THE SPINNERS--6 x Grammy-nominated and 4x Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees for 2023 induction--made a special guest appearance Thursday evening (April 20) at the Philadelphia Music Alliance Gala. Held in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City at Broad Street’s “Vie,” the event celebrated 2023’s Walk of Fame inductees along with Lifetime Achievement Awards honoring Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and the late Grammy-winning producer, writer and arranger Thom Bell who produced a string of hits for the evening’s special guest performers. Bell produced “I’ll Be Around,” “Ghetto Child,” and “The Rubber Band Man” as well as the chart-topping “Then Came You” featuring Dionne Warwick and more during their time recording for Atlantic Records where The Spinners went on to become one of the biggest soul groups of the 1970’s and helped to cement The Sound of Philadelphia. Along with THE SPINNERS’ performance, a musical tribute was given to Bobby Rydell, Thom Bell, Charlie Gracie and others.

Inductees to the Walk of Fame included Leslie Odom Jr., The Bacon Brothers, The Tymes, and the late James De Priest. WDAS FM’s Patty Jackson and John DeBella were inducted onto Radio Row, and Larry Magid received a Founders Award for creating the Philadelphia Music Alliance in 1985. Governor Rendell also received a Founders Award for creating the Avenue of the Arts in 1993.

The Spinners, an influential R&B vocal group formed in 1954 in suburban Detroit, celebrate a 60+ decade career which has included consistent touring and massive hits. With their awe-inspiring vocal range and harmonic abilities on songs that elegantly merged smooth Philly soul with glistening pop, THE SPINNERS have left a big mark on the musical world.

2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony taking place this fall. The top five artists selected through fan voting will be tallied along with the ballots from the Rock Hall’s international voting body to determine the Class of 2023. Fans can vote online every day through April 28 at: https://vote.rockhall.com/en/

“It’s a pleasure being selected by this,” founding member Henry Fambrough told Billboard last month in a feature (2/1/23). “We’ve been in this position over years and years, but we just haven’t won anything yet. But it’s a pleasure being selected like this. When you’re nominated like that, at least someone is thinking about you. You’re not sitting at home not hearing anything-you know what I’m saying?”

THE SPINNERS have remained an actively touring group for decades, performing their beloved hits to audiences of all ages, and released a new album in 2021, Round the Block and Back Again. Their current line-up--Jessie Peck, Ronnie Moss, CJ Jefferson, and Marvin Taylor--is presently on the road performing shows with The O’Jays, Earl Young and the Trammps, The Commodores and Average White Band (AWB).

Their first single “That’s What Girls Are Made For” peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1961. Then, after almost a decade with Motown, THE SPINNERS signed to Atlantic Records in 1973. The group also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. THE SPINNERS continue to record music and their cultural impact extends into movies and TV.