Check out my NEW blog home...

http://musicforgrownfolks.tumblr.com

Another Star Is In The Heavens...Ellie Greenwich has died today

(The group that became known as ‘Les Girls’ by collectors but one that unkown to most of us where arguably the best female harmony group of the sixties from one perspective …their sound. From left to right….Jean Thomas, Ellie Greenwich, Mikie Harris. This photo courtesy of George Schowerer from we are told late 1967 but we can’t place the session in Jean Thomas’s session logues..........)

The world is a sadder place. Not just because another page has been turned nor because another chapter in the "Great American Songbook" has closed, but because she mearly no longer belongs to this world. It was announced today. At 3:25 PM ET at the age of 68, Ellie Greenwich died of a heart attack at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, where she had been admitted a few days ago for treatment of pneumonia, according to her niece, Jessica Weiner.

She was probably one of the most successful songwriters ever and one-of-the-best-of-the-best. She wasn't caught up with writing partners. She could spin gold with all of her writing partners: Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, Tony Powers, George "Shadow" Morton, Nona Hendryx, Mike Rashkow, Jeff Kent, or Ellen Foley. She breathed new life into the Tin-Pan Alley school-of-songwriting (something we call the Brill Building). Ellie (the aformentioned Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, and Tony Powers) along with Burt Bacharach/Hal David, Gene Pitney, Gerry Goffin/Carole King, Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller, Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman, and Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield changed Pop music in those late Rock 'n' Roll years between 1959-64 (or the first wave of Rock 'n' Roll's death from the tragedies of Buddy Holly/Richie Valens/Little Richards/Jerry Lee Lewis/Elvis, and the start of Beatlemania). Late Brill writers: Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart, Neil Diamond (Ellie's discovery), and Andy Kim and Brill-influenced writers: Jackie DeShannon, Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson/Joshie Armstead, and Laura Nyro chaged Pop music in terrific but utterly different ways: they were continuing in a tradition rather than shaping a sound.

It is difficult to measure the influence of an artist like Ellie Greenwich. It is a victory that people (and not just grown folk) play her songs today; the fact that children still know, even today, the opening beat of "Be My Baby" is remarkable; Darlene Love making us swoon and cry from the beauty, purity, joy, and sadness of her definitive recordings these Spector/Greenwich/Barry tunes especially her's and their MASTERPIECE "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" is a testiment to the power of truth and emotional resonance (which is why artists still want to record these songs, even if they do lack the emotional depth of a Ronnie Spector or a Tina Turner); Amy Winehouse wrote her album 'Back to Black' based on the Wall-Of-Sound that was co-written by Miss Greenwich. All of these are signifiers that Ellie Greenwich is going no where eventhough the musically sacred vessel through which these miraculous perfections were crafted is gone. These songs were youthful, short, simple, and emotionally complex (they were about as Rock 'n' Roll as you can get (proto-counter culture): good girls in love with bad boys, teenage anthems of carnage, murder ballads, let's hurry up and get married so we can have sex, unrequieted love, falling in love with the wrong people, anti-authoritarian, angsty, yearning, the terror of being alone at 18, leaving home out of spite, the person political, leaving home on principle, and full of aching desire). These are songs that are about the everything...the whole world, and yet they are about nothing.

While, Ellie Greenwich showed she was still awesome well into the 1980s embracing her past and building a new future: creating on of the first jukebox musicals and the story of her life, Leader Of The Pack, which earned her Tony and Grammy Award nominations and writing songs with/for three of Nona Hendryx's albums (Nona, Art Of Defense, and The Heat) as well as singing background vocals/writing for Cyndi Lauper; it is safe to say that she will probably not be remembered for singing with the Raindrops nor her two albums: Composes, Produces and Sings [UA, 1968] and Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung... [Verve, 1973], her singles or demos, but don't fool yourself these are treasures (from the height of Pop sophistication), and they prove that girlfriend can really sing. There is a certain depth that she offers with the readings of her songs, rather, an insight that only their creater can offer. While, most people perfer the "original" versions or covers of Miss Ellie's songs (and they are terrific premire hit readings of her material by The Ronettes, Darlene Love, The Beach Boys, Ike & Tina Turner, The Crystals, and Leslie Gore) these are satisfying albums--personal statements and scrapbooks from argueably the finest era in American Pop music (she never seemed concerned with finding solo stardom nor navagating this type-of-career that appealed to Carole King & Laura Nyro).

