Wilbert Hart

Hart was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as one of eight children for Wilson and Iretha Hart. He went to Philadelphia public schools and attended Overbrook High School where he and his older brother William were in different vocal groups.{{cite web |title=Quick Thoughts on the Delfonics UnSung |url=https://riquespeaks.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/quick-thoughts-on-the-delfonics-unsung/ |website=riquespeaks |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en |date=26 November 2013}}

Wilbert and William formed the Delfonics in 1965, with William as their primary songwriter, often in collaboration with Thom Bell. Between 1968 and 1974, The Delfonics had a string of hit singles on Philly Groove Records that included "La-La - (Means I Love You)", "Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)", and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" among several others that reached the Billboard R&B and Pop charts.{{cite magazine|title=The Delfonics|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-delfonics/chart-history/bsi/|access-date=14 April 2021|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite web|title=The Delfonics {{!}} 2022 Nominees {{!}} East Coast Music Hall of Fame {{!}} Giving Recognition to East Coast Artists |url=https://eastcoastmusichalloffame.org/nominees/the-delfonics-nomination-pa/ |website=East Coast Music Hall of Fame |access-date=15 April 2021 |date=21 October 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Inc |first1=Nielsen Business Media |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QdKeU1ZYfwsC&q=Wilbert+hart&pg=PT14 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |access-date=16 April 2021 |language=en |date=25 April 2009}} In 1971 the group won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance, and were featured in the first live televised performance of that ceremony.{{cite web |title=13th Annual GRAMMY Awards |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/13th-annual-grammy-awards-1970 |website=GRAMMY.com |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en |date=28 November 2017}}{{cite book |title=Chase's Calendar of Events 2020: The Ultimate Go-to Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months |date=24 September 2019 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-64143-316-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6dKpDwAAQBAJ&q=The+Delfonics+won+a+grammy+at+the+13th+annual+grammy+awards&pg=PA22 |page=22|access-date=17 April 2021 |language=en}} Also in 1971, the group was awarded a Gold Record for "Didn't I (Blow My Mind This Time)".{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum The Delfonics |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=The+Delfonics#search_section |website=RIAA |access-date=15 April 2021}}

After several years of hit singles, The Delfonics split into two groups in 1975, with Wilbert and William each leading their own units. The brothers were involved in a legal dispute over the use of the group name, with a judge ruling in 2007 that both could use the name while properly informing the audience of the distinction between the two groups. Henceforth, Wilbert's version was called Wil Hart & The Delfonics, or Wil Hart formerly of the Delfonics.{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/hart-v-hart|title = Hart v. Hart, 18 MS 0302 | Casetext Search + Citator|website=Casetext.com}}

Wilbert Hart also worked as a songwriter for other acts while he was active with the Delfonics. In 1970, he wrote and produced three songs for the vocal group Honey & The Bees on their debut album Love.{{cite web |title=Honey & The Bees – Love (1970, Vinyl) |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Honey-The-Bees-Love/release/3307346 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}} After the original Delfonics disbanded, Hart remained active as a songwriter and producer. In 1977, he contributed to the album This Is Your Life by Norman Connors, and wrote a song under the pseudonym A. Hakeem Waheed.{{cite web |title=Norman Connors – This Is Your Life (2014, CD) |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Norman-Connors-This-Is-Your-Life/release/6137668 |access-date=16 April 2021 |language=en}}

Hart appeared with his own group on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989.{{cite web |title="The Arsenio Hall Show" Episode #1.57 (TV Episode 1989) - IMDb | website=IMDb |date = 22 March 1989|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2550424/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_3 |access-date=15 April 2021}} In 1994 he contributed songwriting and production to the album Break of Dawn by rappers Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.{{cite web |title=Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock – Break Of Dawn (1994, CD) |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Rob-Base-DJ-E-Z-Rock-Break-Of-Dawn/release/1225915 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}

