Perseverance, thy name is The Spinners…and there’s a reason why I say that.

The group formed in Detroit way back in1954, and spent several years recording for small labels with almost ZERO success. In 1963, they signed with Motown…but they never broke through with any major hits–mainly because Motown was busy with  The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations–just to name three.

In 1972, they moved to Atlantic Records, and FIINALLY broke through with “I’ll Be Around:,” a story of heartbreak and somewhat desperate devotion.

The singer (Bobby Smith) knows his relationship is over, but he can’t quite let her go.

Atlantic almost blew it when they issued the single. “I’ll Be Around” was the B-side of a song called “How Could I Let You Get Away…but radio DJs across the country saved the day when they flipped it over and and played “I’ll Be Around” instead. 

Atlantic quickly re-issued the single, making it the “A” side, and from that point, The Spinners were “around the charts” with a string of Great Songs that lasted nearly a decade!  And for the record:In 1972, “Ill Be Around g topped Billboard’s Rhythm & Blues Chart for 5 weeks, while climbing to #3 on The Hot 100!