Singer/keyboardist Booker Newberry III was a member of mid-'70s soul groups Sweet Thunder ("Baby I Need Your Love Today") and Impact. Born January 19, 1956, in Youngstown, Ohio, Newberry began his professional singing career in the group Mystic Nights around 1971. Moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became the lead singer of the band Sweet Thunder, which also included drummer John Aaron, bassist Rudell Alexander, and guitarist Charles Buie. Signing with Philly-based label WMOT Records, the group's single "Baby I Need Your Love Today" b/w "I Don't Care What You Say" stirred interest and was picked up for distribution by Berkeley, California-based Fantasy Records. The band recorded three LPs, Above the Clouds (1976), Sweet Thunder (1978), and Horizons (1979, included the single "I Leave You Stronger," which went to number 63 R&B in late 1979). Newberry joined another WMOT Records group, Impact, who are best known for the dance hits "Give a Broken Heart a Break" and "Rainy Days Stormy Nights." The singer signed with Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records in 1983, and his single "Love Town" was a Top 20 U.K. hit. The Love Town LP was issued the same year. He also recorded for Malaco Records and Omni Records (the LP Take a Piece of Me). Newberry died on April 5, 2023; he was 67 years of age. ~ Ed Hogan