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The Story Of 'how' - By Harold Of The Masqueraders


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Guest vinylvixen
Posted (edited)

I requested this info from Harold of the Masqueraders for some research that I'm doing. I thought it was so interesting, that I asked if he minded if I posted it on Soul Source........he was delighted rolleyes.gif Read on.....

Now, I would like to tell you about "How". Johnny Mills and Curtis Truesel wrote the lyrics for "How"in 1966 at LaBeat Records. We were scheduled for an audition at Motown held by Mickey Stevenson. When we got to Detroit, he had left for Los Angeles to establish new headquarters. Since Mr. Stevenson had left before we got there, James Dean (who wrote "What Becomes Of A Broken Heart") auditioned us. Unfortunately, things did not work out for us--one of the main reasons was that we had no original songs other than "That's The Same Thing'" and "Talk About A Woman". As we were leaving Motown another Motown artist, Macmillian, followed us out and suggested that we make our way to the 20 Grand Club that night. On our way to the club we came across a four family flat with a microophone in the picture window.It intrigued us so we knocked on the door and explained that we were "The Masqueraders" from Texas and was looking for a place to record. The gentleman we spoke to was Ted Harris who invited us in to audition. After hearing us, he was very impressed and would let his boss, Mr. Lou Beatty know. Upon meeting Mr. Beatty the next day, Mr. Beatty's comments were "You're the answer to my prayer". There we met Fred Bridges, Richard Knight, Robert Eaton, Al Williams, Johnny Mills and Curtis Truesel. All of these guys wrote for us, including Lou Beatty who wrote "A Family" Part 1 and 2 and "We Gotta Work Together" and "Please Be Happy For Me". After we left LaBeat heading for Memphis, Fred Bridges, Richard Knight and Robert Eaton became "The Brothers of Soul".

How cool is that?????????????????? :lol: Jo

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Posted

rolleyes.gif

Ask him if he's anymore stories loike that to share :lol:

Has anyone seen A Family on another label other than Labeat?

Hi Chalky- A Family- :lol: came out on -Tower -too -Never seen one but it says so in the book you're getting :lol:yes.gif ATB Stevie
Posted (edited)

Hi Chalky- A Family- :D came out on -Tower -too -Never seen one but it says so in the book you're getting ranting_1.gif:D ATB Stevie

Thats the one Stevie. I've seen one wink.gif Will try and get a scan. Haven't got the book yet, JM doing his bestest for me :thumbsup::) Wonder how it came to be on Tower as well!

Edited by chalky
Guest vinylvixen
Posted

I will..........maybe he could have his own column - Our Man in Memphis :) He is one amazing bloke just like the rest of the Masqueraders........... ranting_1.gif

:thumbsup:

Ask him if he's anymore stories loike that to share
wink.gif

Has anyone seen
A Family
on another label other than Labeat?

Posted

ooh werent they fab @ northampton and such nice blokes too..proper ordinary joes..my heroes i met em and i hear me second fave group are on at the next northampton weekender....stick me on the dj list again paddy...pretty please lol ranting_1.gif

cookie :thumbsup:

Posted

ooh werent they fab @ northampton and such nice blokes too..proper ordinary joes..my heroes i met em and i hear me second fave group are on at the next northampton weekender....stick me on the dj list again paddy...pretty please lol ranting_1.gif

cookie :thumbsup:

ok then!!

Cheers

Paddy

Guest vinylvixen
Posted

ok then!!

Cheers

Paddy

Oooh me too...........pretty please........ :thumbsup: The Falcons..........HOW KEWL IS THAT??????????? and all the rest of the line-up BUT The Falcons..........I'm a Fool............ wink.gif Can't wait

Posted

I requested this info from Harold of the Masqueraders for some research that I'm doing. I thought it was so interesting, that I asked if he minded if I posted it on Soul Source........he was delighted :thumbsup: Read on.....

Now, I would like to tell you about "How". Johnny Mills and Curtis Truesel wrote the lyrics for "How"in 1966 at LaBeat Records. We were scheduled for an audition at Motown held by Mickey Stevenson. When we got to Detroit, he had left for Los Angeles to establish new headquarters. Since Mr. Stevenson had left before we got there, James Dean (who wrote "What Becomes Of A Broken Heart") auditioned us. Unfortunately, things did not work out for us--one of the main reasons was that we had no original songs other than "That's The Same Thing'" and "Talk About A Woman". As we were leaving Motown another Motown artist, Macmillian, followed us out and suggested that we make our way to the 20 Grand Club that night. On our way to the club we came across a four family flat with a microophone in the picture window.It intrigued us so we knocked on the door and explained that we were "The Masqueraders" from Texas and was looking for a place to record. The gentleman we spoke to was Ted Harris who invited us in to audition. After hearing us, he was very impressed and would let his boss, Mr. Lou Beatty know. Upon meeting Mr. Beatty the next day, Mr. Beatty's comments were "You're the answer to my prayer". There we met Fred Bridges, Richard Knight, Robert Eaton, Al Williams, Johnny Mills and Curtis Truesel. All of these guys wrote for us, including Lou Beatty who wrote "A Family" Part 1 and 2 and "We Gotta Work Together" and "Please Be Happy For Me". After we left LaBeat heading for Memphis, Fred Bridges, Richard Knight and Robert Eaton became "The Brothers of Soul".

