Sad News Eddie Singleton RIP

Ady C posted the below...

Andy Rix just passed on this sad news from Harry Bass.

Eddie had been living in South Africa for several years. He was most famous on our scene for his magnificent Shrine record label that created some of the most exciting, and beautiful soul music of the 1960s. Shrine has become a byword for top quality rare soul and is now spoken of in awe and affection.

I had the honour of releasing the first Shrine recordings in the UK in the mid 80s with two LPs and two singles on the Horace's label. Andy Rix researched and recorded for posterity the story of the Washington DC label that featured Ray Pollard, Eddie Daye, The Cautions, The Cairos, Shirley Edwards, The Prophets and JD Bryant among its releases. This detailed history was documented in the booklets to the two volumes of Kent CDs "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label". The quality and rarity of the Shrine records combined to make the label a Northern Soul collector's Holy Grail.

Eddie had been a successful writer, producer and artist in the late 50s and early 60s working with Barbara Lewis, The Matadors and Marie Knight. He later wrote for Motown contributing 'Don't Bring Back Memories' for the Four Tops and composed the great Northern Soul classic 'The La Rue' for Lada Edmund Jr.

He married Berry Gordy's ex-wife Raynoma in the early 60s and she was a cornerstone of his Shrine operation being a very musically talented lady. Harry Bass was Eddie's right-hand man throughout most of his musical endeavours and contributed songs and business skills to the label.

In later years he was re-married Motown singer Barbara Randolph who pre-deceased him by about ten years. He was a warm talented man who was very happy that his commercially unsuccessful work at Shrine was eventually appreciated overseas.

Ady C

You can read a length draft version of the Shrine Cd release notes from Andy Rix (poste d in 2001) in the soul words section on this site

the clip below is taken from there

EDDIE SINGLETON - THE EARLY YEARS

William Edward Singletary always knew he was going to be somebody in the music industry. His mother Mary, a gospel singer, actively encouraged Eddies musical abilities from an early age. He took his first tentative steps into the world of show business, from his home in Asbury Park, New Jersey, whilst still in his teens by organising concerts at the local army base. During this time he met many talented artists and subsequently felt that there was no reason why he could not join their ranks. A move to New York, in 1956, brought him into contact with Hy Weiss, the owner of Old Town records, and before too long a recording contract was signed. Eddie cut a few solo sides, that remain unreleased, and then moved on to Brunswick Records with a group he had assembled called The Chromatics. Their only release Too Late/My Heart Let Me Be Free (Brunswick 55080), issued in 58, enjoyed moderate sales and remains a collectors item for followers of that genre. The group did a number of shows and dates out of town but Eddie, who was by now composing his own material, decided that he didnt really enjoy being in the limelight as a performer feeling that his talents would be put to better use elsewhere. By 1959 Eddie had his own office at 1650 Broadway. Despite having been in New York for less than three years he had built up an impressive roster of associates and was well connected with all of the major players in the city; Eddie had finally found a home....

Sad news indeed

forum post can be read here

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=64427