Joey Dee and the Starlighters

Joey Dee and the Starlighters

What another group from New Jersey ? I'm starting to believe  my Jersey and Philly pals. There was a ton of early rock coming out of that area. Maybe Philly would have been a good place for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 


During my years at Memphis State the sounds of Joey D. and the Starlighters pounded the student union walls. For some reason whoever was in charge of the music felt we should hear Joey and crew several times a week usually around 8 a.m.


"Peppermint Twist", the Isley Brother's "Shout" and lots more coming from the coffee shop's big speakers. How was I supposed to get ready for my next class ? The music put you in a party mood no matter what time of day. Joey D. and his Starlighters elevated my mood after many a tough night shift. I will always remember them for that.

Joey Dee and the Starlighters

As a fan I had no clue who was in the band. I just knew they were good and fun to hear. During today's little research session I learned there were folks in the band who we would hear about later. For instance there were guitar players Jimi Hendrix and Joe Pesci. The Ronettes were the back up singers and dancers. Three fourths of the Young Rascals honed their skills working in this band. Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers was in there as well. In 1963, they toured Europe. The opening act was an already hot European band called the Beatles. 

Joey Dee and the Starlighters

In 1962, this band was so hot with two albums going gold that Hollywood came calling. The movie "Hey Let's Twist" was actually about their lives. They appeared in it as well. The next year a second movie called them and they did "Two Tickets to Paris".


This band was white hot for a year or two then as we see all too often, disintegration. From hero to zero in a matter of a very few years. They had been booked into New York's Peppermint Lounge for a weekend gig. As it turned out some big wigs happened to be there and had a good time dancing. Some newspaper gossip columnist ( arn't most columnist gossips) saw the swells having fun and decided to announce The Peppermint Lounge was the hip place to be. The boys were held over for over a year. Huge rope lines were their from the second night through the rest of the gig. They made that joint a hell of a lot of money.

Joey Dee and the Starlighters

Joey Dee and the Starlighters are not in the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 


They are now included in this the only Hall of Fame that counts:


         




          The Fan's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame !




To Joey and the guys...thanks for cheering me up on a lot of tough mornings.


         Web site       Mo info       Peppermint      Joey      Videos

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section aka" the Swampers"
circa 1970 

This is surprisingly hard for me to write. I have deleted my first two attempts. I keep going too far back into memories. I think of two members of this group as teenagers playing for Hollis Dixon or the Weejuns. 


I keep thinking back to my own past of sock hop dates, dancing, sweating on those hot humid nights. Pretty Alabama girls, a new 62 Chevy convertible, a hot band and a hotter dance hall. It kinda, sorta crowds the old memory bank.

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

When I think of Jimmy Johnson, David Hood, Barry Beckett and Roger Hawkins leaving Fame and starting their own company. When I think of all the big names who rolled into little old Sheffield to record with these guys. When I think of the former Muscle Shoals Hotel bell hop Arthur Alexander. When I think of the nice young janitor from Colbert County Hospital, Percy Sledge. When I think of Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Wexler and hundred or so other big music names who came to remote North Alabama. They beat a path to record with these four guys. 


When I think of the friends who were involved or just attentive to what they were doing. I can't help but have all those memories and years run together.

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at work

I didn't know these guys. But through friends, we were all aware of all the big names flowing in and out of their little studio. Leon Russell and Lynyrd Skynyrd called them the Swampers. Other folks new them as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. But local people new them as nice guys, who were good neighbors and ran a good business. 


Here is a partial list of folks who worked at MSSS. I get this info from the web so I can't be totally sure. I started to call but didn't want to be a bother....some of those fellows were: Jimmy "Be-Bop" Evans,   Eddie (Blue Eyed Soul) Hinton, Pete Carr, Randy McCormick, Will McFarlane, the great Spooner Oldham and many more I don't know about.

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section + 1

I am not going to try to list all the big names who recorded with them so I added a link to give you that information. Look under under Rhythm. The Alabama link is to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The Obit is for a man who I feel was responsible for music becoming such an integral part of the Quad Cities fabric. His name was Hollis Dixon. He was a little older than Jimmy and David. He helped many, many young players by working them in his band.


The first time I heard the names David Hood and Jimmy Johnson they were either playing with Hollis Dixon's KeyNotes or with their own band, the Weejuns. I was 17.

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section is Inducted
into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame

I never forgot how good these young guys played or how genuinely  nice they were. Throughout the years I never heard anything different. They remained life long nice guys as well as excellent citizens.


They are not in the rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland (?). And as far as I know they are not yet in the Musicians Hall of Fame.


So.....For your body of work and your conduct I would like to:


                                            Welcome 


                        "The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section" 


                                aka "The Swampers" to:


         "The Fan's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" !




                  Obit            Alabama           Rhythm    Videos

The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew at work.

Having done stories and connections on the basis for the Memphis and Detroit's sound, I felt it necessary to carry that idea over to other important musical cities.


