The Distants

US vocal group from Detroit, MI. Members: Richard "Strick" Street (Lead), Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, James Crawford They had a contract with Johnnie Mae Matthews, who along with her husband, owned and ran Northern Records. When "Come On" started receiving increasing air-play on local Detroit radio stations, Johnnie Mae arranged through Harry Balk, a local Detroit producer, for a lease agreement to be signed with Warwick Records of New York in an attempt to further boost sales.