Detroit, Rock’n Holiday Doo-Wop Special, Robin Seymour,Harvey Fuqua, Moonglows, Falcons, Jimmy Charles, Adam Wade, Mel Carter, Willows, Fiestas, Impalas, Freddie Johonson and the sounds of The Marcels
New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show Coming To Detroit
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO STREET CORNER ESSENTIALS ON SOUL-PATROL.NET RADIO:
Featuring RARE DOO WOP like: The Eagles – Tryin’ to Get to You, The Barons – My Baby’s Gone, Four Tops – Woke Up This Morning, Jimmy Castor & The Juniors – I Promise To Remember, The Orbits – Sugar Mama, The Quintones – Ding Dong, Lee Scott & The Windsors – My Gloria, The Ocapellos – The Stars and more!Click here to listen…
Soul-Patrol Newsletter Headlines (1/2/2006)
* Detroit Soul-Patrol Event: New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show Coming to Detroit, Hosted by Robin Seymour, presented by North American Concerts (1/7/06)
* Profile: The Legendary Harvey Fuqua and the Moonglows
* Profile: Robin Seymour
Welcome to Soul-Patrol Newsletter:
Check out the New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show , Hosted by Robin Seymour, New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show Coming to Detroit, Hosted by legendary Detroit music personality Robin Seymour, presented by North American Concerts, coming up in Detroit this Saturday evening.
Not in Detroit?? Relay this email along to someone who is… .
–Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Detroit Soul-Patrol Event: New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show Coming to Detroit, Hosted by Robin Seymour, presented by North American Concerts. (10/21/05)
“Tis the Season to be Jolly” for some of the finest vocal harmonizing groups and performers from the late ’50s and early ’60s to help put you in a festive mood. As a special added attraction, your host and MC for the evening is none other than legendary Detroit disc jockey Robin Seymour. Robin was voted Detroit’s top DJ for several years in a row during the ’60s.
The “Rock’n Holiday Doo-Wop Special” featuring sensational groups and vocalists from the hailed PBS Doo-Wop Specials is set to take place in Detroit at the Detroit Opera House on Saturday January 7th, at 8 pm. This year’s show is the biggest oldies show of its kind in the country with acts from the first decade of “Rock and Roll.” Appearing on this history making show are:
” The Willows “Church Bells Are Ringing” #11 – 1956
” The Fiestas “So Fine #11 – 1959
” The Impalas “I Ran All The Way Home” #2 – 1959
” Freddie Johonson and the sounds of The Marcels “Blue Moon” #1 – 1961
” The Falcons “You’re So Fine” #1 – 1958
” Detroit’s own Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows, famous for such hits as “10 Commandments of Love” and “Sincerely” (The Moonglows were discovered by Allen Freed and named by Freed after his radio show “The Moon Dog Show”)
” Jimmy Charles, best remembered for his timeless ballad “A Million To One” #5 – 1960
” Adam Wade, who worked with Dr. Jonas Salk on the Polio Vaccine and will recreate the smooth sounds of his chart topping hits “As If I Didn’t Know” #5 – 1961 and “I See the Writing on the Wall ” #10 – 1961
” Mel Carter who besides being a phenomenal tenor is an entertainer extraordinaire, who will be singing his hits like “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” #3 – 1965, is sure to have the audience reminiscing and singing along in their seats.
Tickets for this super Holiday Special range from $20 and up for balcony seating to $55 for V.I.P. seating and can be purchased by calling (734) 451-1077 or from the Detroit Opera House box office or any Ticketmaster outlet, including Marshall Field’s (248) 645-6666.
So come share the good times with us and relive the moments (at least for a couple of hours) and from us to you, “Have a warm and wonderful ‘Rock’n Doo-Wop Holiday.'”
Contact number for more information: 734-451-1077
Profile: Harvey Fuqua
One of the things that is going to happen at the big Detroit New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show is an appearence by the legendary Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows. Harvey Fuqua is a longtime member of Soul-Patrol and has been a great friend of ours for many years, as you can see in the photo to the left with Harvey Fuqua and Soul-Patrol co-founder Mike Davis 🙂
So I thought it might be nice to profile Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows here in this issue of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter…
It’s not too much of a stretch to say that every music fan worth their pop history probably hears some song on the radio every day that’s connected to, or influenced by write-singer-producer-musician HARVEY FUQUA.
His latest project is perhaps closest to his heart, for he has created a new umbrella organization “Resurging Artist Records Ltd.” under which Harvey will release a number of different labels. Some of his new labels will feature Doo-Wop, gospel and new artists, irrespective of age.
