The Me-o Label

[Robbk]

10 hours ago, DMC said:

Not an uncommon occurrence, so that could be the case. Also to consider is that many times the name of the act that appears on a 45 is not the actual performing name a particular group used, so the fact that many Detroit folks have not heard of the Tootsie Rollers or the Martiniques could be caused by that.

That is likely for The Tootsie Rollers.  But, it is not for The Martiniques, whose "Unknown Love" on Danceland records in 1963, and "Broken Hearted Me" in 1964, charted regionally, and gave the group a big following.  They were successful playing clubs in the region.  Unknown Love" did so well, regionally, that Roulette Records picked it up for national distribution, and it charted, and became a minor hit nationally.  The Martiniques were very well known in The Detroit Metro Area.

[The Yank]

I guess they pushed both sides of the 45  ("Tonight Is Just Another Night"/ "Unknown Love") - 

 

[Robbk]

1 hour ago, the yank said:

I guess they pushed both sides of the 45  ("Tonight Is Just Another Night"/ "Unknown Love") - 

 

Yes, it was a two-sided hit.  Both were played in Chicago.  I saw a lot more copies on Danceland than on Roulette.  But, in L.A. there were a lot more on Roulette.

[Blackpoolsoul]

6 hours ago, RobbK said:

That is likely for The Tootsie Rollers.  But, it is not for The Martiniques, whose "Unknown Love" on Danceland records in 1963, and "Broken Hearted Me" in 1964, charted regionally, and gave the group a big following.  They were successful playing clubs in the region.  Unknown Love" did so well, regionally, that Roulette Records picked it up for national distribution, and it charted, and became a minor hit nationally.  The Martiniques were very well known in The Detroit Metro Area.

1962 Robb (on Roulette)

[Blackpoolsoul]

7 hours ago, RobbK said:

That is likely for The Tootsie Rollers.  But, it is not for The Martiniques, whose "Unknown Love" on Danceland records in 1963, and "Broken Hearted Me" in 1964, charted regionally, and gave the group a big following.  They were successful playing clubs in the region.  Unknown Love" did so well, regionally, that Roulette Records picked it up for national distribution, and it charted, and became a minor hit nationally.  The Martiniques were very well known in The Detroit Metro Area.

Robb

I found this article and wondered if you or someone perhaps could contact Sammy ,lovelanemusic@gmail.com, who will possibly know more to help

https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/artist-interviews/music-gateway-speaks-with-sammy-kaplan-from-lovelane-music-publishing

Edited April 23, 2019 by Blackpoolsoul
Contact

[Robbk]

23 hours ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

Robb

I found this article and wondered if you or someone perhaps could contact Sammy ,lovelanemusic@gmail.com, who will possibly know more to help

https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/artist-interviews/music-gateway-speaks-with-sammy-kaplan-from-lovelane-music-publishing

Wow!  Morris Kaplan's kid!!  He certainly should know the answers to some of our questions!  He was old enough to have known a lot about his father's operation from 1962-1966.  And he was probably involved directly, by that time.

Edited April 24, 2019 by RobbK

[Derek Pearson]

On Romeo Taylor (RTM-1) the yellow label states From the movie “Night Of The Devil” which should help to date the release?

And for a bit more information Discogs lists 5 releases on the label https://www.discogs.com/label/724670-Me-O-Records whereas 45cat mentions 6   https://www.45cat.com/label/meo

Whether all these 45's mentioned are linked to the label under discussion who knows?

Derek

[Robbk]

5 hours ago, Derek Pearson said:

On Romeo Taylor (RTM-1) the yellow label states From the movie “Night Of The Devil” which should help to date the release?

And for a bit more information Discogs lists 5 releases on the label https://www.discogs.com/label/724670-Me-O-Records whereas 45cat mentions 6   https://www.45cat.com/label/meo

Whether all these 45's mentioned are linked to the label under discussion who knows?

Derek

Of course all 5 records are on the same Me-O Records that was owned by Romeo Taylor.  His name and his personal music publishing company, Rocarmeo Music, is listed on all 5.  The Martiniques was recorded in 1965 (not sure if it was released that early.  The Tootsie Rollers sounds like 1965 or 1966.  The Richard Wright sounds like 1965.  I'm guessing that the other two were probably recorded between 1968 and 1972.  They have a much later sound than the first 3 in the 1000 series.  As I stated before, I think Taylor brought The Martiniques' and Tootsie Rollers' recordings with him from Detroit, and released them later, on his L.a. label. 

Edited April 30, 2019 by Robbk

[Pterodactyl]

Just wanted to chime in to let you know I found a WLP copy of The Martineques in Toledo, Ohio this past weekend the 9th of June, 2024.  
 Not sure if that says anything more about the source of this label, or at least the musical group. 
Just my 2 cents.       Terry

[Chalky]

Just in case anyone missed this article I did, it covers what we do know about the Martiniques. 

 

[Frankie Crocker]

15 hours ago, Pterodactyl said:

Just wanted to chime in to let you know I found a WLP copy of The Martineques in Toledo, Ohio this past weekend the 9th of June, 2024.  
 Not sure if that says anything more about the source of this label, or at least the musical group. 
Just my 2 cents.       Terry

Spotted your record for sale on eBay - much interest in it so you should do well. Great track and wanted by many in the UK and Europe. Well done on this rare find.

[George G]

Here are two stories about Romeo Taylor from the Toledo Blade newspaper. I don't think the Just Taylor record has been mentioned. Based on these stories he moved to Los Angeles way before 1965. I don't trust the 1960 date but he had left before 1964,,,,and clearly kept his Toledo connections.

[Kenb]

Indeed, Romeo Taylor had a varied business & personal life. In 1958 OHIO there was a YMCA free teens club dance contest.Couples leaving the floor when the period within which their birthday was called, leaving just one couple on the floor. Romeo Taylor for the boys and Gloria Jones for the girls.

During 1969 to 1970 Romeo was also connected by at least 4 shared addresses (albeit temporary) in Los Angeles to John Rhodes, Muriel & William Earl Brown, and Charles R. Green. The later of which was from OHIO  and served in the Soutwest Pacific during WW2. All 4 had been exec's in a firm called Southwest Enterrises in L.A. and had shared addresess with Romeo. Muriel M. Brown 'was (had been) in the business' as a director, stager,writer of theatre productions.

As for Marteniques band members.....Donald Revels was a member, and was definitely known to Andy Alonzo because they both got together with Nick Marinelli & Stuart Avig to 'reform' what became a later line-up of Shades of Blue for a valentines concert in 2005.

Tootsie Rollers- 10 Pin bowling teams, candy bars from N.J ( at least Tootsie Roll), clowns, etc...but no sight of a group. (suspect Romeo himself invloved, T.R  R.T)

Edited June 18 by Kenb
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