Ellie Greenwich remained formost a songwriter, but she also stands among the first women to run a record label (Red Bird/Blue Cat) and produce (singles for The Shirelles, The Jelly Beans, Dusty Springfield, The Dixie Cups, The Raindrops, Connie Francis, The Shangri-Las as well as all the early Neil Diamond singles). The shortlist of really business minded women involved in the creative process more than singing or writing (even writing wasn't much more open to women; women weren't really taken seriously) along with Ellie Greenwich were Sylvia Robinson, Florence Greenberg, and Dusty Springfield (who "unofficially" produced her sixties records with John Franz for Philips). But writing pop songs was a "acceptable" place for women to start gaining more creative freedom in the music industry, and they flurish the women did. Women offered a unique perspect to the songs they wrote--"the woman's viewpoint"--dishing up heartbreak, affirmations, self-control, power-over-her-own-destiny, and joyious love; the women who wrote these songs lived these lives, had friends who walked these shoes, or heard their mama's tell them the tales.

If you want a real education (not the stuff they teach in school, although, that is important too, I guess), go learn something about one of the ABSOLUTE best songwriters, EVAH!! She wrote some of your favorite songs, possibly all of them, truly one of the geniuses of music.

Further Reading:
http://www.elliegreenwich.com/
Ellie Interviewed by Charlotte Grieg

Start listening to Ellie's legacy:
Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans' "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts?"
Darlene Love's "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry"
The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron"
The Crystals' "Heartbreaker"
Veronica's "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love"
Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans' "Not Too Young To Get Married"
Darlene Love's "Wait Til' My Bobby Gets Home"
The Ronettes' "Be My Baby"
The Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me"
Darlene Love's "A Fine, Fine Boy"
The Ronettes' "Baby, I Love You"
Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Moody & The Deltas' "Everybody Come Clap Your Hands"
The Butterflys' "Goodnight Baby"
The Dixie Cups' "Chapel Of Love
The Ronettes' "Keep On Dancing"
The Butterflys' "I Wonder"
The Jellybeans' "I Wanna Love Him So Bad"
The Shangri-Las' "Leader Of The Pack"
The Dixie Cups' "People Say"
The Jellybean's "Do Wah Diddy"
Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy"
Leslie Gore "Maybe I Know"
The Chiffons' "When The Boy's Happy (The Girl's Happy Too)"
Connie Francis "Don't Ever Leave Me"
The Exciters' "He's Got The Power"
Leola & The Lovejoys' "He Ain't No Angel"
The Dixie Cups' "Little Bell"
The Shangri-Las' "Out In The Streets"
Ellie Greenwich's "You Don't Know"
Jeff Barry's "Our Love Can Still Be Saved"
The Shangri-Las' "Give Us Your Blessings"/"Heaven Only Knows"
The Shangri-Las' "The Train From Kansas City"
Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep--Mountain High"
The Ronettes' "I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine"
Ike & Tina Turner's "I'll Never Need More Than This"
Ellie Greenwich's "I Want To Be Your Baby"
The Beach Boys' "I Can Hear Music"
The Supremes & Four Tops' "River Deep--Mountain High"
Dusty Springfield's "What Good Is Love You?"
Ellie Greenwich's "If You Loved Me Once"
Nona Hendryx's "Keep It Confidential"
Nona Hendryx's "I Want You"
Nona Hendryx's "A Girl Like That"
Leader Of The Pack: The Story Of Ellie Greenwich (Original Cast Album)
Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector's "Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby)"
Mutya Buena & Amy Winehouse's "B Bad Baby"

For Further Exploration/Backstory:
va-The Red Bird Story
va-Back To Mono (1958-1969)
va-Do-Wah-Diddy: Words and Music by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry

FREDA!!! Go see Freda Payne. Do it for me, so we can finally have something to talk about...

AHHHHHHHH!! I can't believe that my girl Freda is coming back to NYC. I was so angry at my self for missing her last February. But this is Jesus helping to make my dreams come true, and quickly my anger turns to tears-of-joy, and Michael wept. Hot-on-the-heels of the re-issue of her second album How Do You Say That I Don't Love You Anymore Freda is gonna be at Iridium in NYC for two shows a night from Thursday until Sunday of this week. She will be performing her critically acclaim one woman show. But Freda #1 Philly fan (#1 because ain't nobody who plays more Freda consistantly on the radio than me, not to toot my own horn, but you know...) will be hoping that she will also pull out a few Invictus/ABC/Capitol gems. Get your tickets and familiarize yourself with Miss Payne, and to any of you out there who write her off a novelty one-hit-wonder pop/soul singer, boy, do you have a lot to learn; Freda can sing anything starting singing jazz, broadway, pop, soul, protest songs, disco, and back to jazz. But her phrasing is jazz; she does jazz vocal runs, and she is a jazz styled singer.

