<Li> Flash and the Ebony Sparks portrayed by John Canada Terrell, Ron Jackson, Recoe Walker and Wayne "Crescendo" Ward: The Ebony Sparks defeat The Five Heartbeats in singing competitions--many of which are rigged--prior to their mainstream popularity . Flash later becomes the lead singer for the Five Heartbeats . </Li> <P> After writing (along with Keenen Ivory Wayans), producing, directing, and starring in his first film Hollywood Shuffle, Robert Townsend had attained near - cult status among independent filmmakers due to his dedication to that film--a project which caused him to max out all his credit cards and spend nearly $100,000 of his own money raised through savings and various acting jobs in order to produce the film . When writing Townsend's first studio film The Five Heartbeats, Townsend and Wayans kept comedy an important aspect of the film, but also explored complex characters in a more dramatic way . After extensive research with rhythm and blues - singing group The Dells, who were renowned for their four - decade career, Townsend used his film to depict a similar story, following the lives of three friends who aspire to musical stardom . Given the setting of the film, he was able to tie in other elements, such as race relations, as well . Due to the production's budgetary constraints, Townsend used little - known actors of the time, with the exceptions of Leon Robinson, Diahann Carroll and Harold Nicholas of The Nicholas Brothers . </P> <P> To promote the film prior to its release, Townsend, along with the other actors who portrayed the fictional musical quartet The Five Heartbeats (Leon Robinson, Michael Wright, Harry J. Lennix, and Tico Wells) performed in a concert with real - life Soul / R&B vocal group The Dells, one of many groups that inspired the film . The Dells sang and recorded the vocals as the actors lip synced . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> The Five Heartbeats (Music from the Motion Picture) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Soundtrack album by Various Artists </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Released </Th> <Td> April 2, 1991 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Genre </Th> <Td> R&B, soul </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Label </Th> <Td> Capitol </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who sang the songs for the five heartbeats