After doing plenty of R&B and jazz session work as an electric bassist (including a stint with ), started making a name for himself as a soul singer when he was featured on the hits "Valentine Love" and "We Both Need Each Other." The Detroit resident went solo in 1976, and the following year, he delivered his superb sophomore effort . had become known primarily for seductive, classy, -influenced romanticism, and jazzy pearls like "At the Concert" (a duet with ), "Let Me Love You" and the title song didn't exactly change that. But he was also a top-notch funkster; "Whip It" and "I Can't Help It" boast some of the most wicked funk grooves of 1977. recorded several excellent albums, but (which first came out on Buddah and was reissued on CD by The Right Stuff in 1994) remains his crowning achievement as a solo artist. ~ Alex Henderson