R.I.P. - Jimmy James (13 Sep 1940 - 14 May 2024)

We have received more sad news, Jimmy James (of Jimmy James & The Vagabonds fame) has died today aged 83. No further details are currently available.

Born Michael James Francis in Kingston, Jamaica in 1940, he recorded in Jamaica in the early 60s and had a local hit with a self-written song "Come Softly To Me" in 1962.

The Vagabonds were formed in 1960 and James joined them in 1964 and they set off to the UK, initially for a six month tour but ended up staying. They were signed to Pye Records and  within a matter of weeks released their first single. An album, "The New Religion", followed in 1966, essentially an album of cover versions. Several tracks from it have featured on Northern Soul dancefloors over the years, particularly "This Heart Of Mine", a Barrett Strong song originally recorded by The Artistics on Okeh in 1965.

Their first hit came in 1968 with a cover of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" which peaked at #36 on UK pop chart (a big hit for UB40 in the 80s of course). It was another eight years before their next with "I'll Go Where The Music Takes Me" (#23) and "Now Is The Time" (#5) both in 1976. However, by this time it was a completely different set of Vagabonds as the original group disbanded in 1970 and were replaced by white musicians.

The group supported many acts in the mid 60s including The Who, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Sonny & Cher. Their second album was a live album recorded at The Marquee Club with The Alan Brown Set. "London Swings - Live at the Marquee Club". They continue to perform to this day undergoing various changes in personnel.

One of Jimmy James' favourites on the Northern Soul scene is "A Man Like Me" produced by Biddu and released on Stateside in 1972. Below is a live recording of it from 2004 along with a limited playlist as his digital material is scant but there was a recording "Live On Air 1966-1969" which sounds like live radio broadcasts, from which we've taken a few cover versions.

We found footage of him performing in May 2022 at a weekender at Butlins, Minehead, performing a cover of The Tams "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" at a spritely 81 years of age.

UPDATE: We have subsequently found a 2003 compilation "Sock It To 'em J.J. - The Soul Years" which appears to have most of his 60s and early 70s recordings, 49 tracks in total including 7 live recordings. 

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R.I.P. - David Sanborn (30 Jul 1945 - 12 May 2024)

We've just heard the sad news that jazz saxophonist David Sanborn died yesterday aged 78.  An announcement today on his Twitter/X feed states:

"It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications."

It goes on to say that he had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently and had already scheduled concerts into 2025. 

His website lists four dates at Blue Note Jazz Club, NYC, for 8-11 Aug '24 and only earlier this month he posted the latest Sanborn Sessions which feature Kandace Springs.

Sanborn began his career in 1959 aged just 14 playing blues with Albert King and Little Milton. His first solo album, "Taking Off", didn't arrive until 1975, performing in Paul Butterfield's Blues Band from 1967-71 and appearing at Woodstock in 1969.

In 1972 he played on "Tuesday Heartbreak" on Stevie Wonder's "Talking Book", in 1975 on Bowie's "Young Americans" and later worked with The Brecker Brothers who he recorded his first album with.

In addition to his solo work, he was a highly regarded session musician and has over 800 credits to his name with far too many artists to list but include: George Benson, James Brown, Al Jarreau, Nina Simone, James Taylor, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Michael Bolton, Bruce Springsteen, Bob James, Chaka Khan and so many others.

We asked Steve Aggasild (SoulAndJazzFlavas) (who relayed the news to us) to come up with some of his Sanborn favourites and he provided us with this very quick list off the top of his head (and we're sure there where will be plenty of others):

David Sanborn - Hideaway - 1980 - Hideaway

David Sanborn - Let's Just Say Goodbye - 1981 - Voyeur

Fatback - She's My Shining Star - 1982 - On The Floor With Fatback

David Sanborn  feat. Luther Vandross & Tawatha Agee - Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - 1983 - Backstreet

Bob James & David Sanborn - Maputo - 1986 - Double Vision

David Sanborn - Chicago Song - 1987 - Change Of Heart

David Sanborn  feat Randy Crawford - Windmills Of Your Mind - 2015 - Time And The River

The James Last Orchestra feat David Sanborn - The Seduction (Love Theme)

We leave you with a live version of the title track of his 1984 "Straight To The Heart" album and a playlist of a dozen including the ones above chosen by Steve.

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R.I.P. - Freddie Chavez (15 May 1948 - 2 Mar 2014)

Northern Soul DJ/promoter/author etc. Kev Roberts has posted on Soul Source that Freddie Chavez passed away on Saturday evening (2 Mar) aged 75.

His 1968 single has been well played on the Northern Soul scene over the years, initially for the B side "They'll Never Know Why" but also in more recent years the official funky crossover A side, "Baby I'm Sorry", which has found favour. Only two years ago we reported an auction for the single which had a bid of almost £3.5k. We didn't check the final bid. As we post this John Manship has another demo copy up for auction closing on 13 Mar with a current bid of £1k

Chavez recorded the single aged 21 for John Wagner's Nashville based Look Records. "They'll Never Know Why" was massive in the mid 70s and was bootlegged owing to popularity.

