Barrett was responsible for groups of the 1950s such as the Chantels, Little Anthony and the Imperials and his own group the Valentines. Barrett recorded this line-up on their very first song entitled 'Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)' for Swan Records. Linda and Shirley both left the group and were replaced by Helen Scott and a variety of other ladies before Janet Harmon joined in the mid '60s. Barrett also began managing and producing Sheila Ferguson who was a high school friend of Helen's. Barrett also signed Sheila to Swan Records in 1965. The Three Degrees released a lot of singles including 'I'm Gonna Need You' and a remake of 'Maybe' with Helen taking the lead vocals. By 1966, with many performances lined up, Helen decided to leave the group and start a family, not knowing she would return ten years later. Sheila Ferguson filled in for Helen and would remain in the group for 20 years. Sheila sang backup on all the Three Degrees' Swan recordings as they did for her solo singles making her seem like a fourth Degree.
By 1967, Janet Harmon left the group and was replaced by a young beauty queen from Boston named Valerie Holiday. Barrett signed the group to small deals over the next three years with Warner Brothers, Metromedia and the Neptune Label which was owned by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who would work with the group five years later. Although these were quality recordings, namely 'Contact' and 'What I See', they failed to make any real impact due to poor marketing and distribution. Their close harmony singing, together with their stunning looks and sheer professionalism was, however, making them an extremely popular nightclub act, even though that much sought-after hit record was for the time being, remaining elusive.
By 1970, the girls were signed to Roulette Records. They released their first LP entitled Maybe, including a revised version of that song, now with a long rap at the beginning with Valerie on the lead vocals. That song brought them to number four on the R&B charts. Other singles like 'I Do Take You' and 'You're the Fool' followed, as did their second album, So Much Love. This success landed them a cameo appearance in the classic motion picture The French Connection, filmed during one of their appearances at the Copacabana nightclub in New York and also an engagement at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas with Engelbert Humperdinck who was quoted saying that "The Three Degrees are the finest female vocal trio around today." Their voices are clearly heard on the live album of this show, originally released in 1971.
In 1973, with their contract with Roulette Records ending, Barrett signed them to Philadelphia International Records under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, where they were to have their greatest success so far. They also made an appearance on the hit TV show Sanford and Son singing their song 'I Didn't Know'. The first song they recorded was with the studio band MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother) called 'TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)', which was the theme song for the TV show Soul Train. Their first PIR album was self titled. Altogether, the Three Degrees recorded four albums for the label. The first album spawned three top hits. The first single, 'Dirty Ol' Man' did not make any noise in the US but went Gold in Holland and Belgium. It was banned in the UK by the BBC. The second single was 'Year of Decision' which made it to the top ten in the UK. The third single, 'When Will I See You Again' was the one that would make them famous. It went to number one all over the world and it won the third annual Tokyo Music Festival in Japan. It had them in constant demand performing in front of full houses all over Europe and especially in the UK, where they were becoming part of the establishment performing at such hot spots as the Talk of the Town and the Royal Albert Hall. The Three Degrees also recorded two live albums, one from Leicester, UK and the other from Tokyo, Japan, both released in 1975.
Also in 1976, Fayette decided to leave the group and return to school to finish her education. She was replaced by her friend and former colleague, Helen Scott. In 1977 they released the album Standing Up for Love also for Epic records, but the label held no glory for the group, who were fast learning that another change was necessary to keep up with the changing trends of a very fickle music business.
In 1978 the Three Degrees were signed to Ariola Records in Europe and the US and began working with Giorgio Moroder who was the hit producer for Donna Summer. Further success was to follow fast. They released two albums on Ariola with four Top Ten UK hits: 'The Runner', 'My Simple Heart', 'Giving Up, Giving In' and 'Woman In Love'. They performed at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles' 30th birthday party and were guests at his pre-wedding party to Princess Diana. They also filmed their own television special at the Royal Albert Hall in London called An Evening with the Three Degrees in October 1979, coincidentally, on Sheila's birthday.
Between 1982 and 1985 the Three Degrees released two albums on their own 3D label entitled Album of Love and Live in the UK. On that label they released one single written by Sheila entitled 'Liar'. They returned to the charts in 1985 with 'The Heaven I Need' which was produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman on Supreme Records. A third BBC-TV special was also recorded in 1982, entitled Take 3 Degrees, which included performances of their greatest hits and also songs that the group were performing in their latest show, such as 'I Can't Turn You Loose' and 'Celebration', all in their own inimitable style.
The Three Degrees also took part in the 2007 Best Disco in Town Tour in the UK in May 2007. They also appeared on Good Morning on UK TV during the tour, singing an updated version of 'When Will I See You Again'. They are now able to work in the US again and in November 2007, were honoured in Philadelphia by BEMA together with original member Fayette Pinkney, creating, for the first time ever, the FOUR Degrees!