Roburt

The Billy Joy 45 on Hope ............ Eddie Daye produced this !

THE ESCORTS are the subject of a new documentary that should be worth watching ....... More funds are urgently required to complete the project. The unsung story of The Legendary Escort... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

A bit more on Syng McGowan's release from prison ......

...... SEPTEMBER 2011 ..... Louis R. "Lou" Mills Jr., a nationally known and highly regarded recording engineer who was called "Baltimore's Godfather of Sound" and whose Cold Spring Lane studio was a destination for stars and musicians, died of a heart attack at St. Joseph Medical Center. The longtime Mount Royal Terrace, Baltimore resident was 76. "Louis Mills was one of America's greatest recording engineers and a beloved, wonderful man who helped and inspired nearly everyone whose life he touched," said Tom D'Antoni, who had worked with Mr. Mills in Baltimore. "In all of my 35 years of broadcasting and media creation, I have never met a more talented recording engineer, or a nicer man," said Mr. D'Antoni. Greg Novik, the owner of Greg's Bagels in Baltimore in 2011, worked as a writer and an apprentice studio musician after graduating from college at Images International, when he and Mr. Mills became friends. "Lou was a mentor to just about everyone working in this business in the city. When he was in studio, he was truly an artist. When he was producing a session, it was absolutely smooth, and when he was working the boards, he was a genius," recalled Mr. Novik. "He may have been unknown to the public, but he was a giant in the field of sound recording and production. He was a heavy hitter. He was it," he said. The son of a Crown Central Petroleum Co. executive, Mr. Mills was born and raised in Houston. His talent for sound recording were realised early. He was 16 when he recorded his first radio commercial for a Houston radio station on an old wire recorder, which predated audiotape. After graduating from San Jacinto High School, he enrolled at Rice University and had completed his sophomore year when his father, who was treasurer of Crown Central, was transferred to Baltimore. He finished his education at the Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a degree in 1958 in electrical engineering. "He began working in an era before there was audiotape. He was simply a genius," Mr. D'Antoni said. In 1958, Mr. Mills established Recording International, which he later changed to Flite 3 Studios, at Cold Spring Lane and The Alameda. It would become the largest movie / TV audio production facility in the city. "The words 'audio god' have been attached to his name in more than one publication. He has, it seems, recorded everyone "” from Leopold Stowkowski to Frank Zappa, from James Earl Jones to Divine "” and everything, from the Baltimore Symphony for over 17 years to some of the city's most reverently recalled commercials," wrote Mr. D'Antoni. Mr. Mills told Mr. D'Antoni that one of his first jobs was the iconic Parks Sausage commercial that included the line: "More Parks sausages, Mom." Other memorable commercials that showed his artistry included "Mommy, call Hampden, Belmont five-oh-six-oh-oh," "If you don't own a cow, call Cloverland now," and "Nobody has what Tate has." In 1960, when Al Brown and the Tune Toppers came to Flite 3 to record "The Madison," which became a popular dance craze in Baltimore, it was Mr. Mills with whom they worked. It was Lou Mills who allowed the Wayward Sons to cut their firs two tracks ("How Will I Know" & "Not Sympathy"). In a 1971 interview with The Baltimore Sun, Mr. Mills explained that for an engineer, the "most single valuable asset is an ear for music, and the atmosphere, or karma, of the studio." One of those who worked with Mr. Mills at Flite 3 was George Massenburg, who went on to win Grammy Awards and worked with such artists and bands as Linda Ronstadt, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Little Feat. It's been said that every top recording engineer working in Hollywood or New York most likely at one time or another worked with Mr. Mills.

Betty Sandler Feldman (who by the way was white) passed away in November1991. Mrs. Feldman, who was 83 and had lived on Clarks Lane, died of pneumonia at Sinai Hospital. The former Betty Sandler, a native of Baltimore, was a graduate of George Washington University and the Dale Carnegie Institute of Human Relations. She also had received an honorary degree from Life Bible College. Long active in the Bahai faith, she had been a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Baltimore. In her younger days, she performed at nursing homes and other institutions as a clown under the name BELLA FLOWERS, and she took part in productions of Ages on Stages and the Northwest Senior Center Prime Time Players. She worked with talented speakers, singers and actors among prisoners and former prisoners, helping them through her promotion company, Hope Enterprises. Her husband, Samuel Feldman, died in 1945 while serving as an officer in the Army. In 1969, she had been nominated for a national award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency for her work with the Wayward Sons. Her other honors included a 1981 Baltimore mayor's citation, the James Swartz Medallion and the WBAL Radio Brotherhood Award. The Hope 45 by Syng McGowan, "Thats What I Want", was released in early December 1966 (or late November) but even though Betty put quite a bit of money into promoting the 45, it didn't even get any plays in Baltimore itself. This setback was reported as causing her troubles ........ though as at least four other 45's escaped on the Hope label, she must have gotten over her disappointment.