Prior to the release of his first solo single, he is credited as being a member of Thee Chekkers who also released a single ("Please Don't Go" / "Lack Of Love") on Look in 1968, he wrote both songs. The group released an earlier single (possibly around 1964/65) on Albuquerque's Red Feather label.

Chavez was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and began his career aged only 11 in 1959. He played with a band all through high school and beyond singing anything from Spanish songs to psych rock. Two further singles are credited to him on FCP (his own imprint  Freddie Chavez Productions) but no dates are available. 

He was inducted into the New Mexico Hall of Fame in 2005 and continued performing until his health declined. In 2017 he released a CD, "Time & Time Again", with re-recorded versions of a couple of his Look songs. You can listen to the whole CD on his Soundcloud channel.

In 2018 Izipho Soul uncovered two previously unreleased songs Chavez recorded in 1979, "Cold Rainy Day" / "You've Been Wrong So Long", which they released on 7". The flip is more of a country/soul song similar to Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" written by David Nunez aka Dave Newman who also released a single on Look, "Make Up Your Mind", written by Chavez.

Included below is Freddie singing his NS anthem six years ago in Mar 2018 at Soul Trip U.S.A. Las Vegas organised by Roberts.

IZIPHO SOUL · FREDDIE CHAVEZ - COLD RAINY DAY (Copyright Bleeps)

IZIPHO SOUL · FREDDIE CHAVEZ - COLD RAINY DAY (Copyright Bleeps)

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R.I.P. - Tony Middleton (26 Jun 1934 - 7 Feb 2024)

Sadly, as is often the case early in the year for some reason, another soul artist has been taken from us. Tony Middleton died yesterday, reportedly from chronic kidney disease, aged 89. The sad news was relayed by his son Anthiony Middleton on his facebook page. Tributes were also paid by radio personality Bobby Jay and Carlton Jumel Smith.

The name may not trip off the tongues of the mainstream but he will be remembered fondly by the Northern Soul scene for his Casino classic "Paris Blues" (broken at the Blackpool Mecca) which was a huge sound in the mid 70s. Another record, "To The Ends Of The Earth" also got later spins. Both released in 1966 and originally designated as B sides, "Paris Blues" on Mala, which followed the released of "To The Ends Of The Earth" on MGM. He also had a song played on the Belgian popcorn scene called "Drifting" from 1962 (United Artists). In later days the single "Spanish Maiden" with Chuito And The Latin Uniques (1969) also got spins from the 80s.

He was born in Richmond, VA, and as a teen was an aspiring boxer but turned his hand to singing and became the lead singer with Harlem doo-wop group The Willows in 1952. They had a R&B hit with "Church Bells Are Ringing", a song Middleton claims that he wrote although writing credits were given to the group and to Melba label owner Morty Craft.

Between 1956 and 1976 Middleton released around 35 singles with none registering on the R&B chart.

He also performed in several Broadway musicals, commercials, television, film and the cabaret circuit and has performed with Burt Bacharach and Quincy Jones. Middleton lived and performed on the jazz circuit in Paris and Europe for a number of years.

In 1993 he headlined the first 6Ts Northern Soul Weekend along with Mary Love and Willie Tee.

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R.I.P. - Henry Fambrough (The Spinners) (10 May 1938 - 7 Feb 2024)

The sole surviving original member of The Spinners, Henry Fambrough, died yesterday aged 85. He had been with the group for 69 years up until his retirement in Apr 2023. 

The Spinners were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. The six members of the group who were inducted are four of the five original members Henry Fambrough (baritone 1954–2023), Bobby (Bobbie) Smith (co-lead tenor 1954–2013 died 2013), Pervis Jackson (bass (1954–2008 died 2008), Billy Henderson (tenor/baritone (1954–2004 died 2007) along with John Edwards (lead tenor 1977–2000) and Philippé Wynne (lead tenor (1972–77 died 1984). All, apart from John Edwards, are now deceased, Edwards suffered a debilitating stroke in 2000 which forced him into retirement.

Fambrough was a one of the founding members of The Domingoes in the Detroit superb of Ferndale in1954. Other group members were Jackson, Henderson, James Edwards and C.P. Spencer. Bobby Smith joined the group a few weeks afterwards replacing James Edwards. Spencer left in 1956 to join The Voice Masters and then The Originals. They became known as The Spinners in 1961 but were also know as Detroit or Motown Spinners in the UK to avoid confusion with a popular folk group called The Spinners.

He was the group's baritone voice and shared lead vocals in the group's Atlantic heyday with Wynn and Smith on one of the group's classics, "Ghetto Child", co-lead with Wynne on "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" and solo lead on "I Don't Want to Lose You" and "If You Can't Be in Love". He also duetted with Dionne Warwick on "Just As Long As We Have Love".  

