lorchand

All the love back! I did visit the site and it looks like you have it together there! Have fun this saturday. Lorraine

Bon Jour, Mon Ami! I hope I said that right. Thank you for making me feel better for my songs not hitting the charts! I was only the artist then, but I think better marketing would have helped sell more records. I was doing every 'hop' in town on What Can I Do, which got me the recognition from RCA, after that, the deal making was in someone else's hands. Lorraine

Hello Chalky, I remember when The Metros came to audition (I was part of the listening team), two wonderful leads, Joe Buckman and Percy Williams, but when I heard that bass man, that was it! Wonderful singing guys. When Sweetest One started hitting the charts, we were happy campers! Any other stories will come from them. What went on in Pied Piper, stays in Pied Piper! I hope I haven't heard wrong but Percy's grandson said on YouTube that Percy wasn't doing well and asking for prayers. Also, Pat Lewis is our life line here, she's everywhere. This might not be yours to answer, but all the records being sold (different labels) on on us oldies, who is paying the artist, publishers, etc? Someone is doing a lot of re-pressing, but not the sharing. Thanks for the welcome. Lorraine

Kieran, I had to leave and come back to you. I'm so glad I can do this here. If I heard you in person, I'd be embarrassing, just a snotty mess! You all keep saying what I've done for you, you have no idea what this is doing to me now. I was lucky enough to have a half-way decent voice, wonderfully written and produced songs that did nothing here and made you happy there. Trust me, I'm the grateful one. As, you said, anyhoo, thanks for the welcome and the question. I've been waiting this whole thread for it. I consider myself pop/soul. I've never been as soulful as I wanted to be. I'll take my girls first. Aretha, Patti, Gladys (and others) all had the sound and could put on a show. I'm more of a technician. They are natural. I had to learn not to sing flat and sharp, therefore I studied the recordings of Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn and Barbra Striesand. I do mean studied, I studied their phrasing, breath control, stage presence, etc. I can't name them all but I studied the best to make me better. We'll talk about favorite songs later (male and female). Remind me! Now, my boys. You are going to love this. No one can touch my soul guys, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Jerry Butler, Jackie Wilson, The Isleys (I could go on and on). The gifts they had/have are called natural voices. But being the technician that I am, my main man is...Johnny Mathis. To me, nobody and I mean, nobody can sing Misty and Maria the way he does. What a voice, style, that vibrato and fine, too. Even today, he sounds so good. But get ready, , , , the person that resparked me is...your John Barrowman!!!! I absolutely adore his voice and his work ethic regarding his craft. The way he gets on top of his high notes and now that he's older, the gravitas he generates with the bottom notes...I could go on. His recording of I Won't Send Roses, is 99.9 flawless! (See what I mean of 'study'). Of course, he doesn't know it (he doesn't know me and why should he) but he is responsible for me being on this site. The love he has for you all is no greater than mine. Lorraine

I'm all in for the 'benefit' and second chances! Lorraine

If you are Katrina, thank you for the welcome. If not, thank you anyway. Lorraine

And I think you honor both. That's what I like about you all. You honor history. You honor your country's history and you appreciate your music, both old and new. I like Jimmy and if he said those things, I'm sorry. It's nice to be remembered and still appreciated ...and still gigging! Lorraine

Steve, It's my pleasure and I thank you! (Just love this lovefest! ) Lorraine

Russell, 'haters' might be a strong word but as in any business, competition was fierce. When you're young and naive, negative incidents can impact you in ways that can be everlasting. Creative folk run high on emotion. Back in the day, people tried to control me and had such childish ways. "If you work with this person, you can't work with me," or "if I book you to perform, I need a kick-back" (if you got paid at all). I have fun entertaining and being around people who entertain, that's not the case with most. Life has not been kind to some and they tend to take it out on others. What they didn't have, they tried to take or destroy. But I'm Taurus, I know how to dig in! The "me" group definitely outweighed the "we" group. I can look back now... the things I went through and what I came through. This all sound too heavy, but it's true. Just the other day, someone wrote me to say I didn't do an interview back in 1990 and was kind of ticked! Can you imagine holding on to those kind of feelings for that long? He said, "out of the 20 people he asked, I was the hold out." While, I don't remember it, in my book, 19 out of 20 ain't bad. I'll take those odds anyday! But as I've said, "it's all good now." Lorraine

