MFSB, which stands for Mother Father Sister Brother, was an ensemble of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They played a pivotal role in shaping the lush, string-heavy sound of Philadelphia soul, also known as Philly Soul, during the 1970s. Aside from being a formidable band in their own right, MFSB were the house band for the Philadelphia International Records label, and they backed numerous soul artists of the era, including The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Teddy Pendergrass.

Their most iconic track is arguably "T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)," also known as the Soul Train theme song, which became their first and only number-one hit. This instrumental piece epitomized the Philly Sound with its smooth, jazzy horns, and sweeping strings, featuring vocals from soul trio The Three Degrees. Throughout their career, MFSB released a series of successful albums including "Love Is The Message" and "Philadelphia Freedom," which helped solidify their place in the pantheon of soul music. Their fusion of funk, soul, and disco elements not only redefined the sound of an era, but their collective prowess as studio musicians made them one of the most respected instrumental groups in music history.

Genres

Classic Soul

Disco

Instrumental Soul

Jazz Funk

Philly Soul

Post-disco

Related Artists

The O'Jays

The Spinners

The Stylistics

The Delfonics

Teddy Pendergrass

The Trammps

Billy Paul

The Three Degrees

Kool & The Gang

CHIC

Bee Gees

Earth, Wind & Fire

Latest Release

T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) (Tracy Young Remixes) (feat. The Three Degrees)

MFSB

Single - Released March 19, 2021