"simon Soussan" Update ?

[Dave Thorley]

Here a few more pics of the said man

[Tfk]

Thing is (luckly for us) the"scene"wouldn´t have been anything without the wide variety of"characters"that frequented it !

Say(or think)what you like throughout it´s history the northern scene has been riddled with thieves,rip off merchants and downright nasty bastards!like it or not..FACT.................is without them there would have been no scene!

!. look at the promoters-just in it for the music?keep the faith or take the money,

2 record dealers-just in it for the music?keep the faith take the money

3The drug dealers--Just in it or the money..............sure-but keep the faith anyway

4 The public

Just in it for the music?...................not really think about the drugs,the crack the good times the friends we made along the way,

Why pick on Soussan? he was /maybe still is one of many who saw a chance and took it -something wrong with that? and luckily for a lot of people had a fucking good ear for good sounds,that we all enjoyed

and maybe that is one thing that seperates our scene from many others and has kept it going so long.......... the intensity, not just overnight, ongoing warts and all

just get on with it....lifes too short

(just a side note) when i was younger i wrote to Soussan asking him if i could be an agent/seller for him ....just in it for the music.....don´be silly! there was an opportunity to be had(so i thought) i was probably seventeen or eighteen at the time so got ignored but i think there were enough people who benefited from his knowledge that are ,if you like respected on "the scene"today...........you know who you are

accept it Soussan was a major player on an exceptional scene

Steve

Well put and spot on re Simon Soussan-hey guys like SS were one of the many many ingrediants that made it all mystiac/exciting and great fun in those early days -always makes me smile when i hear folks still remembering him sometimes good sometimes bad and sometimes ugly but hey "a true legend" ...

right on right on!!!

ktf tfk

Edited December 16, 2012 by tfk

[Robbk]

I have a USA phone number for him from around 2000 - starts 001 310 ( does this tell you where it is in the States?)

That tells me that he was still living in Beverly Hills in 2000. I wonder if he was still producing music? Not being into "modern" music, I wouldn't have a clue.

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

Thing is (luckly for us) the"scene"wouldn´t have been anything without the wide variety of"characters"that frequented it !

Say(or think)what you like throughout it´s history the northern scene has been riddled with thieves,rip off merchants and downright nasty bastards!like it or not..FACT.................is without them there would have been no scene!

!. look at the promoters-just in it for the music?keep the faith or take the money,

2 record dealers-just in it for the music?keep the faith take the money

3The drug dealers--Just in it or the money..............sure-but keep the faith anyway

4 The public

Just in it for the music?...................not really think about the drugs,the crack the good times the friends we made along the way,

Why pick on Soussan? he was /maybe still is one of many who saw a chance and took it -something wrong with that? and luckily for a lot of people had a fucking good ear for good sounds,that we all enjoyed

and maybe that is one thing that seperates our scene from many others and has kept it going so long.......... the intensity, not just overnight, ongoing warts and all

just get on with it....lifes too short

(just a side note) when i was younger i wrote to Soussan asking him if i could be an agent/seller for him ....just in it for the music.....don´be silly! there was an opportunity to be had(so i thought) i was probably seventeen or eighteen at the time so got ignored but i think there were enough people who benefited from his knowledge that are ,if you like respected on "the scene"today...........you know who you are

accept it Soussan was a major player on an exceptional scene

Steve

Was thinking not disimilar things myself,because despite his awful shady past,and I am not lessening it - he rose far above all that and had a tremendous influence of the US music scene,ie disco.He was a very charismatic and talented person with a natural "gift" for music and his northern soul part,came through on the many productions.I enjoyed reading Patti Brooks interview.He tried to keep the whole thing exciting to a pounding beat and each singer he chose sang soulfully.That he did influence the northern scene is undeniable.A fascinating character described by Ian D as a "chameleon".Strange how he seems to have just...disappeared.

Did'nt someone on here say his wife was called "Sabrina"?

[Robbk]

was he married when he was in LA? If so, anyone know the name of his wife?

Yes, he was still married when in L.A. (at least as late as 1982, when i last saw him. But, I don't remember her name. But how many Soussans would be living in Beverly Hills? It would probably be easy enough to track her down.

