William Alexander "Poogie" Hart[1] (January 17, 1945[2] – July 14, 2022) was an American soul singer, and lead singer for The Delfonics, which also included his younger brother Wilbert Hart.[3] Noted for his falsetto singing voice,[4] Hart was the lead singer for the original Delfonics from 1965 to 1975, and the lead singer for his own version of the Delfonics group until 2022.
Biography
William Hart was born in Washington, D.C.,[1][5] one of eight children to Wilson and Iretha Hart. The Hart family moved to Philadelphia a few months after William's birth.[1] He and younger brother Wilbert attended Overbrook High School, where both brothers were in different high schools.[6] Some of Hart's earlier groups include Little Hart and The Everglows, the Veltones, the Four Guys, and the Four Gents, all groups consisting of Hart's Overbrook friends, one of these groups including Randy Cain.[7]
In 1975, the original Delfonics disbanded, and the Hart brothers led their own versions. The two got into legal disputes that lasted almost a decade. A 1998 lawsuit showed that Wilbert had infringed William's trademark on the name.[12] A 2007 court agreement decided that both brothers could use the name, just as long as the difference between two groups was obviously noted.[13]
Hart died at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia on July 14, 2022.[2][3] He was 77.[3] Hart died from complications from surgery. He had been transmitted to Temple Hospital after experiencing troubles breathing.[18] He was survived by his two brothers, two sisters, three children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.[1]