After his retirement less than a year ago, Fambrough moved from his native Detroit to Sterling, VA. We understand he was taken into hospice care only last month and died of natural causes on 7 Feb. 

Their early recordings (approx. 6 singles) were for Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi until the label was acquired by his brother-in-law, Berry Gordy, and The Spinners became a Motown act. Fuqua, a member of The Moonglows in the 50s, married Gwen Gordy. He is credited as introducing both Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell to Motown. A young Marvin Gaye played drums on The Spinners first single, "That's What Girls Are Made For", on Tri-Phi in 1961. 

Their first single on Motown was "Sweet Thing" in 1964 which never charted. They followed with "I'll always Love You" in 1965 which reached #35 Hot 100. A string of further Motown singles failed to register until 1970 when they reached #11 with "It's A Shame". It would be their penultimate single for Motown before being persuaded by Aretha Franklin to sign to Atlantic where they were teamed up with Thom Bell and went on to have a string of hits throughout the 70s.

At this time G.C. Cameron was lead tenor (another brother-in-law of Berry Gordy as he also married Gwen Gordy who had divorced Fuqua in 1968) but he was still under contract at Motown as a solo artist so he persuaded his cousin Philippé Wynne to replace him in the group.

Whilst at Motown they achieved just four R&B chart hits but at Atlantic they went on to have 32 R&B hits between 1972-84 with 6 reaching #1 and a total of 16 Top 10 hits with 7 crossing over to be Top 10 Hot 100 hits.

Fambrough sharing lead on "Ghetto Child" (far left) with Philippé Wynne (right) and Bobby Smith (centre). Intro by Pervis Jackson.

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R.I.P. - Carl Weathers (14 Jan 1948 - 1 Feb 2024)

You may have seen on national news and other sources that Rocky actor Carl Weathers, who played Apollo Creed, has passed aged 76 on 1 Feb.

He released, as far as we know, just one recording on Mirage in 1981, and what a recording, the beautiful ballad "You Ought To Be With Me". It peaked at #71 on the R&B chart in autumn 1981. He is credited as co-writing the song with Dwight Emile and the recording was produced by Hadley Murrell who also produced all three of Black Ice's albums.

The flip side, "That's Love Calling" is not too shabby either with producer Murrell and arranger Ray Jackson also given writing credits alongside Weathers and Emile.

Before his acting career commenced in earnest in 1975, Weathers was an NFL footballer working as an extra whilst still playing football. He featured initially in a couple of Blaxploitation movies in the mid 70s before securing the role as Apollo Creed in the first Rocky film in 1976 and continuing in the role for the next three sequels. His other major role was starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Predator in 1987 as Colonel Al Dillon.

He also featured in several well know US TV series in the 70s such as Six Million Dollar Man, Kung Fu and Starsky & Hutch. His last movie role was in Toy Story 4 in 2019 as the voice of Combat Carl  and last TV series the Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, in 2023 as Greef Karga and he also directed two episodes.

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R.I.P. Marlena Shaw (22 Sep 1942 - 19 Jan 2024)

We have learned this morning of the sad passing of Marlena Shaw yesterday aged 81. We did a profile for her in Sep 2022 for her 80th birthday so direct you there for her background and a playlist of 30 of her top recordings along with an album discography.

One of her favourites (not available on Spotify) from her 1982 "Let Me In Your Life" album below.

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R.I.P. - Rudolph Isley (1 Apr 1939 - 11 Oct 2023)

One of the founding members, and the second eldest of the six Isley Brothers, Rudolph (Rudy) died on 11 Oct aged 84. Brother Ernie stated that he died in his sleep. That leaves only Ron Isley from the original four brothers who started the group in 1954 as the other two original members, Vernon (1957) and O'Kelly (1986), are both deceased. Younger brother Marvin, who joined the group later, also died in 2010 leaving just Ron and Ernie as surviving members. 

You may have read very recently that Rudolph was suing Ron over a dispute involving Ron attempting to trademark The Isley Brothers name. A very sad and unresolved ending. Although the family claims that he had no health issues, it makes you wonder why he would start a legal dispute aged 84 unless he was trying to provide financial support for his family, but that's just pure speculation on our part.

We did a feature on Ronald Isley / Isley Brothers on Ronald Isley's 82nd birthday on 22 May, so we won't repeat what was written there and refer you to it.

Rudolph married Chris Jasper's sister, Elaine, in 1958. After leaving Motown, The Isley's reactivated their T-Neck label, named after Teaneck, NJ, where they set it up before Motown. Younger brothers Ernie and Marvin joined the fold along with Chris Jasper. 

