THE Three Degrees are celebrating 50 years in the business by calling in at Weymouth next year as part of their first extensive UK tour for four years.

Best known for When Will I See You Again?, Woman in Love and Take Good Care of Yourself, the trio have been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running female vocal group in history.

Not only that but Prince Charles has named the group, formed in Philadelphia in 1963 and labelled ‘Charlie’s Angels’, as his favourite.

The Three Degrees consists of original members Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday along with Freddie Pool, and has become one of the most internationally-popular and long-lasting soul groups in history.

They were brought together by veteran writer and producer, Richard Barrett, who produced the band’s first hit Gee Baby, for Philly-based record label Swan Records.

In 1970, they signed with the New York-based Roulette Records and had a top-five hit with a cover of The Chantels song Maybe, with Holiday on lead vocals and her unforgettable rap.

During this time, the trio made a cameo appearance in the movie The French Connection, portray-ing themselves in a cabaret scene.

In 1972, in a major career move, the trio signed with Gamble and Huff’s label Philadelphia Inter-national Records. They made an immediate splash with the disco hit Dirty Ol’ Man.

The following year, they would record their signature song, the sophisticated ballad When Will I See You Again, one of the greatest songs ever to come from Philadelphia, and the group’s biggest international hit.

The Three Degrees have constantly toured all over the world, occasionally recording but always working.

Valerie Holiday said: “For us, it is still exciting and we still enjoy our work. We are blessed with a wide age group appeal… from 15 to 65.

“We have opened a lot of doors for other entertainers. In some cases, we may not have always succeeded but we have never given up.

“It still amazes me when we see teenagers singing along with our songs. And yet we still have the fans who have grown with us.”

The influence and popularity of The Three Degrees has played an important role in bringing soul music to the world and around the globe they continue to be considered as one of the most important ambassadors of American soul music, more than five decades after its birth, and they show no signs of slowing down.

n The Three Degrees are at Weymouth Pavilion on Saturday, January 24.