All Blog Posts (458)

People's Choice

Vocalist/keyboardist Frank Brunson formed People’s Choice in Philadelphia in the early ’70s.

Drummer/percussionist David Thompson, vocalists Valerie Brown and Marc Reed, guitarists Darnell Jordan and Johnnie Hightower, keyboardists Clifton Gamble and Bill Rodgers, and bassist/vocalist Stanley Thomas were in the original lineup.

Despite the vocalists, the group’s biggest hits were instrumentals. They were signed to… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on November 3, 2009 at 3:41pm — 1 Comment

Chicago Gangsters

Despite their name, the Chicago Gangsters were originally from Ohio,

consisting of brothers James, Sam, Chris, and Leroy McCant. Their sound ranged from heavy funk and disco to sweet, smooth soul.

They adopted the name Chicago Gangsters after catching on with the Gold Plate label, where they worked with prolific songwriter/arranger Richard Evans and a number of Chicago's top studio musicians.

Their debut LP,… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on November 3, 2009 at 10:57am — 13 Comments

IMITATION OF LIFE

What movie could bring a 14 year old Black male living in the segregated South in the very early 60s to the verge of tears? This one! Although I would never admit to crying, I will fess up to getting 'misty eyed'. Ahem cough, cough.

One hot summer afternoon, I decided to go to the movies. Lucky for me I lived within walking distance of 2 of the 4 movie houses that Blacks could go to. One was old, but the other had only been opened for a year or so. The new one had better air… Continue

Added by KnightD12 on November 3, 2009 at 2:57am — 10 Comments

Ronnie & The Hi-Lites

Ronnie & The Hi-Lites was a Doo-Wop Musical Group from the United States.

They formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in the early 1960s. Their song "I Wish That We Were Married" reached the 1962 Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group originally called The Cascades, initially consisted of tenors Sonny Caldwell and John Whitney, bass singer Kenny Overby and baritone Stanley Brown. Adding 12-year-old Ronnie Goodson as their… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on November 2, 2009 at 1:58pm — 3 Comments

The Ponderosa Twins Plus One

This five-member vocal group consisted of two sets of identical twins (Alfred and Alvin Pelham, Keith and Kirk Gardner), and the "plus one," (Ricky Spicer).

They grew up and received their education on the north side of Cleveland, Ohio; all attended Patrick Henry Jr. High where they formed the group. Tony Wilson, who became their road manager, discovered the lads and brought them to the attention of Bobby Massey (at the time a member… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on October 30, 2009 at 1:03pm — 6 Comments

Bird of the Iron Feather

The first Black produced TV drama series in the USA.
http://bird.whgbetc.com/

Added by Harold Lee Rush on October 29, 2009 at 12:30pm — 12 Comments

Michael Jackson Performs Ben (1973 Academy Awards)

This Is Probably The Best Video On Youtube Of Michael Jackson Singing Ben. It Was At The 1973 Academy Awards, I Had Forgot That The Song Was Also Nominated For An Academy Award For Best Original Song In 1973…

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Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on October 24, 2009 at 11:54am — 10 Comments

Don Julian & The Larks...Shorty The Pimp

Shorty the Pimp was to have been a blaxploitation movie around 1973, but was never released due to various problems; supposedly, only one rough cut of the movie now exists, rumored to be in the hands of director Quentin Tarantino.

This is the soundtrack album that would have accompanied the project, performed by journeyman Los Angeles soul band Don Julian & the Larks. The soundtrack was canceled along with the film, though most of… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on October 19, 2009 at 3:21pm — 3 Comments

Blaxploitation Show

I want to thank everyone for listening to the last night.

If you missed it,or you want to hear it again, here's the link.
http://whpk.org/temp/200910152100.mp3

and check out Black Dynamite this weekend!

Peace!

Added by Gary on October 16, 2009 at 12:18pm — 1 Comment

Any Fans of Blaxploitation Films?

If the answer is yes,then I cordially invite you to check out my salute to Blaxploitation Films and the music.

The show airs tomorrow night from 9pm-midnight. (cst)

You will hear some great music from your favorite films,and as a added bonus, you'll hear some classic radio spots from your favorite films.

This is a one night only event, so you don't want to misss this !

