Originally formed by lead singer Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968.
[1] The trio each had previous professional singing experience with various groups and in the studio before forming Honey Cone in 1968.
Wright sang lead on "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" by Hale and the Hushabyes which was a pseudonym for a group that included Brian Wilson, Sonny & Cher, Jackie DeShannon.
[5] That year she released her debut solo single "A Touch of Venus," which led to a nationwide nightclub tour.
[5] She then became a backing vocalist for the Righteous Brothers, Johnny Rivers then for Ray Charles who asked her to join the Raelettes.
Their fifth release "Want Ads" proved to be their biggest success, topping both the R&B and pop chart, selling over one million copies, awarded with a gold disc by the R.I.A.A.
[8] The trio began headlining their own shows across the US, including at the Apollo Theatre and they performed a series of one-nighters in the South.
[8] Honey Cone were named The Best Female Vocal Group by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA) in 1971.
Then, Hot Wax and sister label Invictus Records ran into financial problems reportedly caused by difficulties receiving payments from distributors.
She returned to session work, recording and performing with Annie Lennox, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, and her sister Darlene Love.
[11] Willis appeared as a featured vocalist on the Seals and Crofts hit "Get Closer," in 1976, and on two tracks from their live album Sudan Village.
Willis recorded and toured with various artists, including Neil Diamond, Boz Scaggs, and Carly Simon.
In 1978, Clark was featured on a syndicated disco music TV series titled Hot City as a character named "Fyre".
[6] Willis and Gloria Jones of the Blossoms participated in a recording session with Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.
Original members, Edna Wright and Shelly Clark White, combined with Wright's daughter Melodye Perry, where they presented two concerts that included their hit songs and they covered Earth, Wind & Fire's, "September", as a tribute to Shelly's marital connection to the band through her husband.
On November 16, 2024, Honey Cone released a new single entitled, "Here Comes The Rain Again", which is a cover of the Eurythmics 1984 hit song.
Clark along with new Honey Cone members Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune share the lead and background vocals throughout the song.
[12] Clark is credited as producer on Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White's 2024 first solo project entitled, "Superman".