To Late To Turn Back Now
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose formed in 1970 and gained popularity in the early 1970s.They were composed of siblings Carter Cornelius, Eddie Cornelius, and Rose Cornelius, who were joined by sister Billie Jo Cornelius in 1972. Cleveland E. Barrett an original member of the group, was (a childhood friend),killed in a car accident before their short lived success.
Rose Cornelius had already appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in June 1967 and had been performing in Las Vegas and worldwide, touring in 1970 with a group called the Gospel Jazz Singers. She went home to Florida at her mother’s request to help form the group. Rose wrote most of the background vocals while Eddie wrote most of the songs.
The group hit the pop chart in 1971 with the single “Treat Her Like a Lady” (U.S. R&B Top 20, Billboard Hot 100 #3). The record was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on 2 August 1971.[1][2]
The act succeeded again in 1972 with “Too Late to Turn Back Now” (U.S. R&B #5, Hot 100 #2); both songs were written by Eddie Cornelius.[1] This also sold over one million copies with a gold disc awarded in August 1972.[1]
While the group failed to find any further success on the scale of their first two singles, two releases, “Don’t Ever Be Lonely” and “I’m Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore” reached the Billboard Top 40. Their final charting single was “Since I Found My Baby” in 1974, from their third and last album.
Unfortunately, the group broke up in 1976 when Carter Cornelius joined a black Hebrew sect in Miami and adopted the name Prince Gideon Israel. He wrote, recorded, and mixed the sect’s music and videos for the next 15 years. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1991. Eddie Cornelius became a born-again Christian and later an ordained pastor who continued to sing, produce, and write music.[3]
Rose Cornelius is working and living in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and performs with many groups.
References[edit]
1. Jump up to: a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 291 and 310. ISBN 0-214-20512-2. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Record Research Online Database. “Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose” Billboard Chart Discography. Retrieved March 17, 2011.