Freda Payne Sings Ella: A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald
Iridium
1650 Broadway @ 51st St.
Tickets $30

• Thursday, August 6th/08:30pm & 10:30pm
• Friday, August 7th/08:30pm & 10:30pm
• Saturday, August 8th/08:30pm & 10:30pm
• Sunday, August 9th/08:30pm & 10:30pm

In other news from Planet Freda:
Freda has a kick-ass new website fredapayne.com. Edsel Records will be re-issued Unhooked Generation: The Complete Invictus Recordings [Castle Records, 2001] as Band Of Gold/Contact/Best Of Freda Payne/Reaching Out on July 14th. Reel Music will be re-issuing one of Miss Payne's best records Payne and Pleasure beautifully on compact disk this November. This means more Freda restored, remastered, and in the digital era. She is waiting to be re-embraced. See what your life has been missing. Unless you already know. I dare you.

He was just too tired to go on...

The world mourns the big pop star, the self-styled & self-professed "King of Pop", but this is not the Michael Jackson for whom I weep. I weep for the child-genius. The embryonic elder-statesman soul man who channeled David Ruffin & James Brown. The one who doesn't ask for your respect but demanded it, amazingly he always stayed black, sounded black, and crossed over in a huge way to a white audience (who amazingly were clued into real-blackness for a brief moment in the early-seventies before radio in the '70s fragmented and segregated itself into severe and rigid micro-genres and re-ghettoized/self-segregated for enumerable demographics). He was pop without being white; accepted on his own terms (with the help of a lot of very smart people: Gladys Knight, Bobby Taylor, Suzanne dePasse, Berry Gordy, Shelley Berger, Suzee Ikeda, Diana Ross, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, Alponzo Mizell, Hal David, and Willie Hutch to specifically name a few). Can you imagine? The one who mounted not just one career but succeed in two careers: one group and one solo. The boy who innately knew more about pain, love, heartbreak, passion, ecstasy, and loss than most adults. All this and two dozen hits before his voice changed. AMAZING.

Yet it is remarkable that people forget about his early solo years. Sure they know a few Jackson 5 hits unless they lived for the boys, and everyone knows every monster track by 1979 on..., but a lot of people don't even know "Ben". Well it is time to re-discover his early solo albums. Hip-O Select was right on time to school all the kitty babies on M.J. for this years soul summer school, and M.F.G.F. can help with lessons. To tell you the truth I wasn't gonna do it. I was gonna resist, but now I want it more than ever. I broke down and just pre-ordered Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection tonight. You should buy it, too. Only 7000 copies so order it before it arrives on July 10th.



The scandal with slip away. It doesn't matter when the work is this good. It is difficult to grow-up in the public eye; since, your daddy put you on stage at age 5. Being a Jackson made him tough, but it was also difficult to be a Jackson. I think he just gave up. It was too hard. He was too tired. He was used and abused by many men. He was too weak to go on... From the early reports we are lead to believe that Michael Jackson died today at age 50 from cardiac arrest because he was strenuously preparing for his first world tour in 12 years. Fears about his health had been stirring for months. Ultimately I neither see Michael Jackson as a tragic figure, sure he was complex, flawed, and led an extraordinary life, nor do I believe he failed on delivering after his early promise. His career seems just right. A few more terrific records would have been nice. He is gonna be in my thoughts for awhile as are the rest of the Jackson dynasty, so I am gonna be listening to Michael Jackson from the beginning, the Michael Jackson who started it all.

But if you need some help listen to my favorites (It's the best of the best as far as I'm concerned). When people say genius this is what they mean:
"I Want You Back"/"Who's Lovin' You"
"You've Changed"
"Don't Know Why I Love You"
"ABC"
"The Love You Save"
"Born To Love You"
"I'll Be There"/"One More Chance"
"Mama's Pearl"
"Maybe Tomorrow"
"Got To Be There"/"Maria (You Were The Only One)"
"I Wanna Be Where You Are"
"Ben"
"Farewell My Summer Love"
"Billie Jean"
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"

Listen to me on the radio: Tomorrow it is a Tribute to Michael Jackson: A Lifetime in Music and the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall: The Revolution.

WHITNEY!!!

Whitney Houston's new album is being released on September 1st, 2009.

I can't believe it...I miss my Koko.