Jasper's tracks ........ "Loneliness Is A Pleasure" is credited to Syng McGowan & the Fanettes (and marked as produced by Bella Flowers) ... ... wonder who the Fanettes were ??? I believe that "Not Sympathy" credited to 'Syng McGowan & the Wayward Sons' was also released on Hope ...... .... anyone confim the existence of this 45 ???

............ MORE INFO on Jasper 'Syng' McGowan ......... Born around 1925/26, Jasper was first jailed in 1948/49. Eventually, Jasper joined a singing 'convict' group in jail & they were dubbed the 'Wayward Sons'. This quartet started to perform, in & out of prison and became known nationally. McGowan, in conjunction with cellmate (& fellow group member) Russell Quarles also started to write songs (by the mid 60's, they had penned 450 together). Jasper must have gotten out of jail after serving much of the full term on his 1st conviction .... but was found guilty of an armed robbery offence & sent back 'inside' in 1958. Jasper's case was taken up in 1962 by Mrs Betty Feldman. Betty Feldman was a big business woman (real estate) in Baltimore & she worked for 2 charitable Foundations that helped prisoners (B'Nai Brith & Robert Linder Foundation). She was unwell in Dec 62 and this news made it into the local papers. Seeing this, Jasper sent her a get well card and the two started to correspond. At the time, Jasper was working in the prison's woodwork shop as a cabinet maker (whilst also schooling the group and dveloping their harmony singing). Betty took up Jasper's case & eventually managed to win him a re-trail (on the 2nd offence) in 1964. In November 64, the group (Jasper -- 39 years old & serving 15 + 5 + 5 yrs for armed robbery; Russell Quarles -- 35 years old & serving 20 years for robbery; John Madison -- 23 yrs old & serving 30 yrs for murder/ robbery; Archie Shaw -- 35 yrs old & serving 20 yrs for larceny. The 4 were accompanied on guitar by James Richardson -- serving life) performed at a big concert staged at Maryland Penitentiary. The group had already cut 2 songs with the help of Louis Mills of Record Manufacturers Inc. When his re-trail came up, Jasper was described as a model prisoner who was leader of the singing quartet, the Wayward Sons. He won that appeal but was not released from Maryland Penitentiary as he still had some time to serve on his first offence (also a robbery for which he had received a 10 year sentence) -- he had obviously been let out of jail on parole on the 1st offence). A re-trail on the 1st robbery conviction was asked for, also granted & when the Maryland State Attorney decided not to press on with the case, Jasper was released on 21st September 1965. He patched things up with his wife, though info on her is scant (apart from her being named as Mrs. McGowan when she later attended court at his trials). The group (2 other members -- Archie Shaw, John Madison -- were out on parole) started to perform shows around the Baltimore area, including one at the Winchester St Armory on November 20th (65). He went into the studio, together with the other guys in the Wayward Sons, and had cut at least 6 tracks for Hope Records by June 1966. The initial two songs recorded by the group were "How Will I Know" & "Not Sympathy". A 45 under his name (Syng McGowan) had escaped on Hope ("How Will I Know" & "Not Sympathy") and a 3rd 45 (again on Hope but credited just to Syng McGowan) ("Just In The Nick of Time") was released on May 5th, 1967. To celebrate the release of this record, Jasper 'borrowed' a case of beer worth $5 and so ended up in court again soon afterwards. Sent down for a further 13 months, he again emerged from jail in June 68. He still couldn't stay on the 'straight & narrow' and in November 68 took part in the armed robbery of a bar in Owings Mills, a suburb to the north-west of Baltimore city. He was sentenced to a further term of 8 years and thus ended his recording career.