Dusties Party Salute to Blaxploitation… Continue

Added by Gary on October 14, 2009 at 4:26pm — 7 Comments

Jennifer Hudson and son David Otunga.......Tooooo Cute !!!!!!

Meet Jennifer Hudson's Newborn Son!

By Julie Jordan

Jennifer Hudson and son David Photo by: Derek Blanks / Ken Barboza Associates / Hilton Media Group

Motherhood definitely seems to agree with Jennifer Hudson, who gave birth to her first child, David – named after her fiancé, David Otunga – on Aug. 10.

"I love being nurturing and caring because I love to see other people happy," says Hudson. "Who better to devote… Continue

Added by Boo on October 8, 2009 at 9:51pm — 3 Comments

Some Songs Are Based On A True - To Life Experence

In the song, the narrator tells his lover she is free to mingle and socialize throughout the evening, but to make sure to save him one dance at the end of the night. The song is likely based on the personal experience of songwriter Pomus, who had polio and used crutches to get around and could not dance.[4] His wife, however, was a Broadway actress and dancer. The song gives his perspective of plaintively telling his wife to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and "in… Continue

Added by Boo on October 3, 2009 at 12:30am — No Comments

IT hURTS TO LOVE SOMEONE

It hurts to love someone

and not be loved in return,

but what is most painful is to love someone

and never finding the courage to let the

person know how you feel.

Maybe God wants us to meet

a few wrong people

before meeting the right one

so that when we finally

meet the right person,

we should know how to be grateful for that gift.

Love is when you take away the feeling,

the passion, the romance -

and you find out you… Continue

Added by Boo on October 1, 2009 at 11:55pm — 3 Comments

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN! Look Whats Back!

Continue

Added by Ronn Nichols on October 1, 2009 at 5:30pm — 1 Comment

Love Never Fails

L....ove is the everlasting fiber that binds pure hearts

O...if everyone living would show it more fully

V...erifying it's power by all that they do

E...ach moment ...taking note of God's generosity

N...ever letting a day go by without thanking Him or

E...ndeavoring to please Him by obedience through

V...isiting and revisiting His Word

E...ntreating Him by heartfelt prayer while

R...elying on Him to… Continue

Added by Edie Antoinette on September 28, 2009 at 7:59pm — No Comments

N'Dambi

Born in 1970 and raised in dallas, texas, chonita gilbert grew up playing the piano, the clarinet and, of course, singing. having come into a world in the wake of the hippy movement, just as disco culture was gaining ground as the predominant musical craze, n'dambi's musical influences were—and continue to be—quite varied. her parents, both reverends, introduced her to the music of the church, at an early age, with her father also attempting to direct her…

Continue

Added by Edie Antoinette on September 28, 2009 at 7:49pm — No Comments

I Remember The Point

Way in the distance as you approached you could hear the sounds of the bongos.*See "Circle Of Drummers".

I remember the excitement that I always felt hearing those drums.

The 60's and early 70's...memories.

"The Point" is a man-made peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan, part of Chicago's… Continue

Added by Edie Antoinette on September 28, 2009 at 7:47pm — No Comments

Circle Of Drummers

Every evening at dusk, a group of drummers form a circle in front of the 63rd Street Beach House on Chicago's South Side. "They just know to come," said Rick Taylor, a drumming teacher, who has been part of the circle since 1983. "There is no organization." The drummers have been meeting here daily for the last 40 years, when the weather permits, of course.

"The circle is here at 63rd Street because of the nearby communities. Most of…

Continue

Added by Edie Antoinette on September 28, 2009 at 7:44pm — 5 Comments

What are your views on smoking?

When your parents were young, people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere — even in hospitals! Ads for cigarettes were all over the place. Today we're more aware about how bad smoking is for our health. Smoking is restricted or banned in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines.

Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by… Continue

Added by Boo on September 21, 2009 at 8:25pm — 7 Comments

Don't forget to watch Whitney on Oprah.....then we will talk

'My mother forced me into rehab by staging an intervention with armed police'

Whitney's Houston's mother staged an intervention involving armed police to save the singer as she spiralled out of control.