How cool is that?????????????????? shhh.gif Jo

But Jo, did you ask the question we all need to know the answer too........

How Big Is Big?

Col :)biggrin.gif

Guest vinylvixen
Posted

But Jo, did you ask the question we all need to know the answer too........

How Big Is Big?

Col shhh.gif:thumbsup:

Col, I'm not a size queen but I did have a quick peek............oh, you didn't mean that :)biggrin.gif:D

Posted

taken from my review of the last N'ton Weekender

As the gig approached and the news of the live acts became known I was looking forward to my first ever 'weekender' appearance and watching some live stuff. The announcement that the Just Bros had been cancelled was a huge disappointment however the replacement group left me literally counting the hours and days, , the Mighty Masqueraders were coming to the UK and I'm on the same bill!!!!!

Its now I should tell you that 'How' is one of my all time favourite records, not a classic but a record that imho epitomises 1960's soul. Atmospheric? you can smell the Ford car plant in Detroit, who ever sang that record had a voice that has lived with me since the day I heard 'How' for the first time, would they sing it, would they remember the words...we would find out?

Met some of the old lads I hadn't seen for Donkeys, necked a few beers and watched this 70 year old black bloke sipping from a pint of lager, grey goatee beard probably no more than 9st and the biggest cowboy hat you've ever seen, I turned to my brother and said.."look at that ole bugger I bet he's the drummer in the backing band"

The room was hardly crammed but a nice atmosphere was building up, me I was dead excited would the Masquerders do 'How'..Enter Rob Moss who did an excellent job compeering the first part of the show, introducing the Adorables who waded into "Oh Boy" the left the stage for them to be hauled back on individually, Pat Lewis sang "cant' shake it loose", enter her Sister Diane who brilliantly sung her Wand recording "I thank you kindly" and enter a very nervous Betty Boo who did her very best to sing "say it isn't so" a bloody difficult song to sing at the best of times but with a few yells of "go on Betty go" from the crowd she got through it to rapturous applause, it was then it dawned on me just how good the backing band were, I turned to Brookey and said "you know what mate, HOW is a real possibility"

Next on Stage was Barbara Mercer who sang liked she'd been doing the circuit for the last 40years, I'm sure she sung "happiness is here but I had to go off to the bogs for wee as my prostrate had gone into overdrive for some bizarre reason, my it was looking forward to the Masqueraders as much as I were.

Enter Rob Moss again a great intro to the Maskies telling us how he met them in Memphis etc, etc they entered stage...and bugger me the old black dude with the goatee we had seen in the bar was one of them not only that but he was the lead singer on their first number..."HOW" the place went wild, I had goose bumps on my bell end, well I think they were goose bumps...on with "I got the Power" and then a slow un and finishing with "Do you love me baby" awesome, they sounded as if they were miming to the records, they were that good.

A short break to refuel with Kalibar and Chuck Jackson entered, a master of deliverance, described as Mr Everything by someone who I thought was the compere off Phoenix Nights.

He did a 90 min set churning out all his classics whilst interacting with the crowd telling them stories about Ready Steady go and the Rolling Stones, Edwin Starr and Smokey Robinson a truly wonderful showman however I could have done with a 60min set and more than four songs from the Masquerders they were so good.

Chuck Jackson finally left the stage singing Love lights it then dawned on me I had a job to and how the hell do I follow that?

HOW COOL IS THAT? :yes:

Posted

taken from my review of the last N'ton Weekender

As the gig approached and the news of the live acts became known I was looking forward to my first ever 'weekender' appearance and watching some live stuff. The announcement that the Just Bros had been cancelled was a huge disappointment however the replacement group left me literally counting the hours and days, , the Mighty Masqueraders were coming to the UK and I'm on the same bill!!!!!

Its now I should tell you that 'How' is one of my all time favourite records, not a classic but a record that imho epitomises 1960's soul. Atmospheric? you can smell the Ford car plant in Detroit, who ever sang that record had a voice that has lived with me since the day I heard 'How' for the first time, would they sing it, would they remember the words...we would find out?

