Harris, and Bailey to adopt Delegation. State reissued “The Promise of Love” under the new name in August.

Delegation followed with “Where Is the Love (We Used to Know)” in February 1977 (b/w “Back Door Love”), which reached No. 22 on the UK chart and brought the trio two appearances on Top of the Pops. “You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong” followed in July (b/w “Baby You’re My Mystery”) and reached No. 49. Gold produced the material for Delegation’s first album, The Promise of Love.

Discography: