Roburt

Playing live in 1994 .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9u2ackO8Xk

One of his later cuts .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VseBKnmvNgk

Info on his work with June Bateman ......... https://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/junebateman.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQbJMa-mQ4

Noble "Thin Man" Watts was born in DeLand, Florida in 1926, Noble Watts started out playing piano, then progressed to the violin and trumpet before discovering the tenor sax in his teens. His mother encouraged his efforts to learn to play the different musical instruments and she bought him each new one in the hope of keeping him from indulging his desire to get into boxing. In 1942, he enrolled at Florida A&M University, At the University he joined the establishment's renowned marching band with a pair of future jazz legends, Cannonball Adderley and his brother Nat Adderley. At Florida A & M he turned his raw talent into prowess on the sax, learnt to read music and became a well-trained highly proficient musician. He was hired straight from college by the Griffin Brothers and then played with fellow saxman Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams both live and on the TV show 'Showtime At The Apollo'. He first went into the recording studio with Williams to play on sessions backing up top black singers of the time. He continued to build his musical reputation in New York playing with the house band at Sugar Ray Robinson's club ('Sugar Rays') on 7th Ave (between 123rd & 124th St) in Harlem as a member of Lionel Hampton's orchestra. He also toured extensively on R&R package tours with the likes of Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. His booming tenor sax style influenced the likes of King Curtis and Clarence Clemons. He commenced his solo record career in 1954 with a coupling put out on DeLuxe ("Mashing Potatoes / Pig Ears and Rice"). He continued to record behind others before resurrecting his solo career in 1957 with a number of singles on Baton Records. He enjoyed his biggest hit with "Hard Times (the Slop)" in 1957. Another single, "Jookin" found lots of fans both in the music industry and elsewhere. With the success of his records plus his great live show performances, he soon became one of the hottest tenor saxmen on the 1950s R&B scene. This was the era of honking tenor sax, when sax players led the transformation of R&B into rock 'n' roll. Saxmen like Big Jay McNeely and Noble Watts were early R&R superstars, Watts was acknowledged as one of the greatest exponents of that honking tenor style. Sugar Ray Robinson took over as his manager and installed him as the band leader at his club. But he failed to maintain his high musical profile despite teaming up with vocalists such as June Bateman, his days as a musical leader appeared to be over. During the 1960's, even though he had 45's out on Sir, Cub, Enjoy, Peanut, Jell, Arrawak, Clamike & Brunswick most were released without the buying public taking too much notice. His profile dipped even further in the 1970's and he eventually returned to the area of his birth. However, his career was resurrected in the late 80's with the help of Bob Greenlee (producer / musician). Greenlee, a fan of the 'Thin Man' from way back found him playing lounge music in Central Florida and was determined to resurrect his career. Greenlee got Watts to join the Midnight Creepers and released albums by them on King Snake Records (Sanford, Florida). With Greenlee's help, Watts was once again endorsed as a musical innovator. In 1979 he had a retrospective LP out on UK Flyright Records and in 1987 another UK album release on Bedrock Records. This was followed in 1993 back in the US by an album on Ichiban's Wild Dog label. Noble performed less frequently in later years, though he did headline a concert staged in DeLand to celebrate his 75th birthday. His nickname really fit the bill but as he always exuded a regal bearing his given name was just as appropriate. He was noted for being a a real gentleman and a consummate musician. Watts spent the last few months of his life in a nursing home coping with emphysema and pneumonia. He passed away back in 2004 in DeLand, Florida aged 78. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCYuuFpQ6s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbfCh6Esl1k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf8KONi05w8

This guy could have shown the new entrants on 'Strictly' how to dance .............

Yes, but he did work with Arthur Wright & others (on for instance Mary Love tracks), I'd guess that those things were done in LA. Richard P also had a 45 out on Right-On around 1971 & i'd say that was done in LA in conjunction with Morris Dollinson (Monk Higgins) after the later had relocated to LA. Of course, it could just be a different 'Richard Parker' that did those things.

Anuda un from H-D-H .......... Fread Payne with "Bring The Boys Home" ....... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0qdbcHmpw

Just spoke with Swamp & he said ......... Wat the F*ck is that Kegsy doin postin my track up on Soul Source, the B*st*rd knows I'll get no Sh*tt*n money from all them tight-*rsed Brits listening to it. G*d D*mn him.

