Nicholas Caldwell, Singer With The Whispers, Dead At 71

Nicholas Caldwell, co-founder and singer with the California R&B group The Whispers, has died. He was 71.

Willette Ballard, a representative for the group, said Caldwell died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his San Francisco home.

Caldwell was an original member of the group that included brothers Walter and Wallace Scott, Marcus Hutson and Gordy Harmon. Their first top 10 R&B hit was in 1970 with "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong." Their first album to go platinum was "The Whispers" in 1980. It included the disco hit, "And The Beat Goes On," which Will Smith later sampled in his single, "Miami."

Caldwell also penned some of their songs, including the fan favorite "Lady."

The group also had an R&B and pop hit "Rock Steady" with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.