Allen Frye

Allen Frye (born 20 August 1950; United States) is an American vocalist best known for his work with the funk and R&B outfits The Nite-Liters and New Birth. A founding vocalist of New Birth, Frye was instrumental in shaping the group's early sound as part of its ambitious, multi-act ensemble format.

Early Life

Public biographical detail on Frye's upbringing is limited, though his professional history places him within the tight-knit Louisville, Kentucky and Detroit, Michigan, soul scenes that gave rise to New Birth in the late 1960s.

He emerged as a solo vocalist prior to 1969, when he came to the attention of Motown-trained songwriter and producer Vernon Bullock, who was then assembling a touring company of vocal and instrumental acts.
 

Career

Frye's professional path is closely bound to the formation of New Birth. In 1969, Bullock, together with former Motown figures Harvey Fuqua and Tony Churchill, brought together several acts under one banner: the instrumental group The Nite-Liters (formed in Louisville in 1963), the male vocal group The Now Sound, the female vocal group the Mint Juleps, and Frye as an additional solo vocalist. Together they formed New Birth in 1970, releasing their self-titled debut album on RCA Records that year. Frye, who doubled on percussion, remained with the ensemble through its most productive years, sharing lead and featured vocal duties as the group built its reputation as a self-contained soul revue, working alongside collaborators including Fuqua, Churchill, Londee Loren and Bobby Downs.

By 1974, following the release of the group's sixth RCA album, Comin' From All Ends, tensions had grown within the ranks over creative control and management.

The track "I Wash My Hands Of The Deal" is understood to reflect Frye's own frustration with his standing and treatment within the group, a sentiment that echoed the wider membership's grievances; New Birth subsequently split from RCA, Fuqua and their management, signing with Buddah Records.

Personal Life

Detailed public information regarding Frye's family life and community involvement outside of his musical career is limited. His legacy rests chiefly on his role as one of New Birth's founding vocalists, contributing to a group whose recordings have since been covered and sampled by later generations of soul, funk and hip-hop artists.