[Robbk]

Was thinking not disimilar things myself,because despite his awful shady past,and I am not lessening it - he rose far above all that and had a tremendous influence of the US music scene,ie disco.He was a very charismatic and talented person with a natural "gift" for music and his northern soul part,came through on the many productions.I enjoyed reading Patti Brooks interview.He tried to keep the whole thing exciting to a pounding beat and each singer he chose sang soulfully.That he did influence the northern scene is undeniable.A fascinating character described by Ian D as a "chameleon".Strange how he seems to have just...disappeared.

Did'nt someone on here say his wife was called "Sabrina"?

That rings a bell. But too many years have gone by for me to be sure.

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

That tells me that he was still living in Beverly Hills in 2000. I wonder if he was still producing music? Not being into "modern" music, I wouldn't have a clue.

Strange thing to say,Robbie "Not being into "modern" music, I wouldn't have a clue." ....Airwave.....

[Guest sharmo 1]

Well put and spot on re SS... right on right on there Steve

ktf tfk

Hi there steve how you doing boyo ? not everyones in it for the dough you know mate a lot of people have lost a lot of dough promoting nights ect and some are most certainly in it for the music, not defending myself here but we run a small r-n-b night in derby and i've roughly lost around £450.00 this year .we'll be back next year doing it again.Regarding record dealers yes some are money minded but a lot like myself like finding new vibes ect and some buy and sell a few to fund collecting , I've recently had my last years book's done and it's no secret I've lost some dough this year but i'll be at the Irish tonight humping heavy box's up and down stairs and probably take nowt again , still be doing it next year dosn't make economic scence really but i do like finding new and strange sounds for the lads ( and Lasses ofcource ) regards Simon.

[Robbk]

Strange thing to say,Robbie "Not being into "modern" music, I wouldn't have a clue." ....Airwave.....

Ha! Ha! I was very frustrated at Airwave, trying to get Tom to make '60s Soul productions, and watching them turn into "Post Disco" and late '70s style Soul mid-tempos and ballads. The nearest we got to what i like was a few excellent cuts by Don Level and Angela Carol Brown, that sound like they could have come from any era. But those never got pressed on vinyl. They only reached the demo tape stage. If I'd have known anything about "modern Soul"and had any kind of feeling for it, maybe we'd have made more money.

I see now what you mean....Through my contacts in the music industry in L.A. (especially as Airwave was involved in the Disco/Dance Club scene) I should have known what Soussan was doing. That was true through mid 1984, until Airwave shut down, due to Tom's cancer incapacitating him. At that time, I knew that Sossan was still in L.A. producing Disco and 'Modern soul". But, after Airwave went down, I had absolutely nothing, whatsoever, to do with current music, living mostly in Holland, and working for Dutch Disney Publications. After Tom died in 1984, I had no contact with any L.A. music industry people. So, I had no idea whether or not Soussan stayed there and continued producing music. My only contact with music-related dealings was a once-a year visit to Rod Shard and Dave Withers, and stopping off at Soul Bowl on the way, and sometimes visiting John Manship.

I got into the music industry too late for anything but nostalgic oldies projects, like "From The Vaults" at Motown, and providing occasional advisory input on Motown, Detroit and Chicago CD projects.

Edited December 15, 2012 by RobbK

[Ian Dewhirst]

Did'nt someone on here say his wife was called "Sabrina"?

Yep, his wife was called Sabrina. I actually went to the wedding......

Ian D

[Guest Mrs Simsy]

There's a Simon Soussan based in California on LinkedIn...

[Ian Dewhirst]

Ha! Ha! I was very frustrated at Airwave, trying to get Tom to make '60s Soul productions, and watching them turn into "Post Disco" and late '70s style Soul mid-tempos and ballads. The nearest we got to what i like was a few excellent cuts by Don Level and Angela Carol Brown, that sound like they could have come from any era. But those never got pressed on vinyl. They only reached the demo tape stage. If I'd have known anything about "modern Soul"and had any kind of feeling for it, maybe we'd have made more money.