For a singer who always thrilled, she was quietly the best. She just sang her own way, and her star rose quite often hit-less, but the lack of hits had little effect on her career. She is one of the best examples of forging a career with the help of true believers, real music lovers, and fans. It is these folk who allowed her to give to them by letting her do her own thing. I don't play the music of Koko Taylor often enough, but oh, the treasures. She simply was one of the best blues singers, sometimes even bordering on soul. She did not just interpret the Great Blues Catalog; she also owned new material tailored to her. She was one of the pioneers in the second generation of electric blues, and one of the few women in that male dominated era, an era where being the baddest player in the combo was what made you king. She proved that the Blues, the real Blues is all about the emotion in one's voice and the stories being told, not the new variations on the same chord progression passed down from generation-to-generation, and she reminds us that the Blues genre is like one big dysfunctional, loving family. There is room for anyone with skill and anything that gives one a disctinct voice that set one apart.

Koko Taylor passed yesterday. The 80-year-old "Queen of the Blues" died following complications from her May 19th surgery to correct gastrointestinal bleeding. She has influenced three generations of Blues singers. I can't imagine only women being influenced by Koko's power and emotion. The most significant shouter to be directly influenced by Miss Taylor is Shemekia Copeland, and lets not forget she looked goooood for being almost 81 years old.

Let's keep her alive. Listen to her life's work...start with these great Chess singles. My favorite is "Fire".
"Wang Dang Doodle" [Chess, 1966]
"Egg Or The Hen" [Chess, 1967]
"Fire" [Chess, 1968]
Koko Taylor [Chess, 1969]
Basic Soul [Chess, 1972]

And her near dozen or so albums on Alligator Records over the last 30 years.

Keyshia is the ruler of my Universe...and Keri is too cute!

Everyone agreed that Keri Hilson was really good; even the guy (who obviously came because his girlfriend NEEDED to be there last night as much as any of us) that sat next to Julie and I agreed. I enjoyed The-Dream, but it was a little weird for him to sing some of his duets without all his ladies.

Keyshia declared it from the stage that "it stops here". We are done with men that treat us bad. 2009 is the year for no more wasting time on no good men. I have too many friends who need to hear Keyshia's message, but they just don't want to listen because they have to learn it for themselves like we all do. They will get there, and just like Keyshia they say "I used to feel that way." Keyshia is such a down-home-girl; she is coolest and the nicest (just like Anita Baker & Miss Patti) shared her spotlight with her background singers and Amina Harris. Keyshia sounded SOOOOO good. People need to see R&B/Urban/Soul singers live more often because these artists can really sing (unlike a lot of pop singers who are all studio tricks), but we forget this because we are so used to listening to the albums the live experience sometimes is secondary for people. Being in NYC it is great for all the surprise guests. You will never guess who appeared on stage. Nas. Then Keyshia started singing "Trust", and I hoped (like with all her duets for her singing partners to appear, but she couldn't have everyone), and it started out like her duets when her partners weren't available, but then we heard a voice that was not Keyshia, and this beautiful woman steps out from the shadows, and it is Monica. Julie didn't even realize. I went crazy along with about 5600 other fans. We screamed the words. We danced to every groove, and even cried a little because we love KC but also for ourselves. Her songs compliment our lives so beautifully. Keyshia's music speaks about the love moments of my life; she knows what I am going through, and I am feeling the way she feels everytime her newest album is released.

I don't think that the boyfriends, husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers dislike the records Keyshia, The-Dream, Keri, and Bobby, but I just don't think a lot of them really know the records, so they have trouble really getting into them, and they don't connect with the idea of being mistreated by a man or finding your voice and female/self-empowerment.

Go see Keyshia Cole, The-Dream, Keri Hilson, and Bobby Valentino at NJPAC on June 2nd. Who knows I might be able to scrap together enough money for a second dose of the hottest tour of 2009.

...so I went to work on the Al Jarnow film project, and....I met Renaldo Domino along the way.

I just arrived home from an amazing week-end with some of the guys with Numero Group. You can read about my experience on the Numero Blog here about my experience's at Al Jarnow's house (subject of new book/DVD project) up to where we were going to the Renaldo Domino show at Dig Deeper. I had always been wanting to check out these Dig Deeper events, but live always seemed to get in the way. All I can think now is "What was sooooo important that I missed Tami Lynn or Eula Cooper's performance?" NOTHING! Numero saved my soul music Soul. I am back-on-track, and now remember that supporting your heros in real-life is so very important because soul music is a communal experience, and these performers really are true artists, and they still got "IT". Ben, Zac, Kyle, and Michael were filming Renaldo Domino's performance tonight (and another interview). It was just a coincidence that they were in the NYC metro area the weekend Renaldo was going to be also. For those of you who don't know Renaldo Domino is highlighted on the major 2CD/4LP retrospective of the output of Twinight/Twilight records out of Chicago. It is called Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Revenge.

