The very first lineup of Dramatics. From left to right: Larry "Squirrel" Demps, Elbert Wilkins (Al), Ron Banks, Larry Reed. Bottom: Roderick Davis.
    The Dramatics have been a group for over twenty five years. So it's no surprise to discover that there have been a few personnel changes. No, not like the Temptations. There is more than one member of the "classic  Dramatics lineup" still in the group. After reading this page, you will most likely be able to identify each of the Dramatics, past and present.
    
 Ron Banks
1962-present
Larry Demps
1962-1981
Larry Reed
1962-1968
Roderick Davis
1962-1968







Robert Ellington
1962

Elbert Wilkins
1962-1973
Willie Lee Ford
1968-present
William Howard
1968-1973; 1986-1989
L.J. Reynolds
1973-1981; 1986-present
Lenny Mayes
1973-present
Bo Henderson
1981

Craig Jones
1981-1982




Steven Barnett-Boyd
1989-1994





Winzell Kelly
1994-present
Credits:
1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13: Courtesy of Wendal'sSis.
2. "Be My Girl" CD liner
3, 4: "Blues & Soul" magazine, scanned by me
6. "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" LP, 1971
8. "Somewhere In Time" LP, scanned by me
11. "Phoenix Rising" CD (Temptations, 1998) scanned by me
12. Dramatics Ultimate Collection CD (Courtesy of "LuvNRuffin")


The first lineup of Dramatics contained Ron Banks, Larry Demps, Robert Ellington, Elbert Wilkins, and Larry Reed. Ellington left  to continue his studies and Rod Davis took his place.
In 1968, Reed and Davis left the group. William Howard (Wee Gee) replaced Reed and Willie Ford replaced Davis.
Banks, Demps, Wilkins, Howard, and Ford are the first lineup of Dramatics to have a hit song.
In 1973, Wee Gee began to suffer from delusions of greatness. In other words, he wanted to be the Mr. Everything of the Dramatics. He left the Dramatics, and his best friend, Wilkins, followed him.
L.J. Reynolds and Lenny Mayes replaced Howard and Wilkins in 1973.
Banks, Demps, Ford, Reynolds, and Mayes are the "Classic Dramatics", not to mention the most well-known lineup.
In 1981, Demps left to start a family. Reynolds quit the group for a solo career.
Barrington Henderson replaced Reynolds, but was never officially considered a Dramatic, because he came at a bad time, where all the group members were still trying to get over the fact that Reynolds had left the group. Henderson did not stay in the group long. He was replaced by Craig Jones. Years later, Henderson joined the Temptations.
The Dramatics took a hiatus in 1982. The group disbanded for four years.
In 1986, Banks, Howard, Ford, Mayes, and Reynolds get together for a Dramatic Reunion, and decide to stay together as a group.
Animosity breaks out between Reynolds and Howard, and in 1989, Howard leaves. His replacement is Steve Barnett-Boyd.
Winzell Kelly replaces Barnett-Boyd in 1994. Apparently, Barnett-Boyd did not like the style of music that the Dramatics were doing, so he left to try something new.
Wee Gee Howard dies of a heart attack in February 2000. Elbert Wilkins died of a massive heart attack on December 13, 1992.
Ron Banks, Willie Ford, Lenny Mayes, L.J. Reynolds, and Winzell Kelly are the current Dramatics.



                             

      Dramatics Unlimited