The Challengers

Harvey Fuqua discovered Ann Bogan singing in a church on Quincy Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio and championed the shy, petite soul singer's career. Like the Womack Brothers, Ann traveled on the gospel circuit, singing at churches in other cities, but after meeting Harvey she formed a secular group. The original Challengers consisted of two neighborhood (79th & Central/Quincy area) friends: Dorothy, and James Hutchinson. Harvey issued their first release in 1962 on Tri-Phi Records a label he ran with his wife Gwen Gordy-Fuqua. "Honey, Honey, Honey," did well where it got played. Ann delivers a bloodcurdling performance on the underrated self-written ballad that's a.k.a. "Honey Three Times." Tri-Phi just didn't have the clout or the resources to put it over the top. A second Tri-Phi single, "The Butterfly" was a drastic change from "Honey"; it was first release in 1962 on Tri-Phi with a 1015 catalog number but was pulled and issued on Challenge (?) Records with a 1105 catalog number. It did nothing, and wasn't what the group was about anyway. Tri-Phi reused catalog # 1015 for Shorty Long's second Tri- Phi release "Too Smart," and "I'll Be Here." The Challengers next Tri-Phi release was "I Hear an Echo," written by Bogan, Harvey Fuqua, and Pa Colman; it was similar to "Honey" complete with another thrilling vocal from Ann, but was less successful. On this release they became the Challengers III featuring Ann Bogan. Cleveland native, George Hendricks, substituted for Hutchinson when James couldn't make a gig, but gigs weren't plentiful so the work didn't amount to much. Hendricks would befriend Choker Campbell, Motown's road band leader, and recorded for Campbell's recording company. As the Challengers III, their career was over, but Harvey started them anew as the Executives...