In 1969 Rudi recorded a duet with Judy White as Rudi & Judy on T-Neck. The A side "I've Got To Get Myself Together" is a deep soul ballad which the group also recorded for their "The Brothers: Isley" LP in 1969. The flip "Baby You Got It" sounds quite dated even for 1969 as it sounds more like a early/mid 60s recording. It appears to be White's last recording, she recorded on three singles for T-Neck after one on Epic in 1967 followed by four on Buddah 1967-68. Her first two singles were as part of a duo, Bongi & Judy. Bongi being daughter of South African singer Miriam Makeba. It would seem that this is Rudi's only recording outside of The Isley's.

Whilst Ron was the main lead singer, Rudy did record a few lead vocals including shared lead with Ron on their big disco hit "It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)". Rudi was closest to O'Kelly, and his death in 1986 was perhaps a pivotal point in his decision to leave the group which he did in 1989. He had always wanted to join the ministry and he continued to sing gospel music. In 1996 he recorded a gospel album "Shouting for Jesus: A Loud Joyful Noise".

For the birthday tribute for Ron we focussed solely on the Isley's Motown material. For Rudy's we'll select tracks from their post Motown period from 1969 up to his last album with the group, "Spend The Night" (1989).

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R.I.P. - Tony Troutman (8 Oct 2023)

We have received an 'anonymous' message this morning that: "Thomas 'Tony' Troutman passed away peacefully Sunday, October 8, 2023 at his Atlanta home". We are unable to confirm this as the sender left no contact details.

He may perhaps be best known to many for his modern soul rarity "What's The Use" which was reissued digitally this year as well as being reissued on 7" vinyl for Record Store Day. The record was bootlegged owing to its popularity. Original copies now sell for up to £1,000 with even the bootleg now approaching £100. Date-wise it is confusing as the RSD press has a date of 1975 on label, 45Cat lists it as 1976 and Discogs 1977 so take your pick but the Spotify digital reissue dates it 12 Dec 1975. The UK bootleg is easy to spot as it has writing around the label edge.

However, for us, his best recording was his 1975 single, the superb deep soul ballad "I Truly Love You" on Gram-o-phon which we have featured previously. He released a single on Swagger in 1968 prior to that and one after "What's The Use" on Note in 1976. 

In the 80s he released his solitary album "Your Man Is Home Tonight" in 1982 on his own T.Main label from which 6 sides were released over three singles.

His only charting records were "I Truly Love You" (#82 R&B May '75) and the title track from his album which peaked at #57 R&B in Jun '82.

An extended edit of "I Truly Love You" is available on a compilation "At The Juke Joint Volume 2" released in 2012 which extends the 45 issue from 3:12 to 5:52 (included below).

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R.I.P. - Katherine Anderson (The Marvelettes) (16 Jan 1944 - 20 Sep 2023)

The last remaining active member of The Marvelletes, Wanda Young, died in Dec '21. One of the founding members Katherine 'Kat' Anderson died last week aged 79.

The group was founded by five Inkster school friends in late 1960. By the time they were signed by Motown in 1961 (after auditions) Georgia Dobbins (who died in 2020) was replaced by Wanda Young. They were originally called The Casinyets (a joke play on 'can't sing yet') and then The Marvels but Berry Gordy insisted they change their name and that they come up with their own song when he signed them and hence they became The Marvelletes. Dobbins contacted William Garrett who had an unfinished song which she worked on and "Please Mr. Postman" was created which was their first single and went to #1 making them the first act to have a #1 hit for Motown. The song was later covered by The Beatles.

Sadly, the group were soon overshadowed, first by Martha & The Vandellas and then The Supremes as regards promotion. They never matched the success of their first hit and the group gradually dissolved into, first a quartet and then, a trio and their final album was intended as a solo album by Wanda Young that Motown marketed as "The Return of The Marvelettes" to the disdain of Anderson who refused to be photographed for the cover. The group disbanded after this in 1970.

Anderson worked as a staff writer temporarily until Motown relocated to L.A. in 1972; She left the business and returned to Inkser and raised her family and also got involved in community work helping teenagers at risk.

It's almost inconceivable to learn that The Marvelettes had only one chart entry in the UK. "When You're Young And In Love" peaked at #16 in it's sixth week of ten on the chart in July 1967.

Many of their records were favourites on the Northern Soul scene, songs like "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "I'll Keep Holding On", "Danger! Heartbreak Dead Ahead", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game", "My Baby Must Be a Magician", "Destination: Anywhere" and "Reaching For Something I Can't Have" etc.

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R.I.P. John Rhys-Eddins (1941- 27 Aug 2023) 'Time Will Pass You By'

We learned yesterday of the passing of John Rhys-Eddins via a Mark Hanson post on Soul Source which was relayed to him by singer Matt Lucas. Who? .. you might ask, especially if you have no interest or affiliation with Northern Soul and we would guess even the majority of those may still have no idea who he was.

He is responsible, along with Dino George Fekaris (a prolific writer who also co-wrote and co-produced "I Will Survive") and Nick Zesses, for writing one of the true classics of the genre "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend. The term 'classic' is overused but this is truly a Wigan Casino anthem and one of the best ever Northern 'Soul' records discovered full stop!

