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| Phyllis & Helen Duncan |
| Sisters Helen and Phyllis Duncan remain as mysterious as they are talented. As with many of the subjects of the disco-era little is known about there beginnings or there current whereabouts. We do know for a fact that the sisters first gained noteriety as vocalists on Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison's second THP Orchestra release, "Tender Is The Night." The Canadian sisters were considered proteges of Guenther and Morrison and their Three Hats Productions. The girls first hit was "Weekend Two Step" from the previously mentioned release. Their crystalline vocals helped propell the album into a club favorite and top seller. Ian and Willi then assembled the exact same roster of artists and musicians for another 1978 release, "Sticky Fingers." The album featured four tracks and was released promotionally as a Prelude Records 2-12" singles pack. The songs "Wastin' My Love" and "Takin' A Chance On You" were both summer hits. By 1979 the sisters had helped Ian and Willi achieve enough success that they were given their own release. Simply titled "The Duncan Sisters" the album was a runaway smash. Nearly every track received floor time. The big hits of course were the 12" singles of "Boys Will Be Boys" and "Sadness In My Eyes." Two other tracks remain favorites, "Outside Love" and "Love Is On The Way." The EarMarc records release featured all the same musicians that Guenther and Morrison used for all their releases. And as was their working order, it was recorded in Canada at their favorite studio. 1980 was consumed with personal appearances and weathering the collapse of disco music. But in early 1981 the sisters would have one final hit. A rare 12" single release on Impact Records was issued of "Too Damn Hot." The release does not mention Ian and Willi, but was licensed from Three Hats Productions and is billed as The Duncans. The song was a favorite of mine and received excellent exposure but due to it's import status was not readily available. The sisters then moved on to personal lives and gave up the idea of becoming full fledged artists. Not giving up singing easily the sisters chose to earn extra income by doing background vocals. They could be heard on numerous recordings throughtout the 1980's and into the 1990's. They have appeared on recordings by John Prine, Bill Carter, B.B. King and even U2! Since little else is known about Phyllis and Helen we can only hope that they are still utilizing their talented voices to enchant people and that they are happy and healthy. Our (three) hats off to the sisters for giving disco some wonderful classics...thank you! |
| UPDATE September 2006! I am always pleased when someone that I have loved and enjoyed views my site and takes the time to contact me. Well Helen Duncan did just that. SO to correct some info from above and to clarify where they are at here is Helen's e-mail to me: My Name is Helen Bernard Gray, before the last two sir names, it was Helen Duncan. I am one of the "Duncan Sisters". I'd like to thank you for the very nice write-up and to give you a few more facts, in case you want them. We were born in Olive Branch Mississippi and raised in East Palo Alto, California. We moved to Memphis in 1974 and there hooked up with Ian Gunther, and Pete Pederdsen, who was the writer/producer for "Three Hats Productions." Phyllis and I are still singing, although separately now. I moved back to California in 1991, Phyllis stayed in Memphis. I sing with a group called Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, (OIGC), One voice, and am the featured soloist for First Church of Religious Science. Phyllis is singing with Bill Haney and doing solo work around Memphis, TN. Again, I would like to personally thank you for the write-up. It is very thoroughly and well written. Sincerely, Helen Bernard Gray |
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