|
- First, please tell me about your musical background.
Being from Detroit I grew up on Motown, Invictus/Hot Wax and Golden World. As a matter of fact, Golden World was located four blocks from my house.
When a friend of mine that owns a fabulous record store in the area bought
The Golden World clock he asked me where was the clock located inside the
Golden World building. I told him I would ask my younger sister because
when she was a kid her and her friends would walk by Golden World on the
way home from school and the studio was one of their hang outs. Funny,
until I asked about the clock I never knew that she had been in the
building. As a kid one of my mothers best friends husband was a Motown
and later an Invictus executive and every year he got tickets for all of
the kids to The Motown Revue every Christmas. I loved those shows, but
my little sister idolized them.By the time I reached high school The Philly
sound along with Motown and Stax were churning out hits like running water.
So I was fortunate to be a teenager during as I call them The Golden Years
Of Detroit Music.
During the 1970's it is said that the largest black owned business was Motown and Philly International was second. Peoples musical taste have not changed and as Motown Funk Brother Jack Ashford said they never stopped making Motown music, the companies just stopped releasing it.
America was a great place when the music was positive and inspirational
and the world responded just as positive. A lot of the negitive response
to America is based not only on past poor political decisions, but the
lack of positive content in our cultural exports. Our goal is to have the
world "Dancing In The Streets Again".
- Talking about the Classic Detroit Style R&B.
There are several different artists on the Classic Detroit Style R&B
CD.
I am sure you know of Melvin Davis, former lead singer of the Holland/Dozier/Holland Invictus group The 8th Day ("You've Got To Crawl Before You Walk", "She's Not Just Another Woman"). Melvin and Steve Mancha were two of older sisters best friends and were at my house just about
everyday when I was a kid. Back then most black intertainers wore what
was called a process and my father hated the precess hair style, so Melvin and Clyde had to leave the house before my father got home at 11:30 P.M. They got
along well with my mother and took her to the horserace track often. Steve Mancha sung at my mothers funeral.
Former Blackbyrd saxophone player Allan Barnes ("Sunset In Carmel") was raised right across the street from
me and his brother is my brothers best friend. Allan and I have been best
of friends since I was two years old.
One of our neighbors, Darren Carmichael who along with his brother Arnell Carmichael sang lead vocals for Raydio featuring Ray Parker Jr. once told me that when he was in Los Angeles, California that Allan was the best sax player he played with in L.A.
The Blackbyrds ("Walking In Rhythm") were Howard University music students and the group was named after their music professor jazz trumpet player, Donald Byrd and used to rehearse across the street at Allan's house. So, we heard all of The Blackbyrd songs before they were even recorded.
Contour member Charles Davis ("Born Again", "Sometimes", "Dance Floor") stayed on the same block as my high school girlfriend, so we go back a long way also. Charles has sung with The Contours for over twenty years. The Contours are one of the 60's groups that never stopped performing.
Arnell Carmichael ("Can't Help But Say I'm Sorry") sand lead on "Jack and Jill" and "You Can't Chance That" for Raydio.
Shirley Hayden vocalist for The Parlet/Parliment/Funkedelic sings on several of the songs including "Give It What Cha Got").
Some of the other performers are Jose Hamilton ("Anytime You Need Love") sings Motown and 60's and 70's music as Arnell says better than anyone out here. He also sings todays music (what's left
of it) well. We are completing a CD on Jose.
Anita Marie Hill ("Our Flame") is a friend with a velvet voice.
Carl Robinson is not only an excellent guitar player but was one of the main engineers on the Isley Brothers and R' Kelly releases the last several years, including "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly.
The musicians are basically friends of mine that grew up with Motown as
kids and played and recorded with Parliment/Funkedelic and Raydio as we
got older.
Wyman Brown ("Give It What Cha Got") was co-writer on a song from The Temptaions Emporers Of Soul collection and played on other songs produced by Al McKay (Earth, Wind and Fire).
As one the co-producers, Ufuoma Wallace said we are the musicians that came after Motown left. We have about forty recordings that are finished or just about ready for release.
Motown people like co-producer Clay McMurray ("If I Were Your Woman") and Funk Brother Joe Hunter have always benn there to lead the way. Without then there would not be us.
The late Johnny Bristol, a great friend did quite a bit also. As a matter of fact, I was a co-writer on the last songs recorded by Johnny Bristol. Johnny was working on a gospel album when he passed and his daughter and I are discussing finishing it.
Another person that really helped us all was Eli Fountaine (alto saxophone player on "What's Going On" - Marvin Gaye, "Why Can't We Be Lovers" - Holland/Dozier, "Live Won't Let Me Wait" - Major Harris) and other Motown and Detroit songs. Eli lived in the middle of my block and ran the studio where The Dramatics, Johnny Taylor, Issac Hayes and The Parliment/Funkedelic recorded.
So, as you would guess we could record whenever we wanted to. Right know
what we are doing is teaching young and teenage acts to perform The Detroit
Sound. A friend of mines 15 year old daughter that can really sing is going
to take local lessons from Pat Lewis (Motown, Golden World), I am also teaching her piano. Whenever you come to Detroit you will be amazed by the kids knowledge of Motown and R&B music in this city. As hard as the music industry has tried to kill soul music it is ingrained in Detroit's kids from birth.
- How would you describe classic Detroit style R&B, are there
a few words that would describe it?
Classic Detroit Style R&B is exciting soulful music produced in
tradition of the sound that made Detroit great and to let the world know that
The Detroit Sound is still alive and kicking.
What we have done is add the advantages of modern technology without
sacrificing the integrity of The Detroit Sound. Why hip hop Mozart, on second
thought why not, just kidding, I don't want to offend the millions of classical
music fans. We still believe it is the song first and everything else
second.
- What is "Detroit" and "R&B" for you?
Detroit and R&B are to me one of the greatest combinations in the
history of mankind. As a friend of mine George McGregor (producer of "It's All
Over Casanova" - Ruby Andrews) once told me that there have been three major eras of music, Classical, Ragtime
and Motown. I have to agree with George, the music speaks for itself.
- What advice do you have for young singers/writers/musicians in Detroit?
Keep the Detroit Music Legacy going and maintain the sound that made Detroit
great and whatever you desire in music will follow. The pathway is already built
and there is no need to remake the wheel. Study and learn the music of our city
and once again take the lead in giving the world positive music.
|
- Would you like to say something to your fans?
I hope you enjoy our music and we will continue to think of you first and
foremost when we are producing our music. We are very thankful for the soul
music fans in Japan. Now I see why my friend and co-writer Darren Carmichael has
been in Japan so long. Who knows I may see you soon.
- Thank you so much indeed for your time.
|
|
 |
|
