Esquires Interview

[boba]

Hi. Today on my radio show I interviewed Sam Pace of the Esquires. Although they were from Milwaukee, the Esquires were one of the greatest Chicago soul groups, cutting many great records in Chicago in the 60s and 70s. The original lineup of the group consisted of brothers Alvis and Gilbert Moorer and their sister Betty Moorer. Sam Pace joined the group in the early 60s. The group actually first recorded as singers on an LP by a local Milwaukee rock group called the Bonnevilles. Around 1967, Sean Taylor joined and the group went to Chicago to look for a record deal. They took a demo of their song "Get on up" to different labels on Michigan avenue ("record row"), and ended up being signed by Bunky Sheppard at Constellation records.

The group went to the studio to re-cut "Get on up" and in the same session did backing vocals for Bunky's artist Mill Edwards (previously lead singer of the Sheppards). While recording "Get on up", Mill came up with the idea of the call-and-response bass answer in the song and ended up singing bass on the record. The record was released in 1967 on Sheppard's newly formed Bunky label and it became a huge national hit on both the R&B and Pop charts. Edwards became a permanent member of the group and they began to tour nationally. The group cut several excellent 45s for the Bunky label and even released a whole LP. Bunky Sheppard then placed recordings by the group on many other labels, including Wand, Capitol, Lamar, Rocky Ridge, Hot Line, and Ju-Par. "Girls in the City", the group's Lamar record, is, in my opinion, one of the greatest Chicago soul records of all time. In the late 70s a new lineup of the group released a record on Milwaukee's New World label and went to LA to cut tracks, two of which were released on Chicago's Lasco record label and two of which were released on the Esquires' own Cigar Man label. Although the group never released any material since 1980, they have continued to do shows and still perform today.

You can check on my interview at:

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/interviews.html

as a special bonus, I played all Esquires records for the rest of the show and included the tracks in the mp3.

thanks,

Bob

[Jumpinjoan]

Hi Bob,

Wow! Can't wait to have a listen later when I have enough time to appreciate it properly!

Can I just ask - is this the same Bonnevilles that recorded 'Play It Cool' on Now?

Also I have been meaning to say this for ages - there is something so magical about being able to hear these artists telling their own stories in their own words.

THANK YOU so much for sharing

[boba]

Hi Bob,

Wow! Can't wait to have a listen later when I have enough time to appreciate it properly!

Can I just ask - is this the same Bonnevilles that recorded 'Play It Cool' on Now?

Also I have been meaning to say this for ages - there is something so magical about being able to hear these artists telling their own stories in their own words.

THANK YOU so much for sharing

Thanks for the feedback, not the same bonnevilles, this was a garage group from Milwaukee, the play it cool group was a vocal group from DC. Thanks again.

[Sebastian]

Haven't had time to listen to the interview yet, but will do as soon as I can. Looks great!

Don't know if it is mentioned in the interview, but if not:

Do you know how the "When I'm Ready" track off the Esquires LP ended up being released as Mill Evans on TOU-SEA? Was the LP or the 45 first?

Edited August 25, 2008 by Sebastian

[boba]

Haven't had time to listen to the interview yet, but will do as soon as I can. Looks great!

Don't know if it is mentioned in the interview, but if not:

Do you know how the "When I'm Ready" track off the Esquires LP ended up being released as Mill Evans on TOU-SEA? Was the LP or the 45 first?

I don't know, but I'm guessing the LP was first. Bunky placed a lot of the earlier recorded material as b-sides on later singles. I will hopefully interview Mill Edwards soon (just about the Sheppards) and I will ask him. Thanks.

[Jumpinjoan]

I don't know, but I'm guessing the LP was first. Bunky placed a lot of the earlier recorded material as b-sides on later singles. I will hopefully interview Mill Edwards soon (just about the Sheppards) and I will ask him. Thanks.

Great!

Have got the LP and the single so look forward to finding out as I have always wondered about this also.

This is what's so great about this site!

[Chalky]

must get this one downloaded and onto the player, all the interviews very interesting and informative and no doubt this one no different. Got the lp and few singles myself, will dig them out and have a listen today along with the interview.