Auditions Interview And Sitting In The Park Music Show

[boba]

Hi. Yesterday on my radio show I interviewed a member of the south side Chicago group the Auditions. The Auditions were all from the Ida B Wells and adjacent Darrow Homes. The group formed in 1968 when their mentor, Lonnie Hampton, a member of another Ida Wells group the Topics and a manager of local groups, put the four original members together and mentored them.

A few months after forming, the group auditioned for the Regal theater talent show. Still without a name, the group called themselves "The Auditions" based on their experience. The group won the talent show and were approached by Leonard Chess about signing to Chess records. Under the advice of Lonnie Hampton, the group avoided signing a contract with any label. On the strength of their talent show performance, the Auditions began to perform in local nightclubs. Hampton released the group's first single, "Returning home from Vietnam" / "Get set, be ready" on the tiny Get Set label in 1969. The record was not distributed and did not receive any radio play; the group just gave away the single to friends.

Around 1970, the Auditions broke up as some of the members attended school and pursued other interests. In 1972, Alexander returned from school to return to singing. He reformed the Auditions with three of the original members and two new members (one of whom was the lead singer of the Topics). The group began to do shows again and in 1973, Alexander produced an entirely new version of "Returning home from Vietnam" / "Get set, be ready" on the Freckles record label. Around the time, Alexander and label co-owner Darnell Glover started doing a radio program on WXRT and played the track. Other local radio stations also picked up the record.

Soon after recording, the new lineup of the Auditions changed their name to Oneness. The group worked frequently in Chicago and in the midwest. In the late 70s, the group recorded for the AMG label out of Cincinnatti. AMG was a pay-to-produce record label where artists auditioned for the label and then paid for the production and release of their records; many artists and groups from Ohio and the midwest recorded on the label. Although both sides of the Oneness single were completed (both being excellent tracks), the single never made it to release and was never pressed as a record; I played the single during the interview. The group stayed together, doing local shows throughout the 80s. In the 80s, Oneness recorded for Jim Stroud and Brad Bobo of the Notations but the material was never released. Alexander got involved with gospel music in the 80s. He currently produces a youth choir and his daughter sings gospel music.

You can check out the interview on my interviews page at:

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/interviews.html

I also did a music show after the interview. You can listen to the music

show at the bottom of:

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/shows.htm

playlist follows. Thanks again for your interest.

Wendy Andrews - My man is gone - DV

Ideals - You lost and I won - Satellite

Barbara Lewis - Spend a little time - Atlantic

Patti Labelle and the Bluebells - I need your love - Atlantic

Carol Chandler - Time hasn't changed you - Steel City

Green Berets - (Lord) Send me somebody - Uni

Crescent Legacy - I'm gonna miss you - Brou-larch

Questions - ? - Gold and Soul

Michael Washington - Cupid's corner - Crookshank

Ralfi Pagan - Didn't want to have to do it - Fania

Zeal - Don'tcha know - Potential

Zinga - I'm not strong enough - Zing

thanks,

Bob

[Guest cenco]

Hi. Yesterday on my radio show I interviewed a member of the south side Chicago group the Auditions. The Auditions were all from the Ida B Wells and adjacent Darrow Homes. The group formed in 1968 when their mentor, Lonnie Hampton, a member of another Ida Wells group the Topics and a manager of local groups, put the four original members together and mentored them.

A few months after forming, the group auditioned for the Regal theater talent show. Still without a name, the group called themselves "The Auditions" based on their experience. The group won the talent show and were approached by Leonard Chess about signing to Chess records. Under the advice of Lonnie Hampton, the group avoided signing a contract with any label. On the strength of their talent show performance, the Auditions began to perform in local nightclubs. Hampton released the group's first single, "Returning home from Vietnam" / "Get set, be ready" on the tiny Get Set label in 1969. The record was not distributed and did not receive any radio play; the group just gave away the single to friends.

