Reginald Haynes Biography
The
story began in 1968, behind the walls of Trenton State
Prison when a young Reginald Haynes started a singing
group comprised of inmates serving sentences within
the confines of a maximum-security facility. Little
did I know then that the group named The Escorts would
become a legend in their own right.
Two years later, in 1970, The Escorts were doing what they
did best, performing on stage. Rahway State Prison rocked
as they sang to a cheering, stomping, clapping audience
comprised of hardcore prisoners, visitors, prison officials
and guards. Little did they know that the late Linda Jones,
sister to one of their fellow inmates was sitting in the
audience accompanied by her producer-manager, George Kerr.
Kerr a veteran since the early Motown days in the recording
industry was in his own words, "shocked and amazed to find
this type of raw, pulsating talent in such a hellish
place." One thought kept running through his mind, he had
to find a way to record The Escorts so that the outside
world could be privy to their unique style.
On January 15, 1973, George Kerr released the first two
albums recorded by The Escorts; "All we need is another
chance" followed by "3 down and 4 to go", Alithia Records,
LTD. Several months later Reginald Haynes was released and
began a non-stop tour across the country promoting The
Escorts on radio, television, personal appearances and
newspaper interviews both on the east and west coasts.
In 1975, Reginald decided to embark on a solo career. In
the midst of promoting and developing his career, he was
arrested for a crime he did commit and returned to prison.
Having survived his unjust incarceration, family, friends
and fans urged him to sing again. Reginald performed
locally and was received with open arms. His career began
to draw attention from agents, producers and promoters. He
was offered the chance to record and produce his own album.
In 1988, "On Wings of Love" was released.
His solo career began to blossom, but he
couldn't forget
the group he gave life to, The Escorts. George Kerr
reentered his life and his thoughts echoed
Reginald's,
let's put
the group back together. Time and space made it impossible
to revive the old group. Reginald searched for new members
and found veteran singer Billy Martin and
La'Grant
Harris. After recording one more album with George Kerr
"Back to Love", Reginald and his new Escorts found it
necessary to part from Kerr once again taking with them the
smoothness, the silkiness, the sweet magic which is the
Escorts sound.
Reginald's proven
producing abilities and lyric delivery coupled with the
mature artistry of Billy Martin and La'Grant
Harris has indeed awakened the sleeping dragon known all
over the world as 'The
Escorts'. After
you hear the New Escorts I think you too will agree that
from this moment on the Escorts should
be spelled CLASS.
It’s time... THE ESCORTS time...