RIP Melvin Sephus: Rude Boys Founding Member Behind ‘Written All Over Your Face’ Dies at 61

Another voice from the golden era of R&B has gone silent. Melvin Sephus, a founding member of the ’90s R&B group The Rude Boys, has died at 61. His passing was announced on October 29. No cause of death has been shared.

Melvin Sephus, circled, with the Rude Boys — Larry Marcus, Joe Little and Edward “Buddy” Banks.

If you grew up on ’90s slow jams, you know his voice. Sephus formed The Rude Boys in Cleveland, Ohio, with Larry “Bingo” Marcus, Edward “Buddy” Banks and Joe Little III. Discovered by Gerald Levert and signed to Atlantic Records, the group released their debut album Rude Awakening in 1990.

The album gave us “Written All Over Your Face,” the slow-jam classic that hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, crossed over to No. 16 on the Hot 100, and was named the No. 1 R&B Single of the Year at the 1991 Billboard Music Awards — followed by a second straight No. 1, “Are You Lonely for Me.” The group went on to release Rude House in 1992, featuring “My Kinda Girl,” and Rude As Ever, and in 2019 The Rude Boys were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Watch the Classics

“Written All Over Your Face”

“Are You Lonely for Me”

“My Kinda Girl”

Sephus was more than a group member — he was a singer, songwriter, keyboardist and producer who co-wrote and co-produced “I Got Your Back” and sang backing vocals on Gerald and Eddie Levert’s 1995 album Father & Son. When Gerald Levert passed, The Rude Boys reunited to perform at his funeral.

His Accomplishments

• Founding member of The Rude Boys, the Cleveland R&B group discovered by Gerald Levert and signed to Atlantic Records
• “Written All Over Your Face” — No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, No. 16 on the Hot 100, and named No. 1 R&B Single of the Year at the 1991 Billboard Music Awards
• “Are You Lonely for Me” — a second consecutive No. 1 R&B hit
• “My Kinda Girl” — a Top 5 R&B hit; its Clark Kent remix featured a young Jay-Z, and The Rude Boys were the first national act Jay-Z ever performed with
• Credited as producer, vocalist, keyboardist and vocal arranger on Rude House (1992), and as a writer and performer on Rude Awakening (1990) and Rude As Ever (1997)
• Co-wrote and co-produced “I Got Your Back” and sang backing vocals on Gerald and Eddie Levert’s Father & Son (1995)
• Studio work across three decades: backing vocals for Geoff McBride (1990) and Gene Rice (1993), The Meteor Man soundtrack (1993), Russell Thompson (1998) and Gerald Levert’s Voices (2005)
• Toured internationally alongside Levert and The O’Jays; appeared with the group on Soul Train, Showtime at the Apollo and The Arsenio Hall Show
• Inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame with The Rude Boys in 2019

Sephus is the third original member of the group to pass, following Marcus in 2016 and Banks in 2020. His death leaves Joe Little III as the last surviving member of the founding lineup.

FreddyO.com sends our sincere condolences to Melvin Sephus’s family, friends, Joe Little III, and every fan who ever slow-danced to his voice. Rest in peace, Melvin.

Hear the Rude Boys Story

Lead singer Joe Little III — now the last surviving original member — has told the group’s story in his own words, from the Cleveland club night Gerald Levert discovered them to the Hall of Fame:

Joe Little III interview — Parlé Magazine

Joe Little III video interview — Strategic Moves

Melvin Sephus in recent years. Tribute graphic: Ed Gaines Entertainment.

Source: SoulTracks. Photos: Atlantic Records publicity photos.