Shelley "SoleMann" King's Blog (94)

Sing It To Me Ronnie....LOL





WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD BACK IN 1977, I HAD A BIG CRUSH ON RONNIE SPECTOR OF THE… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on February 18, 2011 at 8:18am — 7 Comments

Helen Wooten...Longtime Promoter

An uncaptioned photo in the Numero Group's recent book about south-side nightlife in the 70s set Jake Austen on the trail of this story about one crazy week in the life of longtime promoter Helen Wooten.



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Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on October 6, 2010 at 10:38pm — 5 Comments

Johnny Davis...The Tragic Star Of Bandit Records



The tragic star of the early days of Bandit, he lead The Arrows until it was clear he was a standout performer. The rest of the group continued to back his recordings (“The Love I See Now” and “Boogedy Boogedy” were issued under both the names Johnny Davis and The Arrows). “You’ve Got To Crawl To Me” is Johnny’s signature performance, an amateur funk workout that displays Johnny’s full vocal range as it pulses… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on October 5, 2010 at 11:30am — 5 Comments

Sole The Music Pimp...ROFLMBO



You See, (As I Raise My Drink To You...LOL) Music Is Big Business, It's Been Around Long Before You And Me, It Will Be Here Long After We Are Gone, As A Matter Of Fact, It Will Be Here Until Somebody Turn Off The Lights On This Place We Call Earth...SOLE THE MUSIC PIMP (ROFLMBO)



A SOLEMANNKING… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on August 31, 2010 at 10:03am — 4 Comments

Vintage Chattanooga, Tn. Concert Posters



Y'all Know Me, I'm Always Finding Something....LOL. Here Are 5 Vintage Chattanooga, Tn. Concert Posters From The 1950's And 1960's. I Sure Wish I Could Find More, From What I Have Been Told By The Old Cats, Chattanooga Had All Kind Of Concerts Back In The Day At The Memorial Auditorium.





Motortown Revue - 1965



What an incredible Globe Poster and featuring Marvin Gaye!… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on August 31, 2010 at 9:40am — 2 Comments

Little Known New Edition History...ROFLMBO



During The Summer Of 1984, New Edition Came To Chattanooga, Tn. For A Concert At The Memorial Auditorium. Michael Bivins Was Unable To Attend Because He Had Hurt His Knee A Couple Of Nights Earlier, So A Call Went Out For A 5th Member Of New Edition For The Chattanooga Engagement.



Radio Station Jet94 Sponsered A 1 Day Contest To Pick The 5th Member Of New Edition And Guys Throughout The City Showed Up To… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on August 13, 2010 at 1:12pm — 2 Comments

The Temprees Featuring Shelley "SoleMann" King & Julius "Barely Saine" Freeman...LOL



"A Memphis soul vocal trio. This polished group formed in 1970 and recorded for We Produce, a Stax offshoot. Bandmembers Harold "Scotty"

Scott, Jasper "Jabbo" Phillips, and William Norvell Johnson rode a

sumptuously produced remake of the often-covered Five Royales/Shirelles

standard "Dedicated to the One I Love" onto R&B play lists in 1972.

After "Love's Maze" made a little noise as a follow-up, the trio moved

to… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on August 9, 2010 at 3:05pm — 10 Comments

SoleMannKing Presents Iceberg Slim



Iceberg Slim (August 4, 1918 – April 28, 1992), also known as Robert Beck, was an African American author of books variously categorized as urban fiction, street literature, and black pulp fiction. Iceberg Slim was an important influence on hip-hop artists and rappers such as Ice-T and Ice Cube and Pittsburgh Slim and ...Slim Thug, who adopted their names in part from reading the author.





ICEBERG… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on April 27, 2010 at 11:35pm — 2 Comments

SoleMannKing Presents Donald Goines



Donald Goines (December 15, 1937 – October 21, 1974) was one of the first African American writers of urban fiction. His novels were deeply influenced by the work of Robert Beck (Iceberg Slim). For Those Of You That Have Read His Books, You Need To Checkout The Two Autobiographies I Have In My Hands..





DONALD GOINES...DONALD WRITES NO MORE…



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Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on April 27, 2010 at 11:34pm — No Comments

Chicago Soul Train



The origins of Soul Train can be traced to 1965, when WCIU-TV, an upstart UHF station in Chicago, began airing two youth-oriented dance programs: Kiddie-a-Go-Go and Red Hot and Blues. These two programs—specifically the latter, which featured a predominantly African American group of in-studio dancers—would set the stage for what was to come to the station several years later.



Don Cornelius, a news reader and backup disc jockey at… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on February 27, 2010 at 6:49pm — 6 Comments

The Masked Man & The Agents



By Terence McArdle

Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, January 10, 2010



While holding down a day job as an Army Department mail clerk, Harmon Bethea struggled for decades to achieve a breakthrough singing group. He went at it so long, and through so many changes in pop vocal trends, that he tried to become famous in jive, doo-wop, rhythm-and-blues and Motown-tinged soul. At one time, he led a gospel group.



