The Superior Movement

Superior Movement

Superior Movement is an R&B/vocal group that originated on Chicago’s West Side and rose from the city’s vibrant neighborhood-street-and-choir tradition to perform across the Midwest and beyond. The group’s core members — Calvin Ford, Stanley Ratliff, David Williams, Billy Avery and Tyrone Powell — were raised in Lawndale and are alumni of Farragut High School; they began performing together in the 1970s under the name Fourth Movement before changing to Superior Movement in the early 1980s. 

Their early career was tied to the local Chicago independent soul scene and to the Chicago International Music (C.I.M.) label, which recorded and released the group’s early singles in the early 1980s. Their single “For You” received R&B airplay and a modest Billboard R&B chart placement in the early 1980s, and tracks such as “Wide Shot,” “Come Fly With Me,” “Sweet Dreams” and “The Key to Your Heart” have since circulated on streaming platforms and reissue compilations. 

As a live act Superior Movement built a reputation on the road and at home in Chicago — appearing at major local festivals and stages and playing clubs across the city. Their performance résumé includes ChicagoFest as well as shows at venues such as The New Regal Theater, The Miller Sound Express and a variety of Chicago clubs and festivals. They’ve also taken their show to conventions and festivals outside Illinois, including the Jack The Rapper Convention in Atlanta. Contemporary press and period listings note their participation on Chicagofest bills and regional festival lineups during their early touring years.

Superior Movement has shared the stage as support for many established acts over the years — opening for artists and entertainers that include The Dramatics, Stephanie Mills, Ray, Goodman & Brown, Whodini, Eddie Murphy and Enchantment — a reflection of the group’s versatility as a harmony-driven R&B act able to fit club nights, soul packages, and festival lineups. 

Although their recorded output was concentrated in the early 1980s, Superior Movement kept a presence as a performing unit in Chicago-area public and private events for decades after, appearing on reissue compilations and YouTube uploads that preserve live clips and studio singles for new listeners. Their songs and 12" versions have enjoyed renewed attention from collectors and DJs, and the group appears on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.