PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bernie Wilson, a baritone member of the rhythm and blues group that produced the 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me by Now," has died.

Wilson, 64, died early Sunday at Kresson View Center in Voorhees, N.J., following a stroke and a heart attack, his cousin, Faith Peace-Mazzccua, said Monday.

Philadelphia International Records, the former record company for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, said Wilson's death leaves Lloyd Parks as the sole surviving member of the group's lineup at the time. The lineup also featured Teddy Pendergrass and Lawrence Brown.

The group produced a string of R&B hits in the '70s and helped define the Sound of Philadelphia.

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" topped the R&B charts and made the top five on the pop charts. The hits that followed included "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake up Everybody," and the dance track "The Love I Lost," which has been credited as one of the first disco records, according to an All Music Guide biography on the Billboard website.

"He left home at 16 as a pauper and came back home a millionaire," Peace-Mazzccua told The Associated Press.

She said her cousin kept performing until a few years ago and hoped to return and sing gospel music.

"Bernard was a very funny person. He should have been a comedian," she said. "He didn't take no stuff and he loved people."

Funeral arrangements were pending Monday.

R.I.P

R.I.P

R.I.P.

Sad to say, but death comes in 3's.

We're losing people within the last week of the calender year. It's sad

but it's a reality we all must come to grips with. We all will meet the same

fate one day. RIP Teddy and Harold are waiting on you to sing with them again.

Aww:-(

RIP

Here we go again. Rest in peace.

RIP.

Dang, just how many of the Blue Notes have died?

phunkdaddy said:

We're losing people within the last week of the calender year. It's sad

but it's a reality we all must come to grips with. We all will meet the same

fate one day. RIP Teddy and Harold are waiting on you to sing with them again.

You said it perfectly.

phunkdaddy said:

We're losing people within the last week of the calender year. It's sad

but it's a reality we all must come to grips with. We all will meet the same

fate one day. RIP Teddy and Harold are waiting on you to sing with them again.

Now Lloyd Parks must write a book about his experience with the group.

His Unsung segment was qutie interesting..

DakutiusMaximus said:

Baritone from Harold Melvin & Blue Notes Dies

Dec. 28, 2010, 6:46 AM EST

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bernie Wilson, a baritone member of the rhythm and blues group that produced the 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me by Now," has died.

Wilson, 64, died early Sunday at Kresson View Center in Voorhees, N.J., following a stroke and a heart attack, his cousin, Faith Peace-Mazzccua, said Monday.

Philadelphia International Records, the former record company for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, said Wilson's death leaves Lloyd Parks as the sole surviving member of the group's lineup at the time. The lineup also featured Teddy Pendergrass and Lawrence Brown.

The group produced a string of R&B hits in the '70s and helped define the Sound of Philadelphia.

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" topped the R&B charts and made the top five on the pop charts. The hits that followed included "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake up Everybody," and the dance track "The Love I Lost," which has been credited as one of the first disco records, according to an All Music Guide biography on the Billboard website.

"He left home at 16 as a pauper and came back home a millionaire," Peace-Mazzccua told The Associated Press.

She said her cousin kept performing until a few years ago and hoped to return and sing gospel music.

"Bernard was a very funny person. He should have been a comedian," she said. "He didn't take no stuff and he loved people."

Funeral arrangements were pending Monday.

this is creepy as hell, I rememebered that song early this morning when talking to a friend, probably arround the time it happened, when mentioning it, and now hearing this

[Edited 12/28/10 15:33pm]

phunkdaddy said:

We're losing people within the last week of the calender year. It's sad

but it's a reality we all must come to grips with. We all will meet the same

fate one day. RIP Teddy and Harold are waiting on you to sing with them again.

Legendary!!!!!!! RIP Bernie Wilson.................

scriptgirl said:

Sad to say, but death comes in 3's.

Or constantly it seems.

Marrk said:

scriptgirl said:

Sad to say, but death comes in 3's.

Or constantly it seems.

It's past the point of 3's.

RIP Bernie Wilson, for you shall indeed be truly missed.

now, that's another music talent of my age group and a bit older.