The fried catfish and all the fixings (candied yams, macaroni & cheese, and cornbread) were fantastic at the Five Spot Soul Food Supper Club.

Mr. Domino was super nice and the most gracious (it was perfect; I only wish I would have been more dressed up to meet a true soul legend), and his voice is still terrific; he sounds as good today as in 1970, and he even tore it up with a cover of Curtis' "Move On Up". Somebody needs to cut an album on Renaldo, and the Divine Soul Rhythm Band might just be the perfect groove for him reignite a music career.

The world is waiting for you Renaldo. Hopefully there are enough of the faithful that the world won't fail you again. I will be here to play your records on M.F.G.F. any time, any day.

Some of the Songs in his set were...
You Don't Love Me No More
Never More
Not Too Cool To Cry
You Need To Be Loved On
Two Years, Four Days
Move On Up
Too Cool To Cry (original version)

For anyone who lives for the facts. Here is Renaldo's discography.

Smash 2127 - Don't Go Away / I'm Getting Nearer To Your Love – 1967
Smash 2160 - I'm Hip To Your Game / You Don't Love Me No More – 1968
Blue Rock 4061 - Don't Go Away / Just Say The Word - 1968
Twinight 128 - Not Too Cool To Cry / Never More – 1970
Twinight 139 - Let Me Come Within / I'm A Good Man – 1970
Twinight 147 - You Need To Be Loved On / Two Years, Four Days - 1971 (Unreleased)
Twinight 147 - You Need To Be Loved On / I'm A Good Man – 1971

The Marvelettes' Are 'Forever'!

The Marvelettes were Motown's first out-of-the-box-hit stars, but they seemed to never be able to recapture their mega-star status after their initial blush of fame, but they held-on lasting through-out the Sixties. They were Motown's first to have a straight #1 record (and to add insult to the star-making factory the girls wrote the song all-by-themselves). They were one of Motown's most enduring and definite crowd pleasers; the maintained a sort of half-life as a mid-selling group, who crafted musical perfection for the true believers who held-on. They more than any other artist at Motown created anthems that proved the soundtrack to people's lives.

Anyone who doesn't like the Marvelettes is not cool with me. Are you kidding me? Are these people not fans of good music, I mean, are their other senses heightened? Have they ever heard "Please Mr. Postman", "Forever", "Beachwood 4-5789", "Strange I Know", "Locking Up My Heart", "I'm Too Strong To Be Strung Along", "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "My Baby Must Be A Magician", "I Need Someone", "A Need For Love", "Playboy", "Destination: Anywhere", "Someday, Someway", and "I'll Keep Holding On". These haters just straight-up have NO SOUL. The Marvelettes platters were not just fan favorites. These records were Motown miracles and top productions by top soul men and even a few musical geniuses that shockingly never seemed to get the entire support of the Motown machine in promotion. Finally for the lucky 5000 who still buy physical copies of audio artifacts will for a limited time be able to buy the first volume in a series to return to the throne these members of soul royalty with Forever: The Complete Motown Albums, Vol. 1 (3xCD/87 songs) from hip-oselect.com, and for those who don't want to own records anymore; you will be able to buy them on itunes.com.

Don't let music industry silence, current pop-taste, and contemporary pop audience disinterest fool you: these women are SUPERSTARS. The are only one of four majorly important Motown recordings stars to never be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame (the other three being Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, and Junior Walker & The All-Stars, sadly, members of the RRHF wouldn't even tease about Kim Weston's possible entrance, but she would also be on the top of my list)...ugh! White People! Let's hope this will re-ignite interest in those Marvelous Marvelettes.

The Marvelettes
Forever: The Complete Motown Albums, Vol. 1
Hip-O Select Price: $39.98
Site Pre-Sale Date: 4/17/2009
Ship Date:5/8/2009

Here's what the experts at Hip-O Select say:

“They had a lot to work with,” notes producer Brian Holland in the package’s liner notes. “They had two lead singers [the sassy, pop-friendly Gladys Horton and the smoky, sophisticated Wanda Young] and were very musical when they all sang together. You could be confident they would be able to do something special with whatever you gave them.”

This collection brings together the group’s first four studio albums Please Mr. Postman, Smash Hits Of 1962, Playboy and The Marvelous Marvelettes plus, their only live album, the stereo Greatest Hits set, and every stray single, B-side and rare cut from the early era that have been issued on various compilations through the years. Every track has been newly remastered from the original LP and single masters in the Motown vault. Among the hits: “Please Mr. Postman,” “Playboy,” “Beechwood 4-5789,” “Forever,” “Someday, Someway,” “Too Many Fish in the Sea,” “Don’t Mess With Bill” and all the rest, covering the girls’ output 1961 through mid-1966.