It was played as the second of the legendary 'Three Before Eight' so, 'arguably', well overplayed but even so it is still a very moving song to this day. For those who don't already know, the 'Three Before Eight' were the three records played at the end of every Wigan Casino All-Nighter by Russ Winstanley.

We don't know for sure who discovered it, or when, but assume that it must have been Casino organiser Russ Winstanley and also assume that it must have been played before the 'Three Before Eight' was instigated.

Rhys-Eddins began writing the song in 1965 whilst working at Golden World but was incomplete until the following year when he joined Impact and met Fekaris and Zesses who completed the second verse. It was recorded, or at least released, in Feb 1968 on Bell imprint Mala by Tobi/Toby Lark (born Bessie Grace Upton and recorded previously as Bessie Watson) under the pseudonym Tobi Legend. We recall reading that Lark was unaware of its release until much later as she believed that she recorded it as a demo only. Only one other recording was released under the name, "No Good To Cry" / "Heartbreaker" also on Mala in Apr '68.

 

Rhys-Eddins was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk, but moved to Georgia at a very young age. He found his way to Detroit by the mid 60s and worked for Ed Wingate's Golden World setup (Golden World, Ric-Tic, Wingate and J&W) and had a few of his songs released on Wingate in 1965. By 1966 he was working at Harry Balk's Impact Records where he wrote and produced. He produced all five of Shades of Blue's releases for the label, the best known being, the Edwin Starr written, "Oh How Happy" which was the label's biggest seller. He also co-wrote The Volumes evergreen "That Same Old Feeling" for the label, and even released one himself as John Rhys And The Lively Set with two instrumentals "Boy Watchers Theme" / "Nothing But Love" which were sufficiently popular/in-demand to warrant bootlegging.

As an artist he released two singles, the one above and the first, a garage/pop tune, in 1965 ("The Beginning Of The End" / "All I Ask") as Little John and Tony (Anthony Raye aka Pete Saputo who he co-wrote "That Same Old Feeling" with) on Golden World imprint Volkano headed up by John. The label released just three or four singles, all with at least one side written (or co-written with Dennis Coffey) by John in 1965. NB only three are listed but there 'appears' to be a missing number (V-5003?)

In 2015 UKs Outta Sight label reissued Tobi Legend and on the B side included the original demo version recorded by the three writers on which Rhys-Eddins played piano and sang the high notes and the other two sang the lead and background vocals. Included as the intro of the recording, Rhys-Eddins gives a commentary and states that he met Tobi Lark/Legend at a party in Detroit in the mid 60s. He thanks 'the gentleman who dubbed Tobi's voice' on the Mala release. The Mala single has 'Imagineered by Joey" under the title on the label, who we assume to be Joey Pinto (aka Joey Reynolds) who was the co-writer of the B Side ( "Heartbreaker") and a radio DJ who worked at numerous stations including WNBC. At the time of the record's release he was working at WDRC in Hartford, CT, having previously been at WXYZ, Detroit. How, and why, Tobi Lark was renamed Tobi Legend is a mystery except perhaps to disguise her identity to avoid paying royalties? Outta Sight also reissued the "Three Before Eight" earlier this year, presumably owing to Wigan Casino's 50th Anniversary next month.

We've always wondered why such a great song has never been covered, except as a self-titled album track by Kylie Minogue in 1994 (arranged by M People). It was scheduled for release as single with remixes but (thankfully!) never released.

We always suspected that perhaps it was because it's a particularly difficult song to sing and that was confirmed by Ady Croasdel who flew Tobi over to perform at the Cleethorpes weekender in 2009. He says that Tobi herself said that it was such a tough song to sing that she recorded it in segments that were then later spliced together. She stated that she has never sung the song in it's entirety which is why she declined to sing it when she appeared at the weekender. However, we found footage of her performing it several years later at Skegness Weekender in 2017 aged 77/78 (ironically born the same year as Rhys-Eddins)!

Like so many others before me, this one is slotted for play at my funeral as it is most definitely one of the soundtracks of my, and so many other's, life. Thank you John, Dino and Nick (without the latter two's contribution  the song may never have been completed) for such a beautiful and meaningful song. Lyrics HERE.

In 2010 a UK broadsheet, The Guardian, published an article written by Laura Barton about the song.

1999 re-recorded version for Ian Levine's:

The Strange World of Northern Soul

Live Performance at

Skegness Northern Soul Weekender 2017

Original Demo Version

The Volumes - That Same Old Feeling

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

R.I.P. - Bobby Eli (2 Mar 1946 - 17 Aug 2023)

Sadly, we have learned of yet another departure from this mortal coil. Philly multi-instrumentalist musician, arranger, composer and record producer Eli Tatarsky, better known as Bobby Eli, died yesterday aged 77. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia International's studio band MFSB.

