Ramblers, Was There A Detroit Connection ?

[Dave Thorley]

Just had a look at the rare Atlanta release from the group and noticed that the arrangements are by John Rhys. So did John originally come from Atlanta or was this recorded in Detroit. Anyone know the story ?

Edited February 11, 2009 by Dave Thorley

[Guest Craig A Butler]

Just had a look at the rare Atlanta release from the group and noticed that the arrangements are by John Rhys. So did John originally come from Atlanta or was this recorded in Detroit. Anyone know the story ?

Dave,

It is arranged by John Rhys, but apart from that I don't know.

ATB, Craig

[Guest carl_p]

https://blindman.15.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=8420

Dave, by chance there was a detroit group called the ramblers but probably not the same group. Mr Rhys started out in Atlanta according to the link above.

Edited February 12, 2009 by carl_p

[Dave Thorley]

https://blindman.15.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=8420

Dave, by chance there was a detroit group called the ramblers but probably not the same group. Mr Rhys started out in Atlanta according to the link above.

Thanks for the above, a very interesting read

Dave

[Funky 4 Corners]

Dave,

It is arranged by John Rhys, but apart from that I don't know.

ATB, Craig

Hi Dave

Further to Carl's input, this is likely to be the Detroit R&B group, if it is they also recorded for Federal Records but they are a difficult group to keep track of because they started out as the Frenesis in'55, comprising - Carlis `Sonny` Monro, James Gibson, Alton Hallowell & Frank Holt. They then changed names to the Fabulous Playboys, managed by Detroit's Robert West. They then joined Federal as the Ramblers in '57. Holt left and Alton Hollowell joined, and they recorded for West's Contour label in '59 as the Fabulous Playboys with Chester Flemings standing in for Hallowell They then moved to Don Davis & Thelma Coleman's Da Co label in '61 and then changed to the Falcons in '63, taking over from the original Falcons who had literally stopped performing mid tour without notice (in NYC I think) and the Fab Playboys actually used their stage costumes and continued the tour without anyone spilling the beans. They went to Big Wheel in NYC in '66 but that was about the extent of their recording. I do understand that a permutation of this group toured on the oldies circuit in the 70s.