(July 13, 2017) Back in 1975, the clubs were beginning to get into the early sounds of disco, and folks all over the world were dancing to the hustling sounds of “Hook It Up” by The Choice Four. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of Pede (Pete) Marshall, an original member of that classic group who went on to a long and successful career pleasing soul music fans everywhere.
The Choice Four burst onto the scene in the 70s, produced by one of that decade’s biggest hitmakers, Van McCoy. The Washington DC-based group, consisting of Marshall, Charles Blagdon, Bobby Hamilton and Ted Maduro, charted more than a half dozen times over the decade, hitting the top 10 with “Come Down To Earth” as well as “Hook It Up.”
The group broke up by the end of the decade, but Marshall continued to record in multiple groups, including a time with the popular Temptations spinoff group, The Temptations Review feat. Dennis Edwards. He also recorded some solo work, sounding great on songs like “What’s In It For Me.”
Pede Marshall was another in the string of extremely talented vocalists who made the 1970s a golden age for soul and dance music. He will be missed.