"If… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on February 1, 2010 at 4:24pm — 5 Comments

California Jam...1974



California Jam, also known as Cal Jam, was a rock music festival concert held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974 l.It was produced by ABC entertainment, Sandy Feldman, Don E. Branker and Lenny Stogel. Pacific Presentations, a LA based concert company headed by Sepp Donahower and Gary Perkins, coordinated the event, booked all the talent, and ran the advertising. It attracted 200,000 fans that paid, which at the… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on January 30, 2010 at 8:09pm — 10 Comments

The Sophisticated Gents



The Sophisticated Gents is a TV miniseries that aired on three consecutive nights from September 29 to October 1, 1981 on NBC. Its ensemble cast featured a number of African American stage and film actors, many of whom were customarily seen in Blaxploitation motion pictures in the 1970s. The miniseries is based upon the novel The Junior Bachelor Society by John A. Williams. Although production of the project ended in 1979, NBC did not air the… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on January 23, 2010 at 5:35pm — 4 Comments

The Temptations Live In Paris...1973



if you ever witness the Temptations In Paris video, you’ll become more aware that in 1973, they must have knew that live in concert no one was better with the steps, than they were and you’ll be amazed of Damon Harris, delivering his live version of I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, it make you wonder, why they never recorded it without the Supremes, when Kendrick was a member.



Plus, Richard Street blending with the harmony of First Time… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on January 19, 2010 at 8:53am — 31 Comments

Musicology (Prince and Solemannking Collaboration) Club Radius Mix



I have always wanted to Collaborate with The Singers and Songwriters, i have always thought that this would be a unique way to do this plus it can be very creative....I hope everyone enjoys my Collaboration with The Legendary Prince Rogers Nelson...





PRINCE



Heard about the party now

Just East of Harlem

Sole's gonna be there

But I got 2 call… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on January 11, 2010 at 1:48pm — 4 Comments

The Harlem Cultural Festival (Black Woodstock)



The Harlem Cultural Festival (also known as "Black Woodstock") was a series of music concerts held in Harlem during the summer of 1969 to celebrate African American music and culture and to promote the continued politics of black pride. Notable participants included Nina Simone, B.B. King, Sly & the Family Stone, Jesse Jackson, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach, The 5th Dimension, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, and… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on January 5, 2010 at 10:38am — 6 Comments

My Grandfather, The Cotton Club, And Billy Eckstine



As The Sunsets On Another Sweltering Hot Day

In Manhattan, New York. My Grandfather, 24

Year Old Ira Davis Gets Off The Bus After A Long

Ride From Chattanooga, Tennessee.



His Destination The World Famous Cotton

Club In Harlem, The Black Mecca Of

Entertainment Back In Those Days, Where

Many African American Jazz Stars Performed

Along With The Jazz Swing Bands Of That Era.



It Was 1944 And… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on December 23, 2009 at 6:23am — 3 Comments

Ghetto City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)



This Is My First Poem In Nearly 3 Years, Inspired By Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues

Hopefully This Will Be My Comeback Of Sorts. Can't Say That I Will Keep On Writing

Because Right Now I'm Just Not Feeling It Like I Use To, But When I Heard The Song And

Saw The Visuals In The Video, I Knew I Had To Do Something....LOL





GHETTO CITY BLUES (MAKES ME WANNA… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on December 17, 2009 at 12:30pm — 6 Comments

Chrome And Hot Leather Featuring Marvin Gaye



(Thanks to Mama Edie for finding out about this movie featuring Marvin Gaye, i tell you, you learn something new everyday....LOL)



Yesterday he was a hero. Today he s an outlaw! "Action is the prime ingredient" in this "novel twist" on a biker flick starring William Smith Tony Young Marvin Gaye and Cheryl Ladd!



When a gang of low-down low-riders kills his fiance (Ladd) Mitch (Young) a Green Beret declares his own personal… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on December 14, 2009 at 11:21am — 7 Comments

Billy Griffin



Billy Griffin , is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known in the United States for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles.



Like Robinson before him, Griffin co-wrote many of the Miracles' songs, in addition to singing lead. Griffin and original Miracles member Pete Moore wrote all of the Miracles' 1975 platinum selling[1] album, City of Angels). During his tenure with the group, they recorded three hits:… Continue

Added by Shelley "SoleMann" King on December 13, 2009 at 4:56pm — 11 Comments

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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. If, by chance, you know of a way to get in touch with Frankie Beverly or his management, please drop me an e-mail. It would be absolutely great to do an interview with him about his pre-Maze work. He's still playing out, most recently doing a New Year's Eve show in Atlanta.
:: Funkinsoulman ::

Power...Through Simplicity ♪♫♪

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