His contribution to the Sound of Philadelphia cannot be understated as he has almost 1,000 credits for writing, arranging, producing and performing on Discogs (obviously many for the same recording) but has 282 writing credits on BMI. Coincidentally, he co-wrote "Zoom" with Len Barry for Fat Larry's Band whose latest single we posted only yesterday and mentioned their biggest selling song.

His career began in the early 60s as a writer and in the late 60s as a member of The Landslides along with Philly legends B-Y-H (Ron Baker, Earl Young and Norman Harris) on an early Gamble & Huff label Huff Puff in 1968. Produced by Gamble & Huff and arranged by Bobby Martin, it was one of the first sessions at the famed Sigma Sound Studio and was the embryo of what would later become Philadelphia International Records.

The label only released three singles, he played guitar, keys and sang BGVs on a the second by Ruth McFadden (no relation to Gene). Both sides of the third single by The Producers have been popular on the Northern Soul scene for decades with "Lady Lady Lady" being the instrumental of Dee Dee Sharp's "What Kind Of Lady" on Gamble (1968). The first two are dated Oct 1968, so would imagine that this was also which means it was released the month after Dee Dee Sharp's vocal. The vocals on "Love Is Amazing" are shared by Kenny Gamble and Miki Farrow.

He played guitar on The Ambassador's Soul Summit LP in 1969 and then on albums by Barbara Mason, The Intruders, The Sweet Inspirations, Wilson Pickett prior to playing on some now legendary early Philly Int. albums by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The O'Jays and Billy Paul.

His writing credits date back to 1963, some of the better known ones include Ronnie Dyson's "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" (which was later a big hit for Main Ingredient), "Love Town" (Booker Newberry III), "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "Loving You Is Mellow" (Major Harris), Mr. Magic Man (Wilson Pickett), "Sideshow" and "Three Ring Circus" (Blue Magic) and "Zoom" (Fat Larry's Band).

In 1977 he released an album as Eli's Second Coming for Silver Blue Records.

On the production/arrangement side he worked on recordings by Major Harris, Blue Magic, Brenda & The Tabulations, Sister Sledge, Keith Barrow, The Joneses, Atlantic Starr, Jackie Moore, Ava Cherry, Jean Knight, Jean Carn amongst so many other, perhaps lesser known, artists.

As far as performing goes, the list of artists is endless, as well as being a member of MFSB,  who must have played on most of the Philly Int. recordings, he's played on recordings by Stylistics, Spinners, First Choice, Manhattans, Barbara Mason, Jimmy Ruffin, Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Temprees, Delfonics, Whispers, Blue Magic, Dionne Warwick, Major Harris, Revelation, Modulations, People's Choice, Salsoul Orchestra, Ritchie Family, Eddie Kendricks, Loleatta Holloway, Double Exposure, Trammps, Keith Barrow, Joneses, Eddie Holman, Dells, Chi-Lites, Gloria Gaynor, Jerry Butler. It would be fair to say he played on much of the material recorded in Philly.

We found a 46 minute interview with Bobby Eli (posted on YouTube only last year (Mar '22) but the interview was held in 2008) in which he explains the evolution of Philly Soul and his history. It's a 'must listen' if your are a lover of the Philly sound as he relays so much background information on many of the key players.

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R.I.P. - Jerry Moss (8 May 1935 - 16 Aug 2023)

The third obituary this week as it was announced yesterday that the M of A&M Records, Jerry Moss, died aged 88.

He was born Jerome Sheldon Moss in The Bronx, NYC, in 1935. After graduating from college in Brooklyn and serving in the army he got into music promotion in the late 50s and then relocated to California where he met trumpeter Herb Alpert.

He founded Carnival Records with Alpert in 1962 with $100 each but released just two singles in Jul 1962, the first  "Tell It To The Birds" as Dore Alpert, before renaming it A&M Records, as they discovered that the name Carnival Records was already in existence. The fist release on A&M was The Tijuana Brass feat. Herb Alpert "The Lonely Bull" in Sep 1962.

Their initial intention was to record Alpert's music but they grew it into the world's largest independent label signing artists such as Sting/The Police, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Joe Cocker, The Carpenters, Peter Frampton, Janet Jackson, Bryan Adams, Sheryl Crow and Styx. 

They eventually sold the company in 1989 to PolyGram but continued to manage it until they clashed with PolyGram in 1993 and left, later suing them over integrity issues as they felt that PolyGram was trying to dictate to artists what music they should make.

The label was initially easy listening branching out into rock and pop in the late 60s with a sprinkling of soul artists featuring on the label such as George Benson, Quincy Jones, Evie Sands, Tamiko Jones, Sonny Charles & Checkmates Ltd., Sisters Love and a  few Northern Soul favourites from Jeanette White, Robert John, Toni Basil, Julius Wechter And The Baja Marimba Band, Towanda Barnes and others.

Moss and Alpert were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 (Lifetime Achievement, non-performer).

