| The Wades | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | South London, United Kingdom |
| Genre: | R&B, gospel |
| Label: | Famecity Entertainment, Kingsway Music |
The Wades are a UK gospel and R&B group from South London.
The band formed in the late 1980s, and was most active from 1987 to 2000.
The group has released several albums, and is renowned for their dynamic live performances.[1] The Wades are credited with the "biggest ever" launch of a UK gospel album, and have been credited with pioneering British gospel's movement into R&B.<ref name="no6" />
Most recently they appeared on the "One Voice, One Heart" charity single, recorded in February 2005 and released at Easter to raise funds for the survivors of the Southeast Asia tsunami.[2]
In 2000, the Wade brothers started their own record label called FameCity Entertainment.[3]
The Wades have been called "a British version of the Winans" and were credited with pioneering British gospel's move into R&B.<ref name="no6">Rimmer . Mike . Come in Number 6... Your Time is Up! . October 2003 . 77 . .
The group are featured in the ground breaking book British Black Gospel by author and specialist gospel writer Steve Alexander Smith.
Current members of the band include brothers Derek, David and Lloyd Wade. A fourth brother Denis appeared on their debut album A Touch of Heaven, released in 1994. The four brothers were instrumental in the recording of the debut album which they all co-produced and co-wrote under the musical direction of Lloyd.