Los Angeles has been a destination for the career minded musicians and aspiring stars ever since the early days of Hollywood. The city with the great reputation for movies was and is direct competition for New York with major labels and their recording studios. Both cities drew artists like a magnets. 

Some of  The Wrecking Crew

Detroit had it's Funk Brothers and Memphis it's Mar-Keys et al, and L. A. had it's own outfit called the Wrecking Crew. This loose knit group of about 50 "first call" musicians were on hundreds of hits. They were so proficient it didn't matter what type project they were asked to work on. 


Several like Glenn Campbell, Leon Russell and Dr. John went on to have solo careers or like Jim Gordon who became part a traveling band by the name of Derek and the Dominoes. 

Two members of the Wrecking Crew at work

A film was made about this group and was aptly named "The Wrecking Crew". I don't know if it has been released so I will provide a link below. Hal Blaine one of the central figures within the group wrote a book and talked about the number of hits they produced. He says he was the most recorded drummer in history. He might have been. There was an article about The Wrecking Crew in American Heritage Magazine. It's linked below.

The Wrecking Crew at work.

LA and it's "Wrecking Crew" might have been the most versatile studio city. These folks could and did play anything, daily. They worked tough, long hours and individually made a hell of a lot of money. 


The Wrecking Crew deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the same as the Funk Brothers. They are not. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to announce, 

Wrecking Crew Bassist Carole Kaye

        






















                               The Wrecking Crew is now in:


       "The Fan's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"


           Hell of a job folks ! Thanks for all the great tunes !!!!






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The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers at the Grammys

When I think of the Funk Brothers, the first thing I want to know is this. Did the Funk Brothers back more hits than any other group of musicians ? Had to be.


A few years ago, I was clicking on the nighttime t.v. and found. a special on the Funk Brothers. They were discussing the "old days". The guys were talking of their work, their peers, the folks who had passed and the fellows who preceded and moved on. They told stories about how things worked at "Motown" when the place was a hit factory.

Some of the Funk Brothers

The film showed scenes from "Hitsville USA" recording sessions and performances. The film folks brought in a few singers to work with the present day Funk Brothers. The only one I can remember is a young woman who was new to me. Since the Funk Brothers are session men they needed a singer for the film. I assume the director chose a relative unknown but talented young lady to simulate what the guys would have been dealing with in the old days. Someone found Joan Osborne and put her in the film. I'm sure glad they did otherwise I might never have heard of her tremendous talent.  

The Funk Brothers plus

I was particularly interested in the way the Funk Brothers, the senior statesmen of the recording world, helped this young woman feel at home. They seemed to go out of their way to make a fresh new talent feel more confident. It was obvious in the way they treated Joan it was not their first rodeo. They knew what they were doing.


I wish I had ordered that film. It was a lesson in rock and roll history that may never be duplicated. That film was rated a four and a half on a five star rating and is called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown".  I am including a link to my favorite cut "Broken Hearted". I bought Miss Osborne's c.d. the next day. 

The Funk Brothers

This video shows off the singer and she rightfully deserves the show case but.....my, oh my, that Funk Brothers sound is just so damned complete. Two drummers killing it, the base pounding through the head phones, all the instruments hitting just where they should for maximum and minimum effect...That's the Funk Brothers.  Joan Osborne's recording is just another example of how these consummate professionals do their job. They stay in the background, sound fantastic, while highlighting the talents of the artist. 

The Funk Brothers at work

In other words she's damned good but they make her look so much better. It's why the Funk Brothers were so good. It's why they were the best. I would love to see more from them but time is starting to get in the way. Let's see, in a perfect world Smokey produces a c.d. called Joan and the Funk. If it were up to me, I would have them do nothing but MoTown covers. It would sell with people like me but I don't know if today's radio people would get it. 

The Funk Brothers

So back to the original question. How many hits did they back ? My official answers is, "I don't have a clue" !  Wiki has them backing something like 97 Number One records. There is no visible record for how many non #1 hits they played on. Maybe a thousand ? Who knows ? Maybe Berry Gordy. 

The Funk Brothers and Little Stevie Wonder

Thirteen of the Motown multitude were added to the Grammy Hall of Fame as the Funk Brothers. But you would have to ask them who they would count, because over the years, there were far more than thirteen.

The Funk Brothers Album

Well here we go again. I don't find them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  So here goes....Dear Funk Brothers...you are now officially welcomed to the only hall of fame you will ever need:


             




                             
                             Welcome to 


     "The Fan's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"


                          


       The Funk Brothers....  There is no better body of work !!!!




    Broken Hearted     Film   Mo Info    Videos    Web site

King Curtis

King Curtis

I don't know why I only remember three sax players from my teens. They were Ace Cannon, Bill Doggett and King Curtis. Different yes, but that's the way we received our helpings of music. It came to us from lots of different sources and we just soaked it in. 


King Curtis and Doggett gave us that soulful sound while Ace played in my home town as a rock and roll Nashville cross. I enjoyed Doggett on the same level as Curtis. I enjoyed Ace just as much, but in a different way. 