Harvey’s first release, under the “Resurging Artist Records” label, was released in March 2000. The album is titled “T.V.O.X” (The Voice of Experience). The artist is HARVEY FUQUA, in the first solo recording performance of his career.
Performing alone isn’t that different from working with a group,” Harvey observes. “I hear background in my head, instead of on the stage.” He laughs, “…And I don’t have to worry
about anyone hitting the wrong note. Except me.”
As a solo artist, Harvey is one of those rare performers with perfect pitch. Like Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett, he is gifted with the ability to wrap himself around a lyric and take his audience with him. The years during which he sang as a member of the famed Doo-Wop group, THE MOONGLOWS, paid off well in terms of his command of any stage.
His many years in the music industry have observer watching closely. But then, anything Harvey does is watched with eager eyes. As a founding member of the much-admired MOONGLOWS, the premiere vocal group at Chicago’s legendary Chess Records in the ’50s, Harvey’s writing and arranging, as well as his engaging baritone, set a new standard.
“Chess was known as an urban blues and R&B label with people like Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter”, Harvey recalls. “I hope to use “Resurging Artist” to attract the same quality of talent that’s still here and wanting to work, but that the major labels don’t want. I think they’re making a big mistake, and we’re going to prove it.”
HARVEY’S history in the music business indicates that he both recognizes talent and knows how to market it. After leaving the Moonglows, he founded both the Harvey and Tri-Phi labels, uncovering such acts as The Spinners, Junior Walker, Shorty Long, and perhaps his most important discovery – Marvin Gaye, whose talent he recognized and began to develop when Gaye was a member of The Moonglows.
In 1963, Harvey folded the labels to become a producer and A&R executive for Motown, where he created the company’s Artist Development department, working with talents like Maurice King, Cholly Atkins, Gil Askey and Maxine Powell.
“I would observe the acts, critique them and come up with ideas on how to improve the presentation,” Harvey remembers. “The one that really toke the lessons to heart and worked the hardest was Diana Ross. Marvin Gaye – he had it naturally. You didn’t have to do much with him. Same with the Four Tops and Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.”
HARVEY also discovered talent for Motown, and was responsible for bringing Tammi Terrell to the label and suggesting and creating the duets between Marvin and Tammi. He also wrote and/or produced many hits, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, You’re all I Need to Get By”, Your Precious Love” for Marvin and Tammi; “Some Day We’ll Be Together” for the Supreme’s; “What Does It Take (For Me To Win Your Love) ….” for Jr. Walker and The Allstars; and “Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday”, for Stevie Wonder.
Eventually, it was time for Harvey to realize his own musical vision, and in the early ’70s, he entered into a production deal with RCA, working with New Birth, The Nightlighters, and other acts. While living in Oakland, he discovered disco pioneer Sylvester, whose blend of funk, R&B and gospel mad him a sensation in San Francisco’s underground clubs. He also discovered and developed Two Tons of Fun, aka “The Weathergirls”.
Throughout the years, regardless of where he was living – and Harvey is the personification of the phrase “anywhere I hang my hat is home” – he maintained a close friendship with Marvin Gaye that was the key element in the making of “Midnight Love”, Gaye’s 1982 comeback album that spawned the luminous smash hit, “Sexual Healing”.
Next to his current project with “Resurging Artist Records”, perhaps the project that means most to him is as a trustee of “The Rhythm & Blues Foundation”, which aims to right some notorious wrongs.
“We try and help those artists who may have been cheated or simply not given their rightful share,” Harvey says. “The R&B Foundation underwrites rent, medication, wheelchairs, meals, and even funerals. It’s for those who need it. We want to educate the industry and the public about the historical value of Rhythm and Blues music to the American culture.
Says Harvey, ” I just do what I know how to do and like anything, I can only hope it’s the right thing.”
Bio Courtesy of HarveyFuqua.net
–Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Profile: Robin Seymour
Former WKMH/CKLW Radio Personality and Television Music Show Host
Seymour’s radio and television career spanned everything from the big band era right through the British invasion and into the psychedelic era with notable stints on WKMH (the precursor to WKNR) “Bobbin with Robin” in the afternoons and at CKLW where he took to the video airwaves as well. Robin was pretty generally canny in spotting hot artists but missed a beat somewhere when he predicted in the mid 50’s that Elvis Presley was a sure loser, who “wouldn’t last more than a year.”