Among the rarities: the Marvelettes’ short-lived stint as “The Darnells,” a Phil Spector-production soundalike; the non-album B-sides “Tie A String Around Your Finger,” “No Time For Tears,” “A Little Bit Of Sympathy, A Little Bit Of Love,” and others; the vault tracks “Knock On My Door,” Berry Gordy’s “Because I Love Him,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and more; the unedited live version of “Strange I Know,” taken from the original December 1962 Apollo Theater recording that produced segments of the Motortown Revue LP, Live At The Apollo Vol. 1.

Their body of work is presented in a beautiful 36-page booklet that lovingly recreates the original LP artwork, alongside classic and rare images from the Motown photo archives. There’s an essay by Gary Graff, an award-winning music journalist based in Detroit who has written extensively about Motown, and detailed track annotations release dates, recording info and producer credits missing from the original releases.

Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens...plus other Daptone Gospel News!

The first time I'd ever seen Naomi Shelton (then Naomi Davis) was at Sharon Jones' 50th Birthday party at Irving Plaza as part of the Daptone Supersoul Revue. I knew I was witnessing something special, something really good--a pure musical inspiration. She not only has soul, but she has the Spirit. These are beautiful records with haunting Gopsel sound. A lot of folks will say that is an old-fashioned Gospel sound (I can't help but think your parents will like this album--mine do), but I don't believe Contemporary Gospel records ever achieve what they attempt to do or the success that they deserve (they try to attract an R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, or Urban audience, but we don't need to buy Gospel records that have The-Dream-esque productions because we can just listen to The-Dream). People who buy Contemporary Gospel records with their slick productions (not that they aren't terrific; they are great, and there is room in the world for them, but there is also room for records that have that Gospel up-right piano) are already converted they are already buying them (they just don't appeal to other audiences), but other types of Gospel productions might appeal to a non-Gospel audience (i.e. young folks and white people). It is like preaching to the choir.

I hope this brings Gospel back to its proper place in our world and our music culture. It is time for Soul to rediscover its Gospel roots. Much like R&B today has forgotten about the Blues. This is probably the MOST EXCITING record issue this year. This is the music event of 2009. Do yourself a favor and go see Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens whenever they come to your town. In New York we are spoiled since Naomi and the ladies are at Fat Cat every Friday. I don't care why you go, but just go see. Do it for yourself. Do it because your Soul is craving something real that has been lacking in music for too long. Do it because Naomi is a inspiration. Do it to prove me wrong. Just go and take everyone you know.

PRE ORDER NOW! Out May 26th, 2009

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens
“What Have You Done my Brother" CD/LP

LP includes a coupon for free mp3 download of the entire album

Hundreds of new artists rear their heads on the scene every year, each struggling in vain to distinguish themselves from the rest with the gimmicks and novelties of the latest radio fads. However, rarely will an artist come along that can transcend the boxes and boundaries of our musical landscape with nothing but the pure soulfulness of her voice. Naomi Shelton is one of these precious artists.

Though she, like many others, grew up singing with her sisters in their Alabama church, she has also spent much of her life in the soul clubs around New York, and her 45s, "41st St. Breakdown" and "Wind Your Clock” b/w “Talking 'Bout a Good Thing,” have long been revered and prized by funk DJs around the globe. Now, with her first official full-length release coming this May, it's clear that her singing is equally influenced by both facets of her life. This is soul music - informed by the church, perhaps, but soul music nonetheless, relatable to all. Which means that What Have You Done, My Brother?, an uplifting record that conveys Naomi's energy, her excitement, her love of music, her compassion, is no ordinary album.

--Daptone Records

And as always they are live at...

Every Friday Night, 9pm
@ The Fat Cat
75 Christopher St.
New York, NY
$3

http://www.fatcatmusic.org

NS&GQ Opening for Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

5/6 Keswick Theatre, Philladelphia, PA
5/7 Ram's Head Live, Baltimore, MD
5/8 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
5/9 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

THE COMO MAMAS Friday 4/24 @ 12:00
Gospel Stage at New Orleans Jazz Fest

Friday 4/24 @ 6:45-7:25pm
Domino Sound Record Shack
2557 Bayou Road -New Orleans, LA

Aretha & Keyshia in the NYC!!!

Get your tickets before they vanish.

