0 0 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁through ▁BE MA ▁( The ▁Black ▁Entertainment ▁and ▁Music ▁Association ) ▁and ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁Philadelphia ▁for ▁their ▁contribution ▁to ▁music ▁over ▁five ▁dec ades , ▁creating , ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time , ▁The ▁Four ▁D eg rees . ▁ ▁F ay ette ▁P ink ney ▁died ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁in ▁L ans dale ▁Hospital , ▁Pennsylvania , ▁after ▁a ▁short ▁ill ness , ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 6 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁the ▁group ▁released ▁their ▁first ▁studio ▁album ▁in ▁over ▁ten ▁years , ▁Under cover ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁It ▁contained ▁a ▁selection ▁of ▁eight ▁cover ▁versions ▁of ▁classic ▁songs ▁by ▁AB BA , ▁Ste vie ▁Wonder , ▁Paul ▁Simon ▁and ▁Be e ▁Ge es . ▁The ▁following ▁year ▁they ▁released ▁a ▁new ▁single ▁" Hold ing ▁Back ". ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Fred die ▁Pool ▁replaced ▁C yn th ia ▁G arrison , ▁who ▁was ▁suffering ▁from ▁Pir iform is ▁synd rome , ▁as ▁the ▁D eg rees ▁had ▁tour ing ▁commit ments ▁to ▁ful fill . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁The ▁Three ▁degrees ▁released ▁their ▁first ▁full - length ▁studio ▁album ▁with ▁member ▁Fred die ▁Pool ▁entitled ▁Str ategy : ▁Our ▁T ribute ▁To ▁Philadelphia , ▁through ▁Cher ry ▁Red ▁Records . ▁ ▁The ▁Hol iday / Sc ott / G arrison ▁version ▁of