SEAN.
THE TONY AND TYRONE SAGA HAPPENED IN A SMALL DETROIT CLUB IN "NO MANS LAND". GILLY WAS PISSED DOING THE "COOL JERK" ON THE DANCEFLOOR AS A SEA OF BLACK FACES LOOKED ON IN AMAZEMENT.
I WANDERED OFF TO THE TOILET,AND WHILE I AM STOOD HAVING A PEE
THIS GUY AT THE SIDE OF ME SAYS "WHAT YOU WHITE BOYS DOIN IN THIS PLACE" . I TOLD HIM WE WERE LOOKIN FOR 60S SOUL MUSIC AND ASKED HIM IF
HE HAD EVER BEEN IN THE MUSIC BIZ, HE REPLIED "NOT REALLY" ALTHOUGH HE DID CUT A FEW RECORDS WITH HIS MATE TYRONE IN THE SIXTIES.
I STARTED SINGING "PLEASE OPERATOR" AND HE NEARLY PISSED ALL OVER ME.
HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF HAS TONY JOHNSON, AND THEN ASKED ME TO GO OUT TO HIS CAR TO LISTEN TO AN UNRELEASED TRACK HE HAD BEEN CARRYING AROUND WITH HIM WRITTEN BY HIM AND BARRET STRONG.
SO I END UP SAT IN AN OLD PINK CONVERTABLE WITH THE HOOD DOWN, AT 2AM IN THE MORNING, FEELING MIGHTY UNCOMFORTABLE AS TONY SLIPPED A BACKING TRACK INTO THE TAPE DECK AND STARTED TO SING A LOVE BALLAD TO ME , AS THE BROTHERS AND PIMPS PASSED ON THE SIDEWALK. SURREAL!
HE HIS A REALLY GENUINE NICE GUY, AND WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MAVIS STAPLES..
TATS