That was probably the wrong time to be making records in L.A. Robb, especially for a little indie. The New York labels were really doing it in the early to mid 80's and probably had a better base and distribution for black/dance music generally. Also, something else I noticed from that era, is that TONS of L.A. independents never made it out of California and almost never into the UK via the main importers. I also thought decent distribution was patchy for the indies in the 80's. When Prioirty/Ruthless came along in the 90's things got much more accessible and national hits started happening again.......

Who's got the catalogue these days out of interest...?

Ian D

[Robbk]

That was probably the wrong time to be making records in L.A. Robb, especially for a little indie. The New York labels were really doing it in the early to mid 80's and probably had a better base and distribution for black/dance music generally. Also, something else I noticed from that era, is that TONS of L.A. independents never made it out of California and almost never into the UK via the main importers. I also thought decent distribution was patchy for the indies in the 80's. When Prioirty/Ruthless came along in the 90's things got much more accessible and national hits started happening again.......

Who's got the catalogue these days out of interest...?

Ian D

Hi Ian,

We owed a LOT of money, so our largest creditor had first rights to it. We declared bankruptcy, so I didn't really look into who ended up with it (I wasn't going to be affected). I don't know if Terry Brown ended up giving up the master tapes (I assume that he did).

[Ian Dewhirst]

Hi Ian,We owed a LOT of money, so our largest creditor had first rights to it. We declared bankruptcy, so I didn't really look into who ended up with it (I wasn't going to be affected). I don't know if Terry Brown ended up giving up the master tapes (I assume that he did).

Mmm. Just wondered really. Some of the releases seem to hold their own on Discogs.....

The Soussan connection was probably all my fault as I introduced Simon to Tom following a meeting I had with Tom when he was @ Motown. I would never have got through the door had Tom not talked to me in Motown's reception and he was the first guy to see the potential in "Uptown Festival" by Shalamar......

Ian D

Edited December 15, 2012 by Ian Dewhirst

[Peter99]

Mmm. Just wondered really. Some of the releases seem to hold their own on Discogs.....

The Soussan connection was probably all my fault as I introduced Simon to Tom following a meeting I had with Tom when he was @ Motown.

Ian D

You ought to be ashamed of yourself Mr D.

Peter

[Robbk]

Mmm. Just wondered really. Some of the releases seem to hold their own on Discogs.....

The Soussan connection was probably all my fault as I introduced Simon to Tom following a meeting I had with Tom when he was @ Motown. I would never have got through the door had Tom not talked to me in Motown's reception and he was the first guy to see the potential in "Uptown Festival" by Shalamar......

Ian D

So, YOU'RE the guy who kept ME from ending up with "our" copy of "Do I Love You", eh?

Ha! Ha! Well, it was probably originally,"lifted" from Motown, anyway. Tom said that he found it among several other 45s and "assorted junk" in a cardboard box that someone at Motown was throwing away. He asked if he could keep the records, and the person told him yes, as they were going to toss all of it, anyway. I wonder how many people believe that story?

But then, I believe Ron Murphy's story that he found store stock test pressings of, The Andantes on VIP and several other 1964-67 Motown pulled records among hits in a box that was going to be thrown away at a Detroit pressing plant. They had been the reference press run demos kept by the plant for future runs. The current workers in the plant in 1972 didn't know that some of them had been "pulled" and were very valuable. They had to clear shelf space, and couldn't waste space with "ancient jobs". So, one never knows what weird circumstances can occur in this zany World.

Edited December 16, 2012 by RobbK

[boba]

There's a Simon Soussan based in California on LinkedIn...

this is the photo on that profile

[Pauldonnelly]

there is some archive audio somewhere of Soussan DJing live @ Wigan...

Trust me don't go looking for it..

Edited December 16, 2012 by PaulDonnelly

[Robbk]

this is the photo on that profile

That looks like it could be him. IF SO, apparently, changing his morals and living a highly-moral, pious life agreed with him. He looks much calmer. more content, less harried. and no longer weary and haggard, as he looked in the photos above (incredibly, at a much younger age).

[KevH]

Yep, his wife was called Sabrina. I actually went to the wedding......

Ian D

What did you get them?

[Simsy]

What did you get them?

Selectadisc vouchers maybe?

[Jim Ohara]

My best mate works in the music business in LA and used to do some stuff with legendary US producer Richard Perry (google him he has worked with most people in the industry)

I will be talking to my mate tonight on the phone and will get him to ask around about SS

Will post back if I get any joy

Jim

[Ian Dewhirst]

this is the photo on that profile

That's not the Simon Soussan I knew......

