What began as a handful of college students harmonizing Temptations tunes after choir rehearsal in the 1970s has become one of Chattanooga’s most enduring musical legacies.
The R&B group Love, Peace and Happiness–founded by Valitus Edwards Sr., Kenneth Parks and the late Lutrell “Truck” Brown–was born on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, nurtured by friendships that stretched back to Riverside High School, and sharpened on the legendary East Ninth Street music scene.
East Ninth Street, known back then as the Big 9, was alive with music, drawing both local performers and national touring acts. Clubs and cafés spilled melodies into the street, creating the backdrop for the young men who dreamed of following in the footsteps of soul legends like The Temptations, Delfonics, and James Brown.
The name Love, Peace and Happiness itself carried a spirit of the times. Edwards explained that it came from an album by the Chambers Brothers, released during the era of flower children, anti-war marches, and cries for unity.
“It depicted the time of the flower children–stop the war and all those things,” Edwards said. “That’s what we wanted our music to reflect.”
Even before the group found its footing, family support played a surprising role in its formation.
“When I think of the beginning of the Love, Peace and Happiness Band, I have to think of the role my dad, Rev. J. Loyd Edwards Jr., played in its infancy,” Edwards recalled. “We were renting equipment to play gigs until my dad located a public address system and a bass amplifier that had belonged to the old El Continentals Band. Being a preacher’s son, I was surprised that he was being so supportive instead of rebelling against my pipe dream.”
The group’s rise was interrupted when two members were drafted into military service during the Vietnam War. In the aftermath, Edwards later married and stepped back to support his growing family, believing for a time that his days in the spotlight were behind him.
The opportunity for a revival came in 1994 when a film project sought to capture the history of East Ninth Street’s musical past. Edwards’s brother, John Edwards III, who was serving on the board of directors for the Mary Walker Historical and Education Foundation, successfully advocated for the documentary to include the 1970s era. That decision paved the way for Love, Peace and Happiness to reunite for Doing Fine on Big Nine: The Ninth Street Revival, a performance at Miller Plaza that reignited the group’s journey.
“Fans won’t let us retire,” Edwards laughed. “We thought it would just be a one-time thing, but the people kept calling.”
From that second chapter on, the band began performing steadily again, sharing stages with WAR, The Impressions, and even a young Usher Raymond. They quickly became a mainstay at community festivals, weddings, corporate functions, and regional events. What made them special was not only their skill but also the way they connected with audiences–mixing jazz standards, Motown favorites, and soul classics into a repertoire that spanned generations.
For Edwards, the journey has always been about more than music. He believes the group’s longevity is due to faith, humility and the support of his loved ones.
“My wife has been the key to my success,” he said. “She gave me the freedom to pursue music, even when it meant late nights and weekends away. And my brother John–he was the one who pushed me back into this when I was ready to walk away. Without them, there would be no Love, Peace and Happiness today.”
Though their performances brought joy to countless audiences, the members of Love, Peace and Happiness never defined themselves solely as entertainers. Edwards and Parks each earned master’s degrees and built respected careers in education.
Edwards spent years at EPB before moving into academia at UTC, while Parks devoted his career to teaching French and Spanish at Baylor School. Brown, meanwhile, remained deeply involved in church music until his passing. Their devotion to faith and family gave them balance and perspective as they navigated both careers and music.
Their commitment to education even found its way into their art. The band recorded a motivational song titled We Won’t Stop (Until We Get to the Top), a message of perseverance and achievement that embodied the same values they carried into classrooms and communities. The song, which encourages students to find their personal success within, was distributed as a CD to thousands of youth across Hamilton County’s underperforming schools.
“I believe the Lord worked it out this way,” Edwards shared. “If I had been a success when I was young, I might not have been able to handle it. Now we know where to put our priorities.”
The group’s lineup has shifted through the years, with talented new members such as Howard Brown, Cheryl Porter, Kris Phillips, and David Bledsoe stepping in to help carry the sound forward.
Other musicians have included McKinley Sims (sax); Edward Gore (drums); Ronald “Rat Juice” Johnson (bass); Allen Stubbs (piano), son of music legend Pop Stubbs; and Calvin Florence (trumpet), who was one of the first black football players at UTC.
LPH group lent their talents and inspiration to motivate students at Hardy Elementary School to aim high on the state standardized tests. They created a song (“We Won’t Stop (Until We Get to the Top)” that became such a hit that it had to be shared with the ten other underperforming schools in Hamilton County. Their efforts were recognized by Johns Hopkins University’s National Network of Partnership schools.
Edwards remains the band’s leader and the last original member, guiding Love, Peace and Happiness through roughly 30 shows each year. Audiences still request their signature Motown choreography, still sing along to their harmonies, and still prove that the name “Love, Peace and Happiness” connects with audiences as much today as it did half a century ago.
Asked what keeps him going, Edwards doesn’t hesitate. “The requests from the people. As long as they call, we’ll keep singing.”
As for the legacy of Love, Peace and Happiness, Edwards hopes it will be remembered not only for the music but also for the heart behind it.
“We were true to the game,” he said. “We were true to the music. And we played it like we thought it should be played.”
Looking to the future, Edwards noted, “As far as the future, I’m trying to say that we’re hanging on until natural attrition takes us out. We’re getting old. We’re going to age out. One time I thought about just stopping and say ‘I quit,’ but I’m not going to quit. When the people quit calling then I’ll know to stop.”
The group lent their talents and inspiration to motivate students at Hardy Elementary School to aim high on the state standardized tests. They created a song (“We Won’t Stop (Until We Get to the Top)” that became such a hit that it had to be shared with the ten other underperforming schools in Hamilton County. Their efforts were recognized by Johns Hopkins University’s National Network of Partnership schools.