He was a singer born in New York who relocated to Philadelphia with his family while young and graduated from the Benjamin Franklin High School. After serving his time in the US Army he began singing doo-wop in the 1950s with Harold Melvin when he had a group called The Charlemagnes.
The Charlemagnes became The Blue Notes in 1954 and Roosevelt is known to have been in the original line-up although missed out on their appearance on American Bandstand while he served his time in the army. When he returned Harold Melvin had take up the lead position. That line-up released singles with several smaller record labels such as their 1956 debut “If You Love Me” and the minor hit “My Hero”.
The personnel of The Blue Notes changed several times over the next few years and Roosevelt left the group in 1971 after becoming disillusioned with touring and took up a new career in Philadelphia’s garment industry.
He passed away in Philadelphia in 2010 suffering complications from diabetes aged 75.
Here’s The Blue Notes’ “If You Love Me”…
Sources:
- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.obituaries/i-4N8ztvKt4
- http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/roosevelt-brodie/24092429
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Harold%20Melvin%20&%20Blue%20Notes.html
- http://www.heartfeltshowbiz.com/photos/index.php?image=bluenotes_originals_site.JPG&d=d.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Melvin_&_the_Blue_Notes
- http://oldies.about.com/od/70spopandsoul/p/haroldmelvinbluenotes.htm