Hurry!
Hurry!
Hurry!

An American Tragedy: Phil Spector

I know, I know..."you do the crime you do the time". But I still love my music idols, and I feel really protective towards any that are crazy, unloved, small, or picked-on. I know he is coo-coo bananas, and the rumours about him lead the general population to believe he deserves what he got, and suggest it was a long time coming for his reckless behavior (with guns), for his cruelty and abuse of then wife, Ronnie Spector, and for the way he treated his associated artists (treating them like they were disposable and barely paying them), but like a mother hen I just hate to see my little mad-genius chickie in any pain or being told by society in a court of law that he is rotten and a murderer.

Today is a sad day in music history. The only other musical tragedy tried in the court of laws that comes to mind was when Little Willie John was convicted of manslaughter in 1966 for a fatal knifing incident following a show in Seattle. Little Willie John died nearly 41 years ago in 1968 at Washington State Prison in Walla Walla. The official cause of death was a heart attack, though some say it was pneumonia or asphyxiation, but he really died of a broken heart. He just gave up, after he lost his appeal. He was 30 years old. 30 year olds don't of heart attacks.

Phil Spector, 69, was convicted of second-degree murder, and he is soon to serve at least 18 years, according to the Los Angeles Times, a jury today has found Mr. Spector guilty of the 2003 murder of model/actress Lana Clarkson. It is painful to know that he is going to die in prison; he will be 87 when released (if he receives the minimal sentance). I just feel terrible about the tragedy. I feel terrible for Lana Clarkson, and I feel awful for Phil Spector. The conviction doesn't offer any "why" there is no reason that has come-to-light. It is a waste. A waste of two lives. The sadness of this tragic genius is that he has been deserted by the American Pop listening audience, and this severed relationship stopped him from creating his beautiful records and forced him to withdraw and retreat into himself living in a world he created for himself...inside his head removed from the outside world. I can't, but feel the only persons consoled by this verdict are the family of Miss Clarkson. Everyone has lost.

http://pitchfork.com/news/35071-phil-spector-found-guilty-of-murder/

Gladys Horton SPEAKS! You better listen...

One of my first Motown HEROS leaves the spotlight after nearly 50 years. She paved thousands of miles on the soul highway that criss-crossed America. She is one of those who are made of hearty stock and has ridden out all the music industry, and she came-out-on-top a winner, a survivor. But all that doesn't matter. What matters is her music will endure, and she is beloved by soul, Motown, rock 'n' roll, and European fans alike.

And I want to thank her for all-of-us for changing, improving, and enriching our lives. Eventhough, sometimes her only reward has been for the love of the music and the admiration of the true believers. Keep the Faith.

The long awaited boxed-set of the Marvelettes complete Motown albums are soon-to-be-reissued; this year on the 50th anniversary of Motown records.

...and now listen to what Miss Gladys Horton has to say...

GLADYS HORTON RETIRES FROM SHOW BUSINESS
Dear Fans:

I am sorry to inform everyone, that I have decided to retire from the business in order to take full time care of my youngest son Sammy.

Also because of my retirement, there will be no "original" member of THE MARVELETTES performing nor on tour. So please be carefull when you hear or see any type of advertisement claiming that THE MARVELETTES are performing live in or near anywhere that you live.

For sometime now, I have been thinking serious about retirement. It has become that time, I am getting older and traveling is no longer
the enjoyment that it was once for me!

I hate to travel by train, and touring on a bus is just not for me any longer. You the fans, have always been great supporters of both the group's live performances as well our many hits over the past many years that the "original" group had been active.

Love comes in two directions, from your hearts to us and from our hearts to you and it has always been that way! Thank you so much, we have all gone through the good times as well the hard times in all of our lifes.

I want to thank Berry Gordy; Motown Records Corporation; all of the many fans all over the world; all of the many performers that we have graced the concert stage and had the great honor to perform along side; our many support backup musicians over the years; and a very special thank you to Billy Wolfe who since 2002 helped me to get back past recording royalities that I never knew even were out there. He worked very hard to assist us in the flight, concerning the imposters issue and making sure that you the fans were always protected from being ripped off by local appearances by these so called rip-off artists and those who managed as well kept booking them in spirit of many warnings of court action on the group's best of interests.

Billy Wolfe is a very special man, who with the talent that he has continued to protect the "original" artists that continue to perform night after night for fans such as yourselfs. He has continued to hurt both emotionally as well mentally, daue to many long hours of continued fighting against the cancer that continues to be active in this industry by those that claim to be an "original" member of this group as well many others who have had the same problems with someone claiming to have been an original member of a given group and continue to live off the fame and careers of those who long ago traveled night after night by bus across country to make concerts that you the fans have paid good money in order to relive many fond and great memories of days gone bye!