Moss was also a horse breeder and won the largest ever purse ($1,636,600) for his thoroughbred racehorse, Giacomo, winning the Kentucky Derby in 2005 at 50-1 odds.

In 2020 Moss donated $25 to The Music Center in L.A.

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R.I.P. - Clarence Avant (25 Feb 1931 - 13 Aug 2023)

As alluded to in the previous post, Clarence Avant, known as 'The Black Godfather' owing to his mentoring of so many black artists, actors, sports people and even politicians, died on Sunday peacefully at home aged 92.

He helped set up the short-lived Venture Records, a soul subsidiary of MGM run by William 'Mickey' Stevenson which ran between 1967-69, before founding Sussex in 1969. Sussex ran for five years and is probably best know for launching the career of Bill Withers. Their other main act was The Presidents but also hosted music from The Decisions, Rodriguez, Dennis Coffey. Sussex was forced into closure after Avant was prosecuted for tax evasion. 

Avant was born in Climax, NC, before moving to New Jersey in his teens where he later managed a club in Newark. He went on to manage artist such as Little Willie John, Sarah Vaughn, Kim Weston, Lalo Schifrin and Freddie Hubbard amongst others.

When Venture was created in late 1967 he moved to Beverly Hills to work with Stevenson until 1969 when it was folded and proceeded to set up Sussex Records. After the demise of Sussex he set up the Tabu Records which was the learning ground for ex Time members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who would later bring on board another former Time member Alexander O'Neal who would prove to be one of their top acts along with Cherrelle and  S.O.S. Band. The label's first release was Brainstorm with "Wake Up And Be Somebody" in late 1976 prior to their "Stormin' album in 1977 followed by their dance floor classic "Lovin' Is Really My Game".

Avant became the chairman of Motown in 1993 for around four years.

In Jun 2019 Netflix released a documentary on his life titled 'The Black Godfather' produced by his daughter Nicole Avant (who is married to Netfix co-CEO Ted Sarandos) and directed by Reginald Hudlin.

Avant's wife was shot dead in their home on 12 Dec 2021 and this video is a conspiracy theorist's wet dream!

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R.I.P. - Toussaint McCall (1934 - 7 Aug 2023)

Yesterday we learnt of the death of music executive Clarence Avant (The Black Godfather) and today another soul music figure, Toussaint McCall aged 89. Neither will be 'household' names.

McCall was one of twelve children born and raised in Louisiana to a Baptist minister. After singing for many years, he was signed to Ronn in 1967 and hit the ground running with his first two singles, which were his only two hits.

His first, and biggest, "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" reached #5 R&B  / #55 Hot 100 which he followed up with "I'll Do It For You" (#26 R&B / #77 Hot 100) both funeral paced deep southern soul songs on Jewel subsidiary Ronn in 1967. The former was on the second Dave Godin Deep Soul Treasures compilation released by Kent in 1999 as well as featuring on dozens of others.

On the strength of the two singles, he recorded an album but achieved no further commercial success. His hit song was featured in the 1988 comedy movie 'Hairspray' on which he made a cameo appearance lip-synching it. A bit of an anachronism given that the film was set in 1962 and his hit was in 1967 but that's poetic license for you!

His next album, "Make Love To Me" didn't appear until 1976. It is a one-off recording on an obscure label McCowan Records (a private press perhaps?) which sells for big money and included his biggest hit. Whether or not it's a re-recorded, different, version or the original we don't know.

A previously unreleased 1970 Dore recording, "I'll Laugh Til I Cry", was released by Kent in 2014 which included the superb Natural Resources "If There Were No You" on the flip. Another unissued Dore recording, "Saigon To San Francisco", appeared on Kent's "Dore L.A. Soul Sides 2" compilation in 2015.

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R.I.P. - Rose Batiste (9 Nov 1947 - ? Aug 2023)

There are unconfirmed reports (from a reliable source) that Northern Soul heroine Rose Batiste (Rose Battiste) has died.

She released a handful of singles between 1964-1967 on independent Detroit labels Thelma, Ric-Tic, Golden World and two on Revilot which included her big Northern Soul double-sider "I Miss My Baby" / "Hit & Run". Outside of the Northern Soul world she is probably unknown.

Batiste was cousins with Darrow Fletcher and Freddie Gorman (The Originals) and made her recording debut aged 15 at the Continental studio and recorded a Don Mancha produced song called "I'm Yours For A Lifetime" for local musical entrepreneur Sam Motley (who owned a couple of labels) but the song was never released. 

She auditioned for, and was signed to, Thelma Records in 1964, when just 16. Thelma was owned by Hazel Coleman and named after her daughter Thelma who was Berry Gordy's first wife. She recorded "I Can't Leave You" / "Someday" in Nov 1964, both early Detroit dancers.

When Thelma closed its doors in 1965 she followed Don Davis to Ric-Tic and released her second single, "That's What He Told Me" / "Holding Hands," in Sep 1965.

