The Intruders

The Intruders are an R&B ensemble, blended doo-wop with gospel music, formed in Philadelphia in 1960. Group members included Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Phillip "Phil" Terry, Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards, and Eugene "Bird" Daughtry. Initially blending Philly's street corner doo-wop tradition with black gospel fervor, the group went on to shape Philadelphia soul as they worked with legendary producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

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The Intruders first hit the R&B charts in 1968 with 'Cowboys to Girls', reaching #1 on R&B and #6 on Pop. This classic remains their only chart-topping single, and sold over 1 million copies. Other notable hits include 'When We Get Married' (1970), '(I'll Always Love My Mama)' (1974), and 'I Wanna Know Your Name'" (1973).

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The group disbanded in 1975 but reunited in 1984 for the album 'Who Do You Love?', with a shortened lineup under Eugene Daughtry's wing. Sadly, Eugene Daughtry passed away in 1994 from cancer; Sam Brown committed suicide in 1995, and Robert 'Big Sonny' Edwards died in 2016 after a heart attack. The Intruders left an indelible mark as R&B pioneers, with a discography including five albums with Gamble Records. They scored a string of R&B hits during their career, with the Philadelphia soul movement underpinned by their early success with the production duo Gamble and Huff.