Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose was a family soul singing group from Dania Beach, Florida, that was formed in 1970 and gained popularity in the early 1970s. It was composed of siblings Carter Cornelius, Eddie Cornelius, and Rose Cornelius, who were joined by sister Billie Jo Cornelius in 1972. Cleveland E. Barrett (a childhood friend), an original member of the group, was killed in a car accident before their chart success.

Group career

Rose Cornelius had already appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in June 1967 and had been performing in Las Vegas and worldwide, touring in 1970 with a group called the Gospel Jazz Singers. She went home to Florida at her mother's request to help form the group. Rose wrote most of the background vocals while Eddie wrote most of the songs.

The group hit the pop chart in 1971 with the single "Treat Her Like a Lady" (U.S. R&B Top 20, Billboard Hot 100 #3). The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on 2 August 1971.[1][2]

The act succeeded again in 1972 with "Too Late to Turn Back Now" (U.S. R&B #5, Hot 100 #2); both songs were written by Eddie Cornelius.[1] This also sold over one million copies with a gold disc awarded in August 1972.[1]

While the group failed to find any further success on the scale of their first two singles, two releases, "Don't Ever Be Lonely" and "I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore" reached the Billboard Top 40. Their final charting single was "Since I Found My Baby" in 1974, from their third and last album. Their records were all produced by Bob Archibald at the Music Factory in Miami.

Breakup and aftermath

The group disbanded in 1976 when Carter Cornelius joined a Black Hebrew sect in Miami and adopted the name Prince Gideon Israel. He wrote, recorded, and mixed music and videos for that group the next 15 years. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1991.

Eddie Cornelius became a born-again Christian and later an ordained pastor who continued to sing, produce, and write music. In June 2020, he released a memoir titled It's Not Too Late To Turn Back Now (Back To The Open Arms Of God).[3]

On January 19, 2001, the surviving members of the group filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Capitol Records, Cornelius v. EMI Music, Inc., Case No. 2001-1350 CA-01, in the Miami Dade Circuit Court.[4] The suit was dismissed without prejudice three years later for want of prosecution, meaning that the plaintiffs did not actively pursue the case.[5]

Discography

Albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
US 200 US
R&B
July 1972 Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose 29 12
December 1973 Big Time Lover — 32
March 1976 Greatest Hits — 60

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
HOT		 US
R&B		 US
AC		 AUS[6]
1971 "Treat Her Like a Lady" 3 20 — — Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
1972 "Too Late to Turn Back Now" 2 5 6 30
"Don't Ever Be Lonely (A Poor Little Fool Like Me)" 23 28 27 —
"I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore" 37 43 10 —
1973 "Let Me Down Easy" 96 — — —
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" 104 79 — — Big Time Lover
1974 "Big Time Lover" — 88 — —
"Since I Found My Baby" — 59 — — Greatest Hits
"Got to Testify (Love)"** — — — —

**NOTE: "Got to Testify (Love)" reached #15 on the US Dance chart.

References
  1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 291 and 310. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Record Research Online Database. "Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose" Billboard Chart Discography. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  3. "BLOOD OF THE LAMB MINISTRIES". facebook.com/bloodofthelambministries. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. Melville, Joshua (Feb. 2001). "Cornelius Bros. Sue EMI, Producer's Wife For $1 Million in Record Royalties" Entertainment Law & Finance, p. 6.
  5. Miami-Dade County Court Records Book 22623/ Page 544
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 74. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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