Peaches & Herb -

Peaches & Herb were an American soul duo formed in Washington, DC, by singers Herb Fame and Francine “Peaches” Hurd. The duo first reached the charts with “Let’s Fall in Love” and followed with a run of Date Records singles through the late 1960s. Fame revived the name with later Peaches singers and scored the duo’s biggest hits with the 1978–79 singles “Shake Your Groove Thing” and “Reunited.”

Members: Herb Fame (vocals), Francine Barker (vocals, 1965-67), Marlene Mack (vocals, 1967-70), Linda Greene (vocals, 1976-83)

Background

Peaches & Herb formed in 1966 when producer Dave Kapralik paired Washington, DC singers Herb Fame and Francine “Peaches” Hurd after hearing the two sing together on a road trip.

Fame was born Herbert Feemster on October 1, 1942, in Washington, DC, and grew up in Barry Farm. His mother raised five sons and sang gospel music. Feemster began singing in church at age seven and joined neighborhood groups through high school. He later married and served several years in the US Navy as an electrician’s mate. After his military service, Feemster worked at Waxie Maxie Records near Howard University. Producer Van McCoy met Feemster at the store in 1965 and arranged an audition that led to a Date Records contract with A&R executive Dave Kapralik. Feemster recorded for the label as Herb Fame.

Francine Edna Hurd was born on April 28, 1947, in Washington, DC. She sang with neighborhood groups from elementary school and later formed the Darlettes with Dyanne Stewart and Nancy J. Johnson. The Darlettes released “Lost” in August 1965 on Mira (b/w “Sweet Kind of Loneliness”), with Van McCoy producing the A-side. Dave Kapralik subsequently brought the trio to Date Records under the name the Sweet Things. The group released “You’re My Lovin’ Baby” in February 1966 (b/w “Don’t Come Looking for Me”) and followed with “I’m in a World of Trouble” in August 1966 (b/w “Baby’s Blue”).

Fame made his Date debut in April 1966 with the McCoy-produced “You’re Messin’ Up My Mind” (b/w “From the Shadows to the Sun”). Kapralik paired Fame with Hurd later that year, and McCoy produced their first Peaches & Herb single, “We’re in This Thing Together” (b/w “Let’s Fall in Love”), which Date issued in August 1966. A KATZ disc jockey in St. Louis began playing “Let’s Fall in Love,” and the B-side became the duo’s first national hit in December. Hurd left the Sweet Things as Peaches & Herb continued as a full-time duo. Date scheduled their debut album, Let’s Fall in Love, for January 1967.

Discography: