J G Lewis / Johnny Gilliam

[Simon T]

Sort of a follow on from the post about another version of 'seven day lover' on IX Chains.

Dug out another record on the label today, J G Lewis - 'What Am I Gonna Do', which I think is very good (apart from the Sven 'Well's)

Then there's the not so good 'Dance Lady Dance' on Al + the Kid, old Sam spin

Plus a couple of good tracks by his elder identical twin, Johnny Louis Gilliam, 'Tell Your Friend It's Over' + 'Room Full Of Tears'.

Any others by them worth a mention?

[Chalky]

I always thought JG Lewis was Johnny Gilliam.

Always loved "Find Yourself Another"

Johnny_Gilliam___Find_Yourself_Another___Bo_Mar.mp3

Edited June 22, 2006 by chalky

[Guest in town Mikey]

How good is room full of tears?

[Them]

Try his another tune on IX chains, Let The Music Play... very good!

[Simon T]

Try his another tune on IX chains, Let The Music Play... very good!

Must have liked it once to have bought it, but not that much that I've forgot I have it! Bit of a plodder and far too many time he goes 'well'

[soulfulsaint]

When Wigan was its height I got lucky in life and got a scholarship to USA. Chose Washington DC and spent almost every free day walking the streets looking for rare local indie soul.

What is very strange about DC is that it has never matched Detroit or Chicago despite having a bigger black population. JG Lewis/Johnny Gilliam were part of the 70s DC scene and were still around when the Washington Go-Go scene broke internationally in the '80s. The connection was Max Kidd (of Al and the Kidd). Max had his greatest success as Trouble Funk's manager but had been a producer for Shrine Records and wrote for Eddie Day and the 4 Bars and for the Prophets. His side-kick Keni Lewis was the brains behin the Epsilons and may if my memory is right have been JG Lewis's uncle. (Andy Rix mght confrim or deny?)

One of my favourite memories was getting lucky in a housing project in SE Washington and spending a day with Clifton Dyson. Also met a DC Blossom too.

Convinced the real DC soul story has yet to be written.

[Simon T]

JG Lewis/Johnny Gilliam were part of the 70s DC scene and were still around when the Washington Go-Go scene broke internationally in the '80s. The connection was Max Kidd (of Al and the Kidd). Max had his greatest success as Trouble Funk's manager but had been a producer for Shrine Records and wrote for Eddie Day and the 4 Bars and for the Prophets. His side-kick Keni Lewis was the brains behin the Epsilons and may if my memory is right have been JG Lewis's uncle. (Andy Rix mght confrim or deny?)

The records on Cancer are prior to the IX Chains stuff, I presumed, and therefore, his true name is John Louis Gilliam? He decides to have a change of name to either get around a contractural obligation, or get a new stage name and Lewis is just a play on Louis. But as you elude to regarding the truth behind the DC story at the time anything could be the 'true story' Interesting how there so many stories and intrigue around so many soul artists of those times.

[Garethx]

Johnny Gilliam made tons of very good records. Personal favourites are "Won't Someone Help Me" on Cancer/Paula and the reverse of "Find Yourself...", "A Broken Hearted Man's Prayer" on BoMar. Don't forget also his great double sider on Modern, "Baby Take Me Back" / "I Want To Feel Like Someone".

[Harrogatesoul]

Great thread - Never realised Gilliam / Lewis were the same.

His ICA 45s are worth picking up - Shouldn't cost you more than 8 / 10 . ( Nice little label too - Margie Evans / David Dee / Vernon Garrett)

Tell Your Friend - Still a tenner after all these years - bargain.

The DC story I agree is one criminally untold - Andy Rix' fine Shrine piece in Shades Of Soul was a fantastic piece of soul detection and information ( Pre Googleite!) - Sure there is a rich history there.

ATB

Rich