Derrick and the Three G's / Derek & Cyndi / Derek Floyd / Double Love

Dayton, 1969-1980s

February 1973 story

Derrick Floyd and Cyndi Floyd were brother and sister, only a year or so apart. They were close in age but closer in harmony, as they started perfoming together at a young age. 

By the time they were teenagers at Roosevelt High School, they formed the group Derrick and the Three G's. The other two members were Lynda Gayle Lyndsey and Cathy Sanders. How did they end up as Three G's? That's a mystery.

They recorded a 45 for Clearhill that's a raw soul 45, raw enough to be labelled (incorrectly) as garage rock. 

The group disbanded after high school. Derrick got a gig playing keyboards with Bobby Womack for about a year. Eventually the siblings reunited and renamed themselves Double Love. 

They won a national talent search and recorded some demos. A demo reached Thom Bell of the legendary Gamble/Huff/Bell production and writing team and he signed them to his new label, Thunder. Their first 45 "You Bring Out The Best In Me" was written by Bell and a writing partner, Linda Creed. The record was a modest hit, getting released in the UK, Netherlands, and Australia. The duo was renamed Derek and Cyndi. 

The group recorded a second 45 in an even softer soul-pop style, leading to the idea that Bell was aiming them to be a "Black Carpenters". Maybe, or not, but the record was not a hit and that seemed to be end for the two as a group.

Derrick joined the Davis Division, a popular club band led by Lenny Davis. By 1979 he was leading Cliche'. In 1982 he moved to gospel music, inspired by the tragic death of his wife, and  moved to North Carolina. He was a regular on the PTL Club TV show and recorded three LPs of gospel music in the 1980s. His name is shown as Derrick and Derek, but all the references for him in public, post Derek and Cyndi, use the more common Derek.

Discography:
When You Gonna Change / A Love That's Over - Clearhill No #, Aug 1970
You Bring Out The Best In Me / I'll Do For You The Impossible - Thunder 5251, Aug 1974
Daddy Had To Go / On The Ladder Up To Love - Thunder 5252, Mar 1975