In 1995, Hart and the other original members of The Delfonics were inducted into the Philadelphia Walk of Fame.{{cite web|date=10 July 1995|title=Jet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OT0DAAAAMBAJ&q=Wilbert+hart&pg=PA61|access-date=16 April 2021|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}} In 1999 Hart released the solo album Hold on for Love on his own label, Mother Earth Records.{{cite web |title=Wil Hart & The Delfonics – Hold On For Love (1999, CD) |website=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Wil-Hart-The-Delfonics-Hold-On-For-Love/release/14565776 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}} In 2005 he released the album Fonic Zone which included a contribution from rapper Rick Ross.{{cite web |title=Delfonics: Slow Jam Masters Of The Philly Groove, Fonic Zone, Will Hart, William Hart, Philadelphia, Wilbert Hart, Randy Cain, Major Harris – Soul-Patrol |url=https://soul-patrol.com/delfonics-slow-jam-masters-of-the-philly-groove-fonic-zone-will-hart-william-hart-philadelphia-wilbert-hart-randy-cain-major-harris/ |website=soul-patrol.com |access-date=23 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Fonic Zone - Wil Hart {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fonic-zone-mw0000212177 |access-date=23 July 2021 |language=en}}

In 1997 the song "Hey! Love", by The Delfonics and written by Hart, was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. on the successful album Life After Death. In 2018, the Album was RIAA certified 11 times platinum.{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Life+After+Death&col=certification_date&ord=desc#search_section |website=RIAA |access-date=15 April 2021}}{{cite web|title=The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death [Credits]|url=https://genius.com/The-notorious-big-life-after-death-credits-lyrics|website=Genius.com|access-date=17 April 2021|language=en}}

In 2013, Hart was featured in "The Story of The Delfonics", an episode of Unsung on TVOne.{{cite news |title=The Delfonics |url=https://tvone.tv/8079/the-delfonics/ |website=TV One |access-date=14 April 2021 |date=29 October 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Kimberly C. |title='Unsung' chronicles life, music of the Delfonics |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/unsung-chronicles-life-music-of-the-delfonics/article_91fd2399-1886-5366-ad21-68272212e097.html |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |access-date=14 April 2021 |language=en}} He was also featured in the 2018 documentary film Mr. Soul! about broadcasting personality and TV/theater producer Ellis Haizlip.{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=David|title='Mr. Soul!' Documents Pioneering TV Show That Celebrated Blackness Through Music And Talk|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2020/09/02/mr-soul-documents-pioneering-tv-show-that-celebrated-blackness-through-music-and-talk/?sh=1d9b50d6512a|access-date=23 July 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}}

On July 14, 2022, Hart's brother William Hart (Co-founder and lead singer of The Delfonics) died after suffering complications during surgery.{{cite web |last1=Risen |first1=Clay |title=William Hart, Driving Force Behind the Delfonics, Dies at 77 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/arts/music/william-hart-dead.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=12 October 2022 |date=20 July 2022}}

As of October 2022, Hart, the only surviving member of The Delfonics, continues to perform and tour with his modern group under the name Wil Hart of The Original Delfonics.{{cite web |title=Past Classic R&B Music Festival Events by VD&TSG |url=https://classicrandbevents.com/dt_gallery/past-events/ |website=Classic R&B Events Music Festival |access-date=12 October 2022}}

Wilbert Hart married his wife Sheila in 1966. They have 12 children, 41 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. He currently resides in Willingboro, New Jersey.{{cite web |title=Wilbert Hart |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1956669/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb |access-date=15 April 2021}}

{{See also|The Delfonics#Discography}}

• The Delfonics Return (1981){{cite web |title=Delfonics Return - The Delfonics {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/delfonics-return-mw0001235733 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}
• Hold on for Love (1999){{cite web |title=Wilbert Hart Albums |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/659518-Wilbert-Hart?type=Releases&subtype=Albums&filter_anv=0 |website=Discogs |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}
• Fonic Zone (2005){{cite web |title=Fonic Zone - Wil Hart {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fonic-zone-mw0000212177 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}

• "Stop Confusion" / "Check Out Your Mind" (unknown date){{cite web |title=Wilbert Hart Singles |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/659518-Wilbert-Hart?type=Releases&subtype=Singles-EPs&filter_anv=0 |website=Discogs |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}
• "It's Been A Long Time" (unknown date)
• "Here For You" (2005){{cite web |title=Here for You - Will Hart, Rick Ross {{!}} Song Info {{!}} AllMusic |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/here-for-you-mt0014518616 |access-date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}
• "Hey Love" (2005){{cite web |title=Hey Love - Wil Hart {{!}} Song Info {{!}} AllMusic |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/hey-love-mt0014814491 |language=en}}
• "Don't Give In" (2005)

{{Reflist}}

• {{discogs artist|Wilbert Hart}}
• {{IMDb name|1956669}}

{{The Delfonics}}

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Category:1947 births

Category:American soul singers

Category:American male songwriters

Category:American soul musicians

Category:Singers from Philadelphia

Category:Living people