"That's What He Told Me" was also released as the flip to her next single "Sweetheart Darling" on Ric-Tic parent Golden World in Jan 1966. Golden World / Ric-Tic was acquired by Motown which left artists looking for a new home, some being retained by Motown and others let go. Once again she followed Don Davis to Solid Hitbound whose labels were Revilot, Groovesville and Solid Hit.

There she released for her next two, and final releases, "I Miss My Baby" / "Hit And Run" Oct 1966 followed by "I Still Wait For You" / "Come Back In A Hurry" in May 1967 (possibly her least known recording).

The backing track of "I Miss My Baby" was released in 1967 by Doni Burdick as "Bari Track" with a cover of Edwin Starr's "I Have Faith In You" as the flip on Sound Impressions. It's a particularly hard one to find and fetches four figures as it was a huge NS instrumental back in the day.

There is perhaps a little known anomaly as her first Revilot single was mispressed on a 1966 A&M label credited to Chris Montez, "Time After Time" plays "Hit and Run" whilst the flipside "Keep Talkin'" plays "I Miss My Baby".

image courtesy of Nick Soule SoulSource

Gwen Owens also recorded "Hit And Run" which was first released on a 1994 compilation "The Solid Hitbound Story" by Goldmine Soul Supply, another version by Pat Lewis on Goldmine Sevens in 1997 and yet another demo version credited to Martha Reeves (released on Goldmine's "Thelma's Detroit Collective"). There is speculation that the Rose Batiste version on Revilot is actually The Debonaires and not Rose Batiste's version owing to a tape mix up!

Rose's career seems to have consisted of being at the right place at the wrong time as several of her releases weren't commercially successful as they competed for promotion with more successful records. At Ric-Tic she was up against "Hungry For Love" (San Remo Golden Strings) and Edwin Starr's "Agent Double-O-Soul" and at Revilot her first single competed for attention with Steve Mancha's regional hit "Don't Make Me A Storyteller" on sister label Groovesville and Darrell Banks' "Open The Door To Your Heart" / "Our Love (Is In The Pocket)". Ian Levine, who is credited with discovering her first Revilot recording, recorded her singing the latter for his ;The Strange World of Northern Soul' (c1998) video included below.

With little commercial success, Rose left recording and started working as a receptionist for Solid Hitbound, later moving to the advertising department at General Motors.

In 1970 she began working as a typist for Motown Records who had bought out Golden World and Ric-Tic a few years earlier. She recorded a few songs, one a remake of Jimmy Ruffin's "Our Favorite Melody", but again she was in the right place at the wrong time as Motown was in the process of relocating to L.A. and none were released.

A couple of previously unreleased songs have been released on UK labels in recent years. The first is an alternate, first version, of "I Miss My Baby" titled "This Heart Is Lonely" found on a Pied Piper tape and released by Ace/Kent on a Pied Piper logo in 2015. The plot thickens as BMI lists the singer as Telma Hopkins who was one of The Debonaires and later part of Tony Orlando's Dawn before becoming an actress in the late 70s. She also recorded a single "Baby, Don't Leave Me" as Telma Laverne, one of only four listed singles on Johnnie Mae Matthews Northern De-La label in 1964.

The other, "It's Not What You Say (But How You Say It)", is a unreleased Golden World recording from around 1966 released by Hayley in 2020.

A long time friend, and all-nighter DJ partner from way back, Irv Milne sent us this photo with Rose at Detroit A Go-Go Oct 2019 which was named Motown A Go Go to celebrate Motown's 60th anniversary.

Included below are a few videos of her performing Levine re-recordings, not the original versions, of her best known songs at the Blackpool Mecca Reunion in Nov 1998 and an obscure video performance of her last single.

Gilly pointed us to a YouTube clip for an acetate he acquired from the engineer in 1990, which was originally thought to be Rose Batiste, but turned out to be Gwen Owens' version as he played it to Rose who told him that it wasn't her singing. (Sound quality is not brilliant as it hasn't been recorded directly but a bit of history!)

Thanks to Yves Lambert who pointed out an unreleased version on Jimmy Gilford's "Nobody Love Me Like My Baby" (Thelma T 501 1964) which we found a 'live' video for recorded at the same time as the video for "I Still Wait For You"

References SoulSource, Soulful Detroit, Richard 'Gilly' Gilbert

Discography

1964-11 - I Can't Leave You / Someday [Thelma #T-102]

1965-09 - Holding Hands / That's What He Told Me [Ric-Tic #RT-105]

1966-01 - Sweetheart Darling / That's What He Told Me [Golden World #GW033]

1966-10 - I Miss My Baby / Hit And Run [Revilot #RV-204]

1967-05 - I Still Wait For You / Come Back In A Hurry [Revilot #RV 206]

2015-06 - This Heart Is Lonely [Pied Piper #PIPER 007]

2020-10 - It's Not What You Say (But How You Say It) [Hayley #HR 029

A couple more pieces of memorabilia:

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