Ian D

[Robbk]

That's not the Simon Soussan I knew......

Ian D

Yes! He has some resemblance. Perhaps a distant relative? How many different Soussan families could there be? They probably are all at least distantly related. I had the feeling that this second fellow looked too young to be "Our" Simon. He looked too healthy and content, and too "at ease". The Simon we knew should still be skinny and should, by now, be much older-looking. He'd have a much narrower face, and probably still have a decent amount of hair on the top of his head.

[Northernguy]

https://www.mylife.com/c-1812850717

[Steve G]

Yes! He has some resemblance. Perhaps a distant relative? How many different Soussan families could there be? They probably are all at least distantly related. I had the feeling that this second fellow looked too young to be "Our" Simon. He looked too healthy and content, and too "at ease". The Simon we knew should still be skinny and should, by now, be much older-looking. He'd have a much narrower face, and probably still have a decent amount of hair on the top of his head.

That's a French "IT" guy who works for Cap Gemini in France and California though. He'd probably be horrified to be linked with THE Simon Soussan.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Steve G

[Ian Dewhirst]

That's a French "IT" guy who works for Cap Gemini in France and California though. He'd probably be horrified to be linked with THE Simon Soussan.

That's an unfortunate identical name to have isn't it?

Ian D

[Ian Dewhirst]

It's pretty funny that on a scene which prides itself on finding obscure musicians who no one has ever heard of, it seems so difficult to track down a successful record producer from the 1970's?

Maybe he doesn't want to be found ay?

Ian D

[Sean Hampsey]

Here's SS on the Telly!

A Soul Train episode from March '79.

The late Don Cornelius called him a 'dear friend' 'a pioneer' and the 'Mad Producer'.

Sean

[Northern Soul Uk]

I know at one time he lived in Holbeck, Leeds, in the flats at the end of the street where I lived. Either Meynel Hights or Holbeck towers. Never went to his place though.

[boba]

It's pretty funny that on a scene which prides itself on finding obscure musicians who no one has ever heard of, it seems so difficult to track down a successful record producer from the 1970's?

please, most people couldn't google their way to aretha franklin

[Roburt]

please, most people couldn't google their way to aretha franklin

You're wrong there Bob.

I googled her & quickly learnt that she's the illegitimate daughter of Ben Franklin ... now I never knew that !!

[Philippe]

It's pretty funny that on a scene which prides itself on finding obscure musicians who no one has ever heard of, it seems so difficult to track down a successful record producer from the 1970's?

The name is not that unusual, there are a few here in France having an official phone number : https://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pagesblanches/RecherchePagesBlanchesExpress.do?portail=PJ

But how many others ?

[Northernjordan]

Has any one tried asking around or searching for his other alias in LA? Michel Saossane or whatever it was?

[Benji]

Has any one tried asking around or searching for his other alias in LA? Michel Saossane or whatever it was?

I googled "Michel Saossane or whatever it was" but no result.

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

this is the photo on that profile

Sorry Bob,I don't think this is him....it's not possible to change THAT much !! Especially as he had become very ill....if the stories have any truth to them...

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

That's not the Simon Soussan I knew......

Ian D

Ah ian,I'm glad someone else shares my view -that's not him

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

The name is not that unusual, there are a few here in France having an official phone number : https://www.pagesjaun...s.do?portail=PJ

But how many others ?

donc ?

[Northernjordan]

I googled "Michel Saossane or whatever it was" but no result.

Oh ok, i just copied the spelling from the earlier thread.... Maybe some one has the correct spelling of hios other name...

[KevH]

Ok. Enough's enough.I am Simon Soussan.

[spot]

The first thing I ever heard of him was that his parents owned a fish shop in Goole.

kegsy

Untrue, I've lived in Goole most of my life & I'm sure I'd have remembered him, now maybe when Frank & Soul Sam etc brought the NS Roadshow to Goole he hitched a lift, even then I'd still remember him, now Martin Koppell he lived in Airmyn village, Goole before heading out to Canada btw Martin you still owe me £12 for that Salvadores Green Boot you tried to palm me off with.