Patterned after the nationally successful “American Bandstand”, Seymour’s “Swingin Time,” dance party was a hot commodity on Windsor’s Channel 9 from early 1965 through 1968. The show typically featured 50 to 75 high-schoolers dancing six days a week and two were chosen for each show to give “yea” or “boo” opinions on new records. National touring acts — even Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention — landed on the his stage as they’d pass through the Motor City, but it was local entertainers, both black and white, including Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and The Supremes as well as George Clinton’s Parliaments along with fresh-faced suburban kids like Seger, Glenn Frey and Ted Nugent which assured a spirited time and really made the show. Nearly every Detroit musical artist or band of consequence with a record (or sometimes just a demo) managed to get booked. But no live performances — the studio wasn’t equipped for that so artists would lip-synch their records, often to inadvertent (and deliberate) comical effect.
Worth noting is Seymour’s affection for The Rationals. Not only were they the most frequently booked local group on his show, which contributed greatly to their popularity and record sales in Detroit, but Robin was also instrumental in helping them get their final single and their one and only album to market in early 1970.
He’s attended several broadcaster’s reunions in Detroit but Seymour has been retired from the industry for many years and now reportedly lives in the Los Angeles area.
Bio & photo Courtesy of Detroit Area Musical Personalities
Detroit Soul-Patrol Event: New Year Celebration Doo Wop Show Coming to Detroit, Hosted by Robin Seymour, presented by North American Concerts. (01/07/06)
“Tis the Season to be Jolly” for some of the finest vocal harmonizing groups and performers from the late ’50s and early ’60s to help put you in a festive mood. As a special added attraction, your host and MC for the evening is none other than legendary Detroit disc jockey Robin Seymour. Robin was voted Detroit’s top DJ for several years in a row during the ’60s.
The “Rock’n Holiday Doo-Wop Special” featuring sensational groups and vocalists from the hailed PBS Doo-Wop Specials is set to take place in Detroit at the Detroit Opera House on Saturday January 7th, at 8 pm. This year’s show is the biggest oldies show of its kind in the country with acts from the first decade of “Rock and Roll.” Appearing on this history making show are:
” The Willows “Church Bells Are Ringing” #11 – 1956
” The Fiestas “So Fine #11 – 1959
” The Impalas “I Ran All The Way Home” #2 – 1959
” Freddie Johonson and the sounds of The Marcels “Blue Moon” #1 – 1961
” The Falcons “You’re So Fine” #1 – 1958
” Detroit’s own Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows, famous for such hits as “10 Commandments of Love” and “Sincerely” (The Moonglows were discovered by Allen Freed and named by Freed after his radio show “The Moon Dog Show”)
” Jimmy Charles, best remembered for his timeless ballad “A Million To One” #5 – 1960
” Adam Wade, who worked with Dr. Jonas Salk on the Polio Vaccine and will recreate the smooth sounds of his chart topping hits “As If I Didn’t Know” #5 – 1961 and “I See the Writing on the Wall ” #10 – 1961
” Mel Carter who besides being a phenomenal tenor is an entertainer extraordinaire, who will be singing his hits like “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” #3 – 1965, is sure to have the audience reminiscing and singing along in their seats.
Tickets for this super Holiday Special range from $20 and up for balcony seating to $55 for V.I.P. seating and can be purchased by calling (734) 451-1077 or from the Detroit Opera House box office or any Ticketmaster outlet, including Marshall Field’s (248) 645-6666.
So come share the good times with us and relive the moments (at least for a couple of hours) and from us to you, “Have a warm and wonderful ‘Rock’n Doo-Wop Holiday.'”
Contact number for more information: 734-451-1077
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO STREET CORNER ESSENTIALS ON SOUL-PATROL.NET RADIO:
Featuring RARE DOO WOP like: The Eagles – Tryin’ to Get to You, The Barons – My Baby’s Gone, Four Tops – Woke Up This Morning, Jimmy Castor & The Juniors – I Promise To Remember, The Orbits – Sugar Mama, The Quintones – Ding Dong, Lee Scott & The Windsors – My Gloria, The Ocapellos – The Stars and more!Click here to listen…
If you have a news item, update, review, commentary, etc that you would like to submit to the Soul-Patrol Newsletter, please send them via email for consideration to:
Hopefully you enjoyed this edition of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter.
We will be back in about two weeks with the next edition, with any email alerts for local events, Soul-Patrol website updates/chat sessions or breaking news in between, as required.
If you have any comments, questions, etc feel free to drop me an email and let me know what’s on your mind.
Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
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