Mike

Sad News Norman Whitfield RIP Norman Whitfield passed on last Tuesday. Rightly deserving the acclaim of one the most influential writers/producers, he was responsible for producing and writing some of the most renowned songs through out the 60s and 70s. He passed on aged 67 in Los Angles from diabetes complications after surfacing from a coma Yet another soul legend gone An Obituary can be read via the link below from The Independent Website In between working in a service station and hustling pool, Whitfield played percussion on recordings by Popcorn and The Mohawks and began hanging around Motown's premises. In 1961, he scored a local hit with "I've Gotten Over You", and Gordy started to take him more seriously, offering him $15 a week to work for Motown in 1962. Whitfield was nominally in charge of appraising white labels without knowing who the artist was. He was competing with Holl-and/Dozier/Holland and Robinson when trying to place his songs with the label's artists. "There was a certain tenaciousness inside of me, something that would always drive me to make something very special," he said..... .......asked which of his compositions he favoured, Whitfield tended to ignore "Grapevine" and plump for "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby", a 1969 hit for Marvin Gaye, or "Ooh Boy", one of Rose Royce's dozen or so hits in the late 1970s. ... "The people make the songs what they are," he said. "As writers, we only do what we do and then we have to give it to the public. They're the ones who determine if you're a genius or a failure." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/norman-whitfield-songwriter-and-producer-who-added-a-political-edge-to-motown-934145.html Thanks to Hitsville Chalky for keeping us informed during recent weeks

Crossfire are proud to announce our first all-night dance and two brilliant live acts for the opening nighter. Sat Oct 11th, 10pm-6am at the ISH Great Portland Street London W1 (right by the GPS tube station). Now in our sixth year the super successful London club night is back even bigger and better with an ALLNIGHTER and for the first time ever live artists in the main room and with deejays over three rooms. London's underground 60s music scene is booming and on Saturday 11 October we see the best of the Capital’s specialist 60s music clubs join forces for a massive party to celebrate both the diversity and the unity of the London 60s club scene. Get prepared for an amazing night of pure vintage retro partying of epic proportions. To launch the new concept we gone completely overboard and booked three quality live artists. Direct from NYC, Northern Soul and Wigan Casino legend Dean Parrish, with full live band singing "I'm On My Way", "Determination", "Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks", ''Skate'', ''Tell her'' and more.He has been in constant demand since his show-stopping appearance at the Cleethorpes' Northern Soul Weekender and is pure dynamite live. Karime Kendra is just starting out on her Northern Soul career. Her pedigree though is exceptional and it is her mother Ty Karim and father Kent Harris' 60s and 70s soul songs that she will perform for us with her full time band the Killer Meters. Her delivery is so uncannily like her mother's tough, expressive vocals that when she apppeared at this years' Cleethorpes, it was hard to believe that Ty was not there. She will sing 'Lighten Up Baby', 'You Really Made It Good To Me', 'Wear Your Natural' and 'You Just Don't Know' among many other great songs. The Northern Soul DJs are representing London and the south's top Northern clubs- Roger Stewart from Bisley, James Trouble from Soul Revolution, Warren Boogaloo from Boogaloo and Gene Robertson from Solid Hitbound Soul and Ady Croasdell from the 6TS 100 Club all nighters. The Beat room is hosted by the extraordinarily successful Mousetrap all-nighters (now in their 17th year). Speed of (Circle Records) and Dr Robert of (Le Beat Bespoke) are joined on the decks by UK special guests Spider Webb from exciting young London band the Horrors. Ben Ollins (The Cellar), Cosmic Keith (Boston Arms) and International man of mystery Carlo Sesto (Italy) all spinning their favourite Beat, Garage and Psych 45’s. All set to a backdrop of psychedelic lights and gorgeous go go girls. If you’re planning to try the R&B room (which I’m consistently told is the best room in the building). Resident DJ and co promoter Rob Bailey from London hotspot the Mousetrap will be joined by fellow resident DJ Chris Dale and the Hard as Nails club DJ team Alan, Marcus and Andy Brazil. Our special guests include El Nino from London's infamous (Lady Luck) club spinning the hottest 50's blues boppers and sleazy R&B dancers. Expect Killer R&B/Club Soul & Ska/Reggae from Camden Stylist Alan Handscombe and scorching Ska/Reggae/Rocksteady from Jim Cox (Reggae Train). "All the clubs involved are at the leading edge of what they do and people come from all over the country to come to their gigs. It’s a great chance for anyone who is interested in this type of music to come and check out all the clubs under one roof and see what they have to offer". On only twice a year this is one of the most anticipated dates in the calendar make sure you stick this one in your dairy. Ticket details can be found on http://www.6ts.info'>http://www.6ts.info we will be selling them at the 100 Club 29th anniversary dance on Sept 20th, details for that ticket only event are also on http://www.6ts.info'>http://www.6ts.info The tickets for that event are finally being posted out on Friday. Ady Photos from Chalky and Dean Parrish Website