Somewhere out there, is a man they called the "smart one". Billy Wolfe if you hear of this thank you, it comes from within my heart for all the pain as well many moments of troubles that I had caused you.

You gave from your heart, you supported me when it was deeply needed, and you also were hurting when I should had been understanding and I was not!

I wish that there were more real gentlemen like you, in a business where the black artists were always ripped off by some white manager or promoter or booking agent. You showed me concern, as well alot of guts when times got really hard and rough. I am just so sorry, that I pushed you away when I should had kept you in our corner.

May GOD BLESS YOU Billy Wolfe, wherever you might be and whatever you are doing.

Gladys Horton
Founder-Original Vocalist
THE MARVELETTES
1960-2008

Motown Records Recording Artists
1960-1970

The Passing of a Generation continues...

David "Pop" Winans Passes

Associated Press

April 10, 2009

Los Angeles Times

Delores and David Winans Sr. lead their brood in a rousing concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in 1992. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1999 for his solo CD “Uncensored.” Together, they were nominated for their CD “Mom & Pop Winans” in 1989.

David "Pop" Winans Sr., the Grammy-nominated patriarch of the award-winning gospel music family, died today. He was 74.

A statement from his family said he died at a Nashville hospice, where he had been since January after suffering a heart attack and stroke in October.

In 1999, Winans was nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo CD "Uncensored." He and his wife, Delores, known as Mom Winans, were nominated for their CD "Mom & Pop Winans" in 1989. She was at his bedside when he died, the statement said.

He was the father of BeBe and CeCe Winans, known for their hits "Addictive Love" and "I'll Take You There." Four other children -- Carvin, Marvin, Michael and Ronald -- performed as the Winans, recording such songs as "Ain't No Need to Worry," featuring Anita Baker.

In recent years, Mom and Pop Winans appeared regularly at Benny Hinn crusades and on the Trinity Broadcasting Network's "Praise the Lord" program.

David Winans was born April 20, 1934, in Detroit and began singing with a gospel quartet at age 18. He met Delores while both were singing in the Lemon Gospel Choir. They were married in 1953 and had 10 children. Their son Ronald died in 2005.

Winans was a preacher at a Pentecostal church in Detroit, but also worked as a car salesman, taxi driver, custodian and barber. After four of his children signed a recording contract, he was their manager for awhile. "We were oriented to gospel music, and we taught our children nothing but the ways of the Lord," Winans told the Washington Post in 1992. "I never let them go to shows or even to the theater; I never let them get involved with any other activity but church."

Memorial services are planned Tuesday and Wednesday at Perfecting Church in Detroit, where Marvin is the senior pastor.

Amanda Blank LOVES ME!!!

Dear Amanda,
I love you, and I am glad that you say I Love You. Our love is pure and this is why we have the best relationship. You make the most kick ass tunes, and I get to play them (pretending we are friends).

Love,
Maximum Shine

P.S. Thank You for releasing your album just before my birthday.

...Finally, Amanda Blank's long awaited debut LP is getting ready to be born. If you haven't heard about Philly's hottest MC; then, I don't know where you have been for the last, I don't know, four years. She has guest with everyone, and she makes pop-up unannounced hit-and-run appearances. When she isn't pulling a guest spot on a Britney or Santigold remix or as a featured player on a track by Spank Rock or Plastic Little then she is performing with her band Sweatheart. Most of her repertoire is too dirty for the air-waves, but I sneak in one of Amanda's bangers every once in awhile.

But until July 14th, you can retrace some of her highlights.

Bangers and Cash feat. Amanda Blank "Loose"
Britney Spears "Gimme More" [feat. Amanda Blank] [Eli Escobar/Doug Grayson mix]
Santogold "I'm A Lady" [Diplo Mix feat. Amanda Blank]
Yuksek feat. Amanda Blank "Extraball"
Plastic Little "Crambodia" [Pink Skull Remix feat. Ghostface Killah, Spank Rock, And Amanda Blank]
N.A.S.A. "A Volta" [feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank and Lovefoxxx]
Amanda Blank "Get It Now"
Amanda Blank feat. M.I.A. "Take It Easy"
Spank Rock & Amanda Blank "Bump"
Spank Rock & Amanda Blank "Grit City"
Pase Rock feat. Amanda Blank "Sexy Motherfucker"
Pase Rock "Lindsay Lohan's Revenge" [feat. Amanda Blank & Spank Rock]