latitude11704

Hi, Please reply fully with more details etc. with your question, and we will answer you from our files. Sincerely, Connowil Records/ (Sec.)

Hi SoulShul, I am Howard Collins, and my "show/stage/performing" name is "Skip August". I wrote, arranged, and composed both songs: "Here I Come" and "The Wonders Of Nature And You". Mel Harrison was the "road man/ A & R man / promotion man". Paul Griffin was a vocalist who lived in Toledo, Ohio. We drove to Toronto, Canada with the "master" recording and had REO RECORDS release both songs. This Paul Griffin is not the Paul Griffin with the New York write-up etc. . If you LIKE the songs that I wrote and produced in the past, you might LOVE my artists today: Ike Noble, d' Kalendars, Heet 'n' Koolin' Sistm, Magnificent Opinions, and my newest group Pryoritea (backed-up by my recording band d' Kalendars). I now own Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, and Reppiks Records, all of which free soundbites can be heard at cdbaby.com . The majority of my recordings were done at United Sounds Studios in Detroit, Michigan. Before establishing my licensed record labels and publishing company, yes, I did work for Chanson Records/Czar publishing of Pulaski, Tennessee. I hope this answered several of your questions. Howard Collins / "Skip August"

Hi Russell Gilbert, I'm glad you like my group The Unlimited Four. Just to bring you up-to-date: I took my lead singer from my group The Unlimited Four and formed a group named Magnificent Opinions. C D BABY is still playing soundbites of this group. Howard / "Skip"

Hi Godzilla, Chanson #1181 was on my group The Unlimited Four: "True Love Is Hard To Find"/"Somebody Help, Please". Chanson #1177 was on another one my artist Charlie Chuck. When the #1177 was also given to my artist Ike Noble, that was a misprint. I brought Charlie Chuck to Chanson/Czar right before I brought Ike Noble to Chanson/Czar. Howard / "Skip"

Hi George G, The following artists that I discovered were from Toledo, Ohio: International Five, Unlimited Four, LMNOPs, Kalendars, Magnificent Opinions, Heet 'n' Koolin' Sistm, Ike Noble, Skip August, Paul Griffin, Mel Houston, and Charlie Chuck. Being very close to Detroit, Michigan, Toledo had some very good talent. A great number of these artists were later placed on one of my three labels: Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, or Reppiks Records. C D Baby is still playing soundbites on some of these artists. Howard / "Skip"

Hi LarsC, Yes, I did have a jazz career in music playing trumpet. I also worked a country club circuit for 20 years.

Hi Soul Source again. Recently, I posted information concerning my 50 years enjoying music. I've also noticed several questions that I will address: (1) I, Howard Collins AM "Skip August", (which is my "stage/show/performing name). (2) I started playing guitar for James Brown of Pulaski, Tennessee after I got out of college. James released an artist named Clint Gant. I played guitar on the songs "Lucky So And So" and "I Need You So". James Brown made me vice-president of Chanson Records. I also was senior writer for several groups that I brought to Chanson Records/Czar Publishing/Tee Vee Records and J.B.P. Productions. Some of my groups on Chanson Records were "Skip August" and band, LMNOPs, The Kalendars, Mel Houston, Paul Griffin, The International Five, Charlie Chuck, and The Unlimited Four. ( 3) The agreement between Chanson and myself was that James Brown had me do the arranging/composing/songwriting and recording of my groups at United Sounds Studios in Detroit, and the "masters" would be shipped to James in Pulaski, Tennessee. Paul Griffin's "master" was taken to Toronto, Canada and released on Reo Records. (4) My group The Unlimited Four was first released on a BLUE LABEL on Chanson, but later picked up by All Platinum Records in New Jersey ( "I Wanna Be Happy","Calling","Walk Away Lover). (5) After my writing for my group The International Five ( So In Love With You / I Need You ), James had that group picked up by Starway Records. (6) James Brown kept me ("Skip August") on Chanson and Tee Vee Records, ( Shindig U. S. A. part 1, What goes up, Kalendars/It Takes Two Babe, I'll Love Only You, LMNOPS/Calling/"I Need You" ). (7) James Brown used Mel Harrison as his "road-man / A & R man / promotion man". But, the Chanson agreement was to list all of Chanson's people at one time or another on our releases. (8) After working with James Brown for several years, I started my own licensed record labels ( Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, and Reppiks Records). I also established my own publishing company Skipper's Publishing Company, and I formed artists on my labels such as: Ike Noble, d'Kalendars, Heet 'n' Koolin' Sistm, Magnificent Opinions, and my newly formed group Pryoritea. My recording band d'Kalendars did much of the back-up recordings for our artists. As I have previously stated, I try to stay very quiet, or as one might say: "in the background". So, it took me over 50 years to mention these statements, plus the statement that I released earlier to Soul Source. The reason is that I am now putting my entire music business up for sale. I"ve enjoyed the years, and after I complete my new group Pryoritea's album, I probably will become quiet again (smile). Connowil Records artists can still be heard at cdbaby.com . Thanks you Soul Source and all its friends. I hope I have answered a great deal of your questions. Howard Collins / "Skip August"

Hi Soul Source friends. Time will not permit me to bring you up-to-date concerning the past 50 years and more. I am Howard Collins, and my "show/performing" name is "Skip August". I am the arranger/composer/songwriter/trumpeter/bassist/vocalist, guitarist/ owner of Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records, Reppiks Records, Skipper's Publishing Company, H and S Productions and Connowil Productions. Owner of the artists Ike Noble, d' Kalendars, Heet 'n' Koolin Sistm, Magnificent Opinions, and my newly formed group Pryoritea ( which soundbites can be heard at: dkalendars/pryoritea/cdbaby ). In the past, I was the owner and arranger for my groups "Skip August and band, The Kalendars, LMNOPs, International Five, Paul Griffin, Mel Houston, Charlie Chuck, and The Unlimited Four",(whose lead singer/Joseph Butts, I used to form my group Magnificent Opinions ). I am also a very quiet and family person, and this is why I am not on a lot of "social media". PLUS !!!! Would anyone really believe me if I had previously mentioned all of the above ? (smile). But, I have tons of photos, sound recordings, write-ups etc. that I am now revealing to everyone, because after 50 some years of enjoying music, I will be completing my last album on my new group Pryoritea. Up for sale will be all my artists, their contracts, their "masters", the artists "registered names", 3 licensed record labels ( Connowil Records, Skippyophonic Records and Reppiks Records), Skipper's Publishing Company, H and S Productions and Connowil Productions. All collectables ( 45 rpms and 12 inch singles ) photos, "bios", and a "never-released Country Album" will also be up-for-sale. All of our artists can be heard at cdbaby.com . It took 50 years to say this.--- Howard Collins / "Skip August".