Hey Mark, No, I was not aware of the impact or what extent we as artists would have. You make a record and it becomes a vehicle that affords you to entertain, write, or produce. Back then, (70's) that's all I saw and maybe that's all I wanted. I would have kept some of the records I produced or wrote (especially Eddie Parker's) if I knew the value would be what they are now. My first impression of Northern Soul is a lasting one. You all were kind right from the beginning. Notice all the smiles on the old photos? I know how to do a half smile when need to! But you brought and bring out the best in me. Don't be sad, it took us a while but we (I) got it. That's why I'm on this site to say thank you to you. Lorraine

OK, Ian D, Four things, first, thanks for comments on my writing skills (I'm still mulling around the word, theraputic, trying to figure out what you're trying to say?). Second, nothing will be free because I need a new TV and I want it in 3-D! How's that for rhyming? Third, I love the jelly-bellys. My favorites are the fruits, watermelon, peach, pear and of course licorice which gives me soul (and saying that keeps me in this thread). I haven't tried your combo, because of the sour thing. Four, I am going to talk with your closest friends into having you in out patient care, cause you're !!!! Lorraine

Thanks Harry for the big welcome! Just think, I would come to this site and read and not once thought about joining. I thought folks would think I was egotistical and now I'm too old to care what anyone thinks outside of you all that supported me. I cannot tell you how many haters are out here and those who have made way more money off my works than I have. I love entertaining and interacting with you and others on the 'soul' sites, but only the strong (and lived this long) survive. Starting to get emotional now (because of your kind words), so again thank you for replying. Lorraine

...and Ian D, After removing the red jelly beans, replace them with black jelly beans. Love those black jelly beans. Taste delicious but makes your tongue look horrible! Lorraine

Nope Johnny , it was the regular lead (the tenor, Eddie, male) with Johnny Dixon. You can hear Johnny's voice on the Boss label, Where Are You, (You Tube) much clearer. Lorraine

Thank you Paul. See, people are seeing how smart you are. So far, by what I gather, these organizations are not paying money unless you're Lady Ga Ga or somebody. Lorraine

Did we just have a wedding here? Unless you're educating us all, start your own thread? Do you know Al...the nerve! Lorraine

What?! What department are you in? Are you going to the man's job ? Down, Paul. I know I'm new here, and It's a forum and we're suppose to communicate... (and it's about ME!). Lorraine

Hi Tim, I didn't see you sneak in there amongst them. Thanks for the input. Lorraine

Okay y'all. Time out! Do we know who does what yet? I think you all have gotten the people who work there confused. Lorraine

Believe me Paul, this is ALL good! (and I will!) I'm enjoying your input too. Lorraine

Who the hell is the PPL? Clarify the initials for us lay people! Thank you. Lorraine

Hi Johnny, Thank you. No, the '1' is actually the late Johnny Dixon. I think a lot of people thought that. Yes, I did, off the top of my head, Where Are You, I think that was theirs. Sometimes I get the group and the songs mixed up without checking. Apologies to you if I'm wrong. Lorraine

Yeah, let's get it on! Find out Ian, then get back in your corner! Duh!, Not being a diva or anything, don't forget this is ALL about me, me, me. Kidding aside (not really), this is a wonderful exchange. Just think Ian, you've been around since the rocks and still learning something. Me too! (Did I really go there, the age thing?) Just think how more knowlegeable we will all be after this. Lorraine

Hi Pete S, Don't you worry, I can't wait for somebody to start talking, I'll be all ears! Thanks for the welcome and send me those cute kids. Lorraine

There's no 'wit' like the northern soul wit! Lorraine