Met some of the old lads I hadn't seen for Donkeys, necked a few beers and watched this 70 year old black bloke sipping from a pint of lager, grey goatee beard probably no more than 9st and the biggest cowboy hat you've ever seen, I turned to my brother and said.."look at that ole bugger I bet he's the drummer in the backing band"

The room was hardly crammed but a nice atmosphere was building up, me I was dead excited would the Masquerders do 'How'..Enter Rob Moss who did an excellent job compeering the first part of the show, introducing the Adorables who waded into "Oh Boy" the left the stage for them to be hauled back on individually, Pat Lewis sang "cant' shake it loose", enter her Sister Diane who brilliantly sung her Wand recording "I thank you kindly" and enter a very nervous Betty Boo who did her very best to sing "say it isn't so" a bloody difficult song to sing at the best of times but with a few yells of "go on Betty go" from the crowd she got through it to rapturous applause, it was then it dawned on me just how good the backing band were, I turned to Brookey and said "you know what mate, HOW is a real possibility"

Next on Stage was Barbara Mercer who sang liked she'd been doing the circuit for the last 40years, I'm sure she sung "happiness is here but I had to go off to the bogs for wee as my prostrate had gone into overdrive for some bizarre reason, my it was looking forward to the Masqueraders as much as I were.

Enter Rob Moss again a great intro to the Maskies telling us how he met them in Memphis etc, etc they entered stage...and bugger me the old black dude with the goatee we had seen in the bar was one of them not only that but he was the lead singer on their first number..."HOW" the place went wild, I had goose bumps on my bell end, well I think they were goose bumps...on with "I got the Power" and then a slow un and finishing with "Do you love me baby" awesome, they sounded as if they were miming to the records, they were that good.

A short break to refuel with Kalibar and Chuck Jackson entered, a master of deliverance, described as Mr Everything by someone who I thought was the compere off Phoenix Nights.

He did a 90 min set churning out all his classics whilst interacting with the crowd telling them stories about Ready Steady go and the Rolling Stones, Edwin Starr and Smokey Robinson a truly wonderful showman however I could have done with a 60min set and more than four songs from the Masquerders they were so good.

Chuck Jackson finally left the stage singing Love lights it then dawned on me I had a job to and how the hell do I follow that?

HOW COOL IS THAT? :yes:

Hi Paul

Always did love that review of yours!! May 2006 is gonna be a stunner!

How Cool Is That!

Cheers

Paddy

Guest vinylvixen
Posted

Hi Paul

Always did love that review of yours!! May 2006 is gonna be a stunner!

How Cool Is That!

Cheers

Paddy

Paddy, please feel free to use my 'strap line' on all forthcoming Northampton Weekender flyers and promotional material :yes::yes::lol::yes: From now on, Northampton will be know as the HOW COOL IS THAT WEEKENDER....@ Northampton.............. Just an idea :D Jo

Posted

Paddy, please feel free to use my 'strap line' on all forthcoming Northampton Weekender flyers and promotional material :shhh:wink.gif:Dlaugh.gif From now on, Northampton will be know as the HOW COOL IS THAT WEEKENDER....@ Northampton.............. Just an idea :D Jo

Hi Jo!!

Yes I like the sound of that!! Just off to tell the printers now!! :D

HOW COOL IS THAT!

Paddy


Posted

Hi Jo!!

Yes I like the sound of that!! Just off to tell the printers now!! :lol:

HOW COOL IS THAT!

Paddy

well.... HOW COOL IS THAT :(

PREFERED JO'S ORIGINAL SPELLIN THO......KEWL :shades:

:(

Guest vinylvixen
Posted

well.... HOW COOL IS THAT :(

PREFERED JO'S ORIGINAL SPELLIN THO......KEWL :lol:

:shades:

Don't be KREWL :( I've got a Tshirt for you....let me know when you're up in town next or let me have your home addy..........Jo

Posted

Hi Everyone

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to spend some time with Harold and Tex in Memphis. One of the things we did together was a 2 hour radio show on a Memphis public radio station. The show features Harold and Tex talking about their records including the story about La Beat and their aborted audition for Motown with plenty of music thrown in.

If anyone wants to hear the show then please drop me a line and I can burn it on to 2 CDs.

Please contact me direct colin.dilnot@btinternet.com

Cheers

Colin

Guest vinylvixen
Posted

Bumping this up to go hand in hand with Consad's Weekender news of the Masqueraders appearing at the Severn Soul Weekender......... :ohmy: Jo

Posted

Bumping this up to go hand in hand with Consad's Weekender news of the Masqueraders appearing at the Severn Soul Weekender......... :ohmy: Jo

Hi Jo

I must admit I am pleased we had them first in Northampton on October, but it is great to see the guys getting so much well deserved attention coming to Prestatyn and Brean Sands, really pleased for them :ohmy:

How cool is that!

Cheers

Paddy

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