Until today, I had no idea he was either a Texan or the majority of his career was spent as a session musician in New York City. 

King Curtis

I honestly thought he was a part of the Memphis Sound machine. That's how I associated his style of sax playing. He could well have fit in with the Mar-Keys or the Memphis Horns. And given the way these fellows worked around to all the studios he might very well have played with all those folks.

King Curtis

Mr. Curtis was a showman, an arranger, a highly sought after session musician, a producer, a band leader, writer, composer and anything else one might ask of a great musical talent. 

King Curtis

King Curtis cut tons of albums, had several hits and was known by most kids in the early 60's. It appears his biggest fan base was fellow professional musicians.


Curtis was only 37 when he was murdered in New York City. That was 1971. He was killed by a knife wielding junkie in front of his own home. Sometimes things just don't make any damned sense. His death was a shock for the music industry.

King Curtis the Sax Man

Curtis won a Grammy the year before his death and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The guy was a great, I said great, musician. Please take the time to listen to a song or two. They are linked under the video sign below.  You will find an info link as well. There is lots and lots of information to be learned about King Curtis so enjoy it.  




                   Mo info         Videos         Discs          R&R

Booker T. and The M.G.'s

Green Onions by Booker T. and the M.G.s

If you ever saw a t-shirt with the words "Been There Done That". One of the M.G.'s was probably wearing it. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted group has done it all. That includes taking over and becoming what we now know as the sound of "soul" or the Memphis "sound". The two are inseparable as far as I am concerned.

Booker T. & the M.G.s

I wrote about a preceding group, the Mar-Keys, in a previous post. Not being a Memphian until 1965 I was more attuned to the M.G.s due to their 62' radio hit, Green Onions. 


I am not going to write much of a story on these guys. 

Booker T. & the M.G.s

I want you to go to the wikipedia link I call Mo' Info in honor of Mo' Onions. If you have time I would ask you to read  about who they are, where they've been, who they've backed in studio and on the road. Note how many big, big name bands and individuals consider them leaders in rock and roll music.

Recording session with Booker T. and the M.G.s

It is amazing. I don't know what rock and roll would have done without journeymen, crank em' out, musicians like the M.G.'s, The Funk Brothers and The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. I can tell you we wouldn't have rock and roll as we know it today. 


Please, take the time to read that wiki link. It is the most impressive resume in the music business. 

Booker T. and the M.G.s

I've been a fan since I first heard Green Onions on my funky 53 Chevy radio. 

Duck Dunn, Booker T. Jones & Steve Cropper

Anytime I hear any of the M.G.'s names involved in a project I tune in.           




                






                Thanks for the music gentlemen  !!




           Mo' Info        Mo' Videos       R&R           BT Web

Ben E. King

Ben E. King

What do you think when someone says Ben E. King ? The first thing that comes to my mind is "Stand By Me". Before I go any further I have to get this up front. I am a fan of Ben E. King's music as much today as back when.


Today, I was walking through a big box store. Through the shopper's haze, I heard the overhead speakers start up with "This Magic Moment". I sang along in my head. Without realizing it I must have begun singing aloud. A well dressed gent of some 65 plus years walks by and says, "hell of a song". 

Ben E. King

I realized he had heard me and I was embarrassed. I said "you bet.  Who's doing that song". He didn't bat and eye, saying, "The Drifters". I said, "Oh, Clyde McPhatter" ? He says "I think it's Ben E. King". He walked away and I never saw him again. Man !!  Ben E. King must have made a heck of an impression on that guy. I came home and checked it out on the computer. He was right and the funny part was, Ben E. King was my next on my list of 1961 stories.   

Ben E. King

But that's the kind of impact Mr. King's voice has on people. Of course, the movie, "Stand By Me" didn't hurt his reputation with the younger generation. They will always think of that melodious voice associated with the movie. 








Here's a little information and  links for all you ever wanted to know about Ben E. King.


Wiki says from 1959 to 1986 Ben E. King had 25 Top 40's, 12 Top 10's and 5 Number One's in the pop field. That includes his time with the Drifters. When the British invasion arrived in 64' his sales dropped like everyone else. At that point he moved over to his old standby the Rhythm and Blues charts.

Ben E. King "Stand By Me"

"Stand by Me" was named one of the "Songs of the Century" by Recording Industry Association of America.


"Stand by Me", "There Goes My Baby", "Spanish Harlem", were all included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Ben E. King

All three songs were given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.


Ben is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland as a member of the Drifters. He has been nominated for membership but not selected. I wonder what it takes to meet their requirements. Let's see Abba but not Ben E. King. Right.

Ben E. King

Ben is still active in music and with his foundation. What a talent. One of the finest voices ever in R&B or Rock. When two old guys stand around in a store, talking about your 50 year old song, you have to be very, very special. That alone should qualify you for:

                                         THE FAN'S 


         ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME !


               Welcome Mr. Ben E. King !!!!




                  Web site       Info          Video     Foundation