(That) DRIVING BEAT DRIVING WHEEL SOUL INSPIRATION SOUL & INSPIRATION SOUL BONES SOUL HEAVEN SOUL MARCH SOUL POWER SOUL PRIDE SOUL PROVIDER SOUL SHADOWS SOUL(ful) STRUT .... all song titles ..... OR ....... SOUL RACING SOUL PERFORMANCE SOUL SEDAN SOUL TORQUE DRIVING SOUL

More ............. a 1965 show in Baltimore ........

It seems that it wasn't Phil Flowers ..........

Alphonso co-wrote (with Mickey Stevenson) the song "WHAT GOOD AM I WITHOUT YOU" published by STONE AGATE MUSIC ......... it was recorded by Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston ..... ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPWjZkNNqi0 Most likely Aphonso wrote the song & Mickey 'added bits' when MG&KW cut it in the studio; so Mickey claimed part composer rights.

Phil Flowers was DC based (... & his son -- who also sings -- now lives & performs in Vegas). Numbers was a big thing in clubs / bars on Pennsylvannia Ave. in Baltimore in the 1960 / 70's. It seems that 4 other people were convicted (& went to prison) with Higdon in October 1966 ... HOWEVER ... there were problems with the police evidence and at least one of them (Higdon himself I think) was released on appeal in February 67. In the 70's, I seem to recall that the guy who ran Burman Records went down for a similar offence.

MsPorsh, if you can get us the facts on his singing career & post them on here, that would be great. Due to his group's name, there is much confusion about which recordings actually feature him and which were made by the other versions of the Four Bars. Also, when & why he went solo (1965 ?). Where was he based (New York after Baltimore / DC). How he was signed to Stroud Productions / Ninandy Records (connected to Nina Simone) .... and ... when he gave up on his singing career. ......... MANY THANKS

Martha Reeves played a free show in Rochdale last weekend ..... & she's doing the same this Saturday night in Hull (down on the Pier) ........ see here .... https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/ https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/freedom-music/pier-stage/martha-reeves-the-vandellas/

No doubt some of the tracks tipped by these radio station guys went on to become regional breakouts in summer 1968 ....

Another Linda Jones related Loma Records ad ......... .... and her 45 was being played on WMBM in Miami in the summer of 68 ..... Another mention for Linda ...........

From a US TV show recorded in 1971 ....... 'Mr. Excitement' sings "Higher & Higher" ..... ..... jump foward on the video to 13 minutes 50 seconds in ... .. as was usual in the mid to late 60's & early 70's; he performs it much faster here than his actual recording of the song ...... He then does "Lonely Teardrops" ......... he's on for over 4 minutes in all ..... ENJOY .........

In Dukes later years, Don Robey was casting his net far & wide to get people to work for him. By 1970, Gene Dozier had returned to Philly (after time in Detroit & LA) and was working with Gamble & Huff on Atlantic & Neptune stuff. Gene started some new collaborations while there (producing "Silly, Silly Fool" cut by Dusty Springfield with Roland Chambers), but he mainly worked with Bunny Sigler and Phil Hurtt. They wrote, performed and produced together, either as a pair or a trio. Gene and Bunny produced "Wild Child" on Carl Carlton which was released in April 1971 (Backbeat 619) and at the same time Duke Records licensed "Keep My Baby Cool" credited to Hot Chocolate for release (Duke 467). Hot Chocolate were in fact Dozier / Sigler / Hurtt and the track was the result of some studio experimentation. They had cut an uptempo backing track which was then played back at a slower speed and vocals (by Sigler / Hurtt) were added to it (this grouping wrote other songs together -- "Picture Us" which was later recorded by Bunny himself being one of them). (Eu)gene told me that Robey had been trying to sell Duke since 1971 & Gene used his LA contacts to get word to the management at ABC that the Duke set-up could be theirs. Just how big a role Gene actually played in setting the deal up I have no real idea, but he did 'big up' his role in getting the ball rolling on the deal.

Well, I quite enjoyed it. It had shortcomings but 99% of movies do.

Dionne's original version ........

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/19451047 ......... "I Say A Little Prayer" ........ Reffa ....

Yet another gem ........... .. the plaintive "Don't Make Me Over" ...

Another one of their great songs ......... ... this time handled by Chuck Jackson ........ ... "The Breakin Point" ....

Hal David, who in conjunction with Burt Bacharach, wrote some of the best 60's songs has passed away. R. I. P. "Reach Out For Me" ..........

Yes, he also owned the Zennette label (named after his daughter).