Good thread this, containing some really poignant soul tracks,

Could well be Richard Parker as he was that way on + elsewhere) & producing soul stuff around then ............. .... mind you., I'd plumb for Nosey Parker mesen.

I've got 'Feeling Nice 1' and a good package it is. Seems like I have yet another CD to buy now !!

There weren't any soul groups called the Churchills BUT at least there was the Winstons ........

Getaway, this ad woun't have impressed FEnton Robinson much .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DucmRyTEU

................... COUNTDOWN TIME .......... form 4 soul artist names from the words featured here ..........

Back on track with a Dynamic offering that's Charlie Foxx related .......... ........... it was all HAPPENING back then ..........

It was only the original Wheel (Brazenose St) that was really a blues club. The Whitworth Street venue (home of the place from 1966 onwards) was just about always an R&B / mod / soul club. Can well believe that the Brazenose St venue exterior was shot in blues related footage. Didn't Granada TV (Manc) shoot some blues related show at a railway station outside Manchester (near Chorlton-cum-Hardy) in 1964. So they obviously had their 'finger on the pulse' of local music tastes back then.

Lorraine told me that they used Soul Congress as their studio band a lot. That was because they were such a tight outfit who could play so well. Billy doesn't have good memories of working with Jack Ashford though.

A piccy from the book ................ Mike Bird (on the right), Stu Mumby (left) & A.N.Other outside the Wheel back in the day. Was in south of France with Stu & Mike about 2 years back.

Had an e-mail reply back from Billy's son, Billee D Wilson. He says his father is still around and used to work at radio station WVOL in Nashville. Hoping I can get a bit more info on him from his son but Billee does say he will be doing another 'net broadcast' about his dad later this month. Billy & Soul Congress quit Detroit in the mid 70's. The members of Soul Congress were Jimmy Pavlack, Gary Pittman, Tom, George & Dave. They went on the road playing gigs and ended up settling in Nashville. Billy became a DJ at WVOL. WVOL (1470 AM) was / is a radio station broadcasting out of the Nashville suburb of Berry Hill, Tennessee. The station was founded in 1951 as WSOK. WSOK's original format was rhythm & blues and gospel music. After a change in ownership in 1957, the call letters were changed to WVOL, but the station continued to play R&B then soul. Billy split from Soul Congress & got more into DJing and his day-job but he did play live gigs again with a new backing band.

Thanx for the above. I guess he is still alive going from what is said there. William Daniel Wilson Jr born in Brooklyn in May 1938 (so he'd be 75 years old now). Moved to Pennsylvania and initially went by the stage name of Billy Wilson.

Thanx for that. Guess I'll have to order a copy of the book right away then.

Getting off topic now ..... ..... but I wonder why Soul Congress & Billy Sha-Rae never just motored across to Philly to advance their career like most other Pittsburgh (& Baltimore) artists did ?? It never did the Jaggerz any harm, below they are pictured in Philly with Dee Dee Sharp in 1967 ........ MIND YOU on their web site, the group go with a bit of' poetic license' with their facts .......... QUOTE ......... In 1968, Gamble Records of Philadelphia signed the band to their first recording contract ..... Other artists with Gamble Records at the time were, Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield, The Intruders, Soul Survivor's, The O'Jays and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes with Teddy Pendergrass.

This page is supposed to detail the major players on the Pittsburgh R&B scene ..... but poor old Billy doesn't even get a mention ..... https://sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/r-b--funk I always associated Wild Cherry more with Ohio & Cleveland, but it seems that they were a major force on the Pittsburgh club scene in the 70's ..... https://sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/r-b--funk/wild-cherry

More on the original group that after it split up, formed the newcleus of Soul Congress ........ https://sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/rock/arondies

The picture in the Twisted Wheel section of the book (@ 1 min 34 secs in the above video) LOOKS LIKE four of the Hull lads who used to go to the Wheel (Mike Bird - big bro to Martyn aka Hullsoul on here + Stu Mumby and others). I know Mike submitted a piece on the Wheel for inclusion in the book. Looks like his piece made it into the finished publication, so no doubt my Donny mate (Tom Sleight) & I get a mention or two. Ain't got the actual book yet, can someone confirm that Mike Bird's Wheel memories are in there & who the picture is captioned up as showing (I know I'm not on it but its too small for me to make out the other 2 guys).