
The Showstoppers was formed about 1967 by brothers, Elec Edward "Alex" Burke and Vladimir H. "Laddie" Burke who were the two oldest of the five younger brothers of Atlantic Record's star Solomon Burke, who joined with fellow Germantown High School students, brothers Earl and Timmy Smith. The Burke brothers had been in show business since at least 1957 as part of a four-member group with two of their two younger brothers.