Vocalist Harold Melvin was the leader of the soul music group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Melvin was born June 25, 1939 in Philadelphia. He taught himself how to play the piano, leading to the group The Charlemagnes, singing doo-wop. In 1954, he started the first addition of The Blue Notes, featuring Melvin as the lead singer, songwriter, arranger and choreographer. The quintet had their first few hit singles with 1960's "My Hero" and 1965's "Get out (And Let Me Cry)." After a continued line-up change, the group found Teddy Pendergrass while touring with The Cadillac's and began to make history.

Pendergrass was one of Melvin's most celebrated discoveries - after starting in the back of the band, the boy proved that he had a lot more to give. He was moved to lead singer, giving Melvin a necessary separation as all-around leader. Thus, their most successful years emerged, mostly in part to their deal with Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Label, where soul music fans largely associate the group. With the 1971 PIR Label signing, the group saw hit after hit, including the ballad "I Miss You" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now." By now, however, the focus was more on Pendergrass, though the success remained under Melvin's name. Thus in 1976, Pendergrass left the group for a hugely success solo career, while Melvin's Blue Notes moved on to MCA Records.

Reaching for the World was the group's attempt to create a similar sound minus-Pendergrass, but it failed to impress anyone. Melvin stayed on to manage the ever-shifting group, as they created yet another mildly success album called Talk It Up (Tell Everybody). Melvin died in 1997 of a stroke at the age of 57, still managing his oldies group.