Cissy Houston got a court injunction in attempt to force Whitney into rehab and save her from drug addiction.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey which is due to air in the US on Monday, the singer credits her… Continue

Added by Boo on September 13, 2009 at 10:47pm — 2 Comments

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Remembering Q

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Quincy Jones is thoroughly entwined in the musical background of my young adulthood. A genius of unique quality. I have been posting blogs and music throughout the years and decided to embark on the arduous but satisfying task of gathering some of it to remember the excellent legacy that he left.

Maze Feel That You're Feelin
Maze Somebody Elses Arms
Maze Southern Girl
Cant Get Over You
Maze Golden Time Of Day

The history of the Butlers/Raw Soul is dense, but for all of us music nerds, that's normal. It is not totally clear what year the Butlers actually formed but they released their first single in 1963 on Liberty Records. That single was "She Tried To Kiss Me" and another single followed on Guyden entitled "Lovable Girl." After the Guyden single the Butlers took a break not recording another record until the single "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" was released on the Phila label in 1966. The group also backed Charles Earland and Jean Wells on one Phila single ("I Know She Loves Me").

As you might be noticing, the Butlers were doing a fair amount of recording but not achieving much success. The group's recordings sold regionally but never had the promotion to make an impact on the national scene. After the single with Phila, the Butlers moved to the Fairmount label (part of the Cameo-Parkway family) and released a handful of singles, some being reissued singles of the past. The Butlers were with Fairmount for 1966-67 and then moved to Sassy Records. Sassy released the group's greatest single (in my opinion) "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" b/w "If That's What You Wanted." A copy of that 45 sold for just under $500 last summer on eBay. Even though that isn't that much in the world of record collecting--it's still a hefty sum. The Butlers released another single on Sassy ("She's Gone" b/w "Love Is Good") that appears to be even

harder to come by then the "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" single.

The true history become a bit blurred here as the AMG biography states that the Butlers last record was released on C.R.S. in 1974 (". However, between 1971 and that single, Frankie Beverly formed a group called Raw Soul and released a number of singles. Some of the songs recorded by Beverly during this period are "While I'm Alone," "Open Up Your Heart," (both on the Gregor label) and "Color Blind." "Color Blind" was released by the Eldorado label and rerecorded by Maze. Beverly's big break came when Marvin Gaye asked Raw Soul to back him on a tour. Gaye helped Beverly/Raw Soul get a contract at Capitol. Beverly decided to take the group in a different direction, a name change occurred, and Maze was created.

The above isn't the most complete history of Beverly but hopefully someone will know a way to get in touch with the man or his management because a comprehensive pre-Maze history needs to be done on Frankie Beverly (his real name is Howard, by the way). Below you'll find every Frankie Beverly (pre-Maze) song available to me right now ("Color Blind" will be up soon).

If you have a song that is not included below, shoot it over to funkinsoulman (at) yahoo.com and it will go up in the next Frankie Beverly post (later this week--highlighting Maze). Also, if you have any more information please share your knowledge. The Butlers material has been comp-ed sporadically (usually imports) but the entire Maze catalog has been reissued and is available.

Enjoy. "She Kissed Me" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)

"I Want To Feel I'm Wanted" (not sure which label or year) "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" (Phila, 1966) "Because Of My Heart" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)

"Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" (Sassy, 1967)

"If That's What You Wanted" (Sassy, 1967)

Frankie Beverly is one of those cats that has lasting power. He started in the music business doing a tour with doo wop group the Silhouettes and then formed his own group called the Blenders. The Blenders never recorded a single, Beverly wouldn't appear on wax until forming the Butlers a few years later. Along with Beverly, the Butlers included Jack "Sonny" Nicholson, Joe Collins, John Fitch, and Talmadge Conway.

Beverly would later enjoy great success fronting Maze and Conway would become a

well-known penning Double Exposure's

"Ten Percent" and the Intruders' "Memories Are Here To Stay."

While Maze is a phenomenal group, Beverly's work before that group will always stand out as his best (imo).

The Butlers produced tunes that most Northern Soul fans would kill for and Raw Soul gave the funksters something to pursue. The Butlers recorded their first single in 1960 titled "Loveable Girl". Left to right John Fitch, T Conway, Frankie Beverly, Sonny Nicholson and Joe Collins.