Heatwave original band members

     It all began in West Germany. Five young men stationed in the U.S. Army came together after work, went to the social clubs to play pool and sing a little harmony. This group was known as ‘The Cashmeres’. The Cashmeres joined with three young female vocalists in the same city and called themselves ‘The Cashmeres and The Black Pearls’, patterning themselves after ‘The Temptations and The Supremes’. As time went on, three of the men left for England and Vietnam and the ladies also departed, leaving Johnnie Wilder and one other group member to form a new four-man vocal group called ‘The Nobelmen’, who picked up a backing band called ‘The Soul Sessions’, an all-German Band that liked to play what they called ‘Soul Music.’

     Faces continued to change within the band and Johnnie ended up being the lead singer of the group that became known as ‘J. Wilder and The Soul Sessions’. After Johnnie’s military tour ended, the group went through many transformations and additions. Johnnie went to an ex-U.S. Air Force friend named Tommy Harri

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