Take care, be safe & remember," Have yourselves a merry little Christmas & keep your hand on your wallet",

Spot.

[boba]

Sorry Bob,I don't think this is him....it's not possible to change THAT much !! Especially as he had become very ill....if the stories have any truth to them...

yeah, i don't know him or what he really looks like, just posting the photo on that profile. thanks.

[Robbk]

https://www.mylife.com/c-1812850717

There are 4 Shlomo Soussans and 2 Simon Soussans on that service. Soussan MUST be a Sephardic Jewish family name. So, it's a decent bet that Simon was born a French or Moroccan Sephardic Jew. It's interesting to me that he is rumoured to have turned ultra religious, and yet is socialising and networking on Facebook. He should be hanging around his local synagogue, reading The Torah, The Mishna, and sitting around discussing with the other elders, the sayings of the great rabbis.

[Steve G]

Is there a prize for being the first person to find him or something?

[boba]

Is there a prize for being the first person to find him or something?

you get his record collection which he has abandoned due to his newfound spiritualism

[Steve G]

you get his record collection which he has abandoned due to his newfound spiritualism

young man, I am old enough to remmeber one night at the end of the 1970's when his record collection appeared one night at a nighter in a big box courtesy of let me see Les McCutcheon maybe. A lot of interest and a queue to look, but compared to nowadays and the knowledge we have now - not that much to slaver about really Bob.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Steve G

[Mr Soul]

I remember, Max,told a tale when he popped in the shop,at downtown Wednesfield,to have a chat,a week later at the cats,tunes, to blow your mind,Thema Lindsey,the whispers Dr love,Wombat, west coast Detroit,philly, Christ that was a good year,late 73,ken and john will verify,myself I have dealings,through Bob catteneo,no I didn't get burned,a true character,whom this scene would surely miss,granted coments on here about his own collection,and by todays standards,just don't really compare in my eyes,it was harder then,i feel,todays ebay conquests,no comparison with the long trawl through endless pieces of wax,to find one,or a count box of 25,when you had the dosh,you couldn't find that long lost gem,now if you have the means,there is something turning up weekly.

[Ian Dewhirst]

young man, I am old enough to remmeber one night at the end of the 1970's when his record collection appeared one night at a nighter in a big box courtesy of let me see Les McCutcheon maybe. A lot of interest and a queue to look, but compared to nowadays and the knowledge we have now - not that much to slaver about really Bob.

His original L.A. collection, or the bits I saw of it, was phenomenal as you'd expect. All perfectly alphabetised so he could lay his hands on a record quickly. Quite often I'd find a tune in L.A. and ring him about it and within seconds he'd have his own copy in his hands from his cupboards. He only really liked 100mph traditional Northern Soul and was very dismissive of anything mid-tempo, funky or crossover as we now know it. However, he'd usually have a reference copy of most things to hand. On the odd occasion when I was at his place and he was on the phone in the other room I'd start looking through his shelves and just staring at stuff I'd never seen before and then he'd come back in the room and say, "what ze f*ck are you doing"? That's my collection and no one is allowed to see it" and then slam the sliding door to the cupboard shut almost trapping my fingers.......

He also made a point of taking multiple copies of the same record from any finds, so he could locate the best copy 'for his collection'. The famous story is that when Kev found the Casualeers on an L.A. record dig with Simon, Simon took all 50 copies as he 'had to have the cleanest copy'. Naturally Kev never saw the other 49 Casualeers ever again.

Ian D

Edited December 18, 2012 by Ian Dewhirst

[Steve G]

So the box I saw was no more than 500 - all the big titles - wonder who had the rest? It was broked as "Soussan's collection".

[Guest UPTITE U250A]

There are 4 Shlomo Soussans and 2 Simon Soussans on that service. Soussan MUST be a Sephardic Jewish family name. So, it's a decent bet that Simon was born a French or Moroccan Sephardic Jew. It's interesting to me that he is rumoured to have turned ultra religious, and yet is socialising and networking on Facebook. He should be hanging around his local synagogue, reading The Torah, The Mishna, and sitting around discussing with the other elders, the sayings of the great rabbis.

Very astute but can that really be him on Facebook then?