The Andantes in Chicago

[G F]

Here's a short clip of an interview with Louvaine Demps - one of The Andantes. She mentions going to Chicago to record for a guy named (what sounds like) Al Trevishaw.

Do you know anything about Al and the recordings he was involved in?

 

Any info' would be very much appreciated.

[Gilly]

The Andantes and 4th member Pat Lewis backed every track on Jackie Wilsons Higher and Higher LP to my knowledge 

[G F]

Thanks

Louvaine also mentioned recording for Abner (at VeeJay) in Chicago.

She said Pat Lewis joined them on various sessions - especially after 65-ish when Motown said they didn't want the three women to do sessions for anyone else. I'm not sure Louvaine was on that Jackie Wilson LP, as she said that she complied. 

I'm not sure what they/she sang on at VeeJay. 

[Gilly]

The Andantes did so much moonlighting, Popcorn Wylie was a close friend of mine and he used them often. It anoys me that Berry Gordy's book To Be Loved only mentioned the Andantes group once and the musicians didn't get the credit they deserved either 

[G F]

Yes - Louvain talks about how angry she was when Motown left for LA. She only found out the day they actually left. Hopefully I can get the interview edited fairly soon and uploaded to YouTube.

[Kenb]

coincidentally...i was reading a 45cat post yesterday that said "Joe Hunter arranged a trip (for Andantes) to Chicago to work on a session with Jerry Butler" on "Just A Little Bit". That release was 1963 on VeeJay.

You may already know this of-course, but just in case, thought it may help.

 

[G F]

48 minutes ago, Kenb said:

coincidentally...i was reading a 45cat post yesterday that said "Joe Hunter arranged a trip (for Andantes) to Chicago to work on a session with Jerry Butler" on "Just A Little Bit". That release was 1963 on VeeJay.

You may already know this of-course, but just in case, thought it may help.

 

Thanks - I didn't know. Funnily enough, I was just looking through the VeeJay listing and trying to guess which song they may have sung on. I listened to a few Jerry Butler recordings, but not that one! Luvain said Mary Wilson (Supremes) joined them.

[Robbk]

10 hours ago, G F said:

Thanks - I didn't know. Funnily enough, I was just looking through the VeeJay listing and trying to guess which song they may have sung on. I listened to a few Jerry Butler recordings, but not that one! Luvain said Mary Wilson (Supremes) joined them.

All of the Motown people seeking outside work had an in with VJ when Barrett Strong worked there as a major songwriter and assistant producer, during late 1962-64.

[G F]

Thanks, Robb. Any idea who Al is - the guy Louvain mentioned? 

[Robbk]

11 hours ago, G F said:

Thanks, Robb. Any idea who Al is - the guy Louvain mentioned? 

The name Trebishaw rings a bell in my distant memory.  But, I'm not sure where I heard it, or if it was linked to a new car dealership (in its title).  I also can't connect it at all to being involved in financing music recording projects.  Maybe he did some of his own car sales TV commercials, saying, "Hi!  I'm Al Trebishaw.  Here at (Chicago Suburb name)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ford, or Chevrolet, or Buick,..etc.  We're bustin' with bargains on our last year's models!"  But I don't remember his surname being in a dealership title.  Maybe he was a silent partner in a small Chicago record label or two.  I can't remember where I heard it.  But it's an unusual name, the kind that sticks in the mind.  Like Debrackishaw.  We should ask The Yank if he remembers him having a car dealership.

Edited February 18 by Robbk

[G F]

17 minutes ago, Robbk said:

 We should ask The Yank if he remembers him having a car dealership.

Hopefully he sees this thread.

The name doesn't mean a thing to me, but it sounds like The Andantes went to Chicago a few times at Al's request.

[The Yank]

I've been following this thread- the name doesn't ring a bell with me though. If I do find anything out, I'll post it. 

[G F]

10 hours ago, The Yank said:

I've been following this thread- the name doesn't ring a bell with me though. If I do find anything out, I'll post it. 

Thanks for letting me know.

I'm not sure why I don't think of this before, but I've reached out to Louvain. I'll let you know if/when I hear back from her.

[Kenb]

i don't know why, or where i got this name from, but i started to think of Travis Hall. Hope i'm not sending you down a rat hole.

[G F]

On 19/02/2025 at 17:18, Kenb said:

i don't know why, or where i got this name from, but i started to think of Travis Hall. Hope i'm not sending you down a rat hole.

I haven't heard back from Louvain and decided to put the interview on YouTube -- I'll post a new thread about that.

[Soulfulsolutions]

Stumbled across this guy posting up a couple of label scans of the Andantes on the Chic-a-go label. Might support some the questions in this string

Edited 15 hours ago by Soulfulsolutions

[The Yank]

Are you sure this is the same group ??

[Milo761847]

https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2019/01/the-pride-of-regina-andantes_29.html

[The Yank]

In her book "Dreamgirl", Mary writes about going to Chicago with James Jamerson, Joe Hunter, Hank Cosby and the Andantes for session work. She's mentions working with Jerry Butler on "A Teenie Weenie Bit Of Your Love' (aka "Just A Little Bit") and John Lee Hooker on "Boom Boom". The problem with the last one is that there are no backup singers. Is this the song she was thinking of ??

 

[G F]

1 hour ago, The Yank said:

In her book "Dreamgirl", Mary writes about going to Chicago with James Jamerson, Joe Hunter, Hank Cosby and the Andantes for session work. She's mentions working with Jerry Butler on "A Teenie Weenie Bit Of Your Love' (aka "Just A Little Bit") and John Lee Hooker on "Boom Boom". The problem with the last one is that there are no backup singers. Is this the song she was thinking of ??

It could be that John Lee Hooker recording.

'Boom Boom' as cut at United Sound in Detroit - Joe talks about that in my interview. 

 

[Milo761847]

Another group nothing to do with the Motown Andantes

https://wnyfm.wordpress.com/tag/levi-ruffin-jr/

[Kenb]

1 hour ago, Milo761847 said:

Another group nothing to do with the Motown Andantes

https://wnyfm.wordpress.com/tag/levi-ruffin-jr/

[Robbk]

There was also a Surf guitar instrumental group named The Andantes, who recorded for a tiny local label, and picked up by Dot records in 1963.  I think I seem to remember that there was yet another Andantes group.