Around 1970, the Auditions broke up as some of the members attended school and pursued other interests. In 1972, Alexander returned from school to return to singing. He reformed the Auditions with three of the original members and two new members (one of whom was the lead singer of the Topics). The group began to do shows again and in 1973, Alexander produced an entirely new version of "Returning home from Vietnam" / "Get set, be ready" on the Freckles record label. Around the time, Alexander and label co-owner Darnell Glover started doing a radio program on WXRT and played the track. Other local radio stations also picked up the record.

Soon after recording, the new lineup of the Auditions changed their name to Oneness. The group worked frequently in Chicago and in the midwest. In the late 70s, the group recorded for the AMG label out of Cincinnatti. AMG was a pay-to-produce record label where artists auditioned for the label and then paid for the production and release of their records; many artists and groups from Ohio and the midwest recorded on the label. Although both sides of the Oneness single were completed (both being excellent tracks), the single never made it to release and was never pressed as a record; I played the single during the interview. The group stayed together, doing local shows throughout the 80s. In the 80s, Oneness recorded for Jim Stroud and Brad Bobo of the Notations but the material was never released. Alexander got involved with gospel music in the 80s. He currently produces a youth choir and his daughter sings gospel music.

You can check out the interview on my interviews page at:

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/interviews.html

I also did a music show after the interview. You can listen to the music

show at the bottom of:

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/shows.htm

playlist follows. Thanks again for your interest.

Wendy Andrews - My man is gone - DV

Ideals - You lost and I won - Satellite

Barbara Lewis - Spend a little time - Atlantic

Patti Labelle and the Bluebells - I need your love - Atlantic

Carol Chandler - Time hasn't changed you - Steel City

Green Berets - (Lord) Send me somebody - Uni

Crescent Legacy - I'm gonna miss you - Brou-larch

Questions - ? - Gold and Soul

Michael Washington - Cupid's corner - Crookshank

Ralfi Pagan - Didn't want to have to do it - Fania

Zeal - Don'tcha know - Potential

Zinga - I'm not strong enough - Zing

thanks,

Bob

great show again bob ...

[Guest biggray1]

Fantastic Boba,allways somthin new on these Radio Shows especialy the Interviews etc,thanx Boba and remember Uk soulies are listening in,and only knew a few of the below playlist. Graham.

Wendy Andrews - My man is gone - DV...Great record.

Ideals - You lost and I won - Satellite

Barbara Lewis - Spend a little time - Atlantic

Patti Labelle and the Bluebells - I need your love - Atlantic

Carol Chandler - Time hasn't changed you - Steel City......Still cuts it.

Green Berets - (Lord) Send me somebody - Uni

Crescent Legacy - I'm gonna miss you - Brou-larch..Love this 45.

Questions - ? - Gold and Soul

Michael Washington - Cupid's corner - Crookshank...awesome.

Ralfi Pagan - Didn't want to have to do it - Fania

Zeal - Don'tcha know - Potential...Class.

Zinga - I'm not strong enough - Zing

[boba]

Fantastic Boba,allways somthin new on these Radio Shows especialy the Interviews etc,thanx Boba and remember Uk soulies are listening in,and only knew a few of the below playlist. Graham.

i got a very cool interviewed lined up next week with a group that recorded under several different names, including one very heavy northern record...

[Guest biggray1]

i got a very cool interviewed lined up next week with a group that recorded under several different names, including one very heavy northern record...

This sounds great,com'on then Boba spill the beans and tell us who it is..please!

[boba]

This sounds great,com'on then Boba spill the beans and tell us who it is..please!

i hate announcing the interviews because they tend to cancel, but i did say in my show it would be the green berets. the other group names they recorded as including the big northern one can stay a mystery until then...

[Djmelismo]

Hi Bob!

Enjoyed the music played and these were my personal favourites:

Green Berets - (Lord) Send me somebody

Crescent Legacy - I'm gonna miss you

Michael Washington - Cupid's corner

Ralfi Pagan - Didn't want to have to do it

Zeal - Don'tcha know

Zinga - I'm not strong enough (Amazingly strong and soulful female lead vocals on that one!)

Best regards,

Melismo

Edited June 3, 2009 by djmelismo

[Guest G MAN]

BOB,

That was a great story and a great track list of songs ON your last show.

Thanx 4 getting me hip to Michael Washington......he's got a very tight style.

G MAN