Despite never having a major national hit record, the late great Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly is one of Detroit, MI’s most beloved singers. She started singing in church, made some solo singles, and toured with Motown artists, though she never signed with the label. Barnes has enjoyed a full career, but unlike J.J. Barnes, her older brother, it hasn’t been scrutinized much, and a chronological discography of her work does not exist.
Finding The First Copy
Kenny Carter
It’s a bitterly cold February ‘94 and I’m in New York City attempting to persuade Tony Middleton to come to Cleethorpes, one of north east Lincolnshire’s premier hot spots, to sing to his UK fans at our inaugural Northern Soul weekender. While I’m there I decide to pop in on Paul Williams, an old friend who used to buy Jackie Moore imports off me in 1974 when I was a West End barrow boy. He had worked his way up in the music business and was then a Vice President at the mighty RCA Records situated on 1540 Broadway, NYC.
Paul knows my passion for all things Northern from those early 70s days and I had already faxed him with a list of what I consider to be the classiest 60s soul acts on his label. When we meet up on the 30 somethingth floor of this legendary building, I’m invited into a rather (definitely, by Kent standards!) opulent office, and after catching up on each other’s news and record company gossip, I am presented with a complete list of the recordings made at RCA by the acts I have queried Paul about.
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Soul Underground
Richard Caiton on a visit to the UK in 2016, 19th November to be precise where he appeared at The Wilton Ballroom before an ecstatic crowd.
Debbie Taylor (aka Maydie Myles) Live at The Wilton Ballroom 9th November 2013
Extracts From My Book – The Last Note Book By Sharon McMahan
A Budding Songwriter
As I was growing up, I Started to take notice of the songs coming from the radio. One day when I came home from school, I was listening to the radio and one of the songs I liked came on. It was called Mother-in-law by Ernie K. Doe. I was twelve years old. I remember sitting at the piano and really talking time to concentrate on the beat and how the singing came in.
The more I listened, I began to think to myself that I should be able to copy that beat on to the piano. I started out by finding the note in bas and I began to play it with the left hand, to the beat. After playing the bass for a few bars, I tried to find the cord that would match with the right hand.Once I had both the bass and the chord, I started playing them back and forth like a drum and I was able to get the rhythm going as I played along with the song on the radio.
After the song was over, I sat there and thought about what I had just done. I was very surprised. I asked myself, “what just happened” ? After thinking about it for a minute or two, I concluded that I should be able to make up my own songs.
(more…)Finding The First Copy
It was sad to hear of the passing of Tony Middleton this week. It immediately brought back memories of our first Cleethorpes weekender in 1993. Here’s a photo of that trip and the sleevenotes reminscence from the Cleethorpes CD. L to R Tony, Brad Comer, me, Mary Love on the fire escape at Ace Records, Harlesden.
“There’s nothing like meeting and striking up a relationship with an act to get their full co-operation. I was given Tony Middleton’s number by soul sleuth Andy Rix, and was keen to get him on the first Cleethorpes Northern Soul weekender show as he was quite unknown as a live artist back then. He had a very strong Northern Soul recording history that would sound great live and hopefully draw in the customers. I was due to visit the States on a record-buying mission about six months before the show and arranged to meet up with Tony in a rather swanky Swedish restaurant that he had picked out. I immediately felt out of my depth when he turned up in a sharp suit and a leggy Swedish blonde, who evidently owned and hosted the joint, came up and greeted him as a personal friend.
The prices didn’t make me feel any more at ease and the conversation was rather one-sided with Tony regaling me with all his achievements as a singer, actor and general man of the world. We got on well though and I think I probably upped my meagre offer for his fee just to save face: I really didn’t think he would go for it. However, he kindly said he would perform at our inaugural event because he liked me and it would be fun, even if the money was below his usual radar. I was extremely grateful and having got his word was happy to pay the sizeable bill and even throw in a tip to the Greta Garbo figure.
When Tony arrived in England, he was an easy-going and down to earth fellow who spent a memorable night out with myself, soul fan and DJ Val Palmer and a very colourful American punk rocker called Mike Spencer from the Cannibals group, who Tony teased by telling him that his Harlem gang used to kick Mike’s hoodlum friends’ asses all around Central Park.
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The History of Paul Tilman Smith, so far..
THIS IS A PHENOMENAL CD BUT NOT ONE PERSON HAS PURCHASED IT FROM MY HOMETOWN OF OAKLAND AND LIKE THE MUSIC WRITER FROM EUROPE SAID”
Most records he has ever heard that a hundred percent of the money goes into a fund to help struggling ARTISTS is usually the most raggedy record you could ever find. Then he turned and stated in his article “The Higher Power Project is a collectors item”.
Some have called Higher Power the national anthem of recovery. Higher Power was recently named the inspirational song and video of the year by a national contest sponsored by Tyler Perry, B.E.T, Lions Gate Films and Pastor Marvin Winan’s. Pastor Winan’s proclaimed that Higher Power “was the winner by far”. The video was produced by BAJAZZS founder/drummer Paul Tillman Smith, Braxton Brothers bassist Nelson Braxton and longtime Prince sideman guitarist/Bassist Levi Seacer Jr.
Donnie inspired my production team including my friend Norman Connors to do this record when Donnie got kicked off of the American Idol TV program because he made the mistake of informing the program that he got stopped by the police the night he celebrated with friends, making the final 32 and got a DUI while driving up Highway 580 in Livermore on the way to his home. He was on the same year as Fantazia and Jennifer Hudson. The singer they bought in to take his place George Huff came in sixth. Donnie should have won. Norman Connors is featuring three of Donnie’s new songs on his forthcoming record entitled “ROYALTY”. Donnie’s song Magazine Girl will be first on Normans new record, lol. Donnie finally won 1st. OOPPSS! I forgot, Donnie’s sister Terrill Carter Williams to me has the best song on the record called “Please Don’t Run Over Me”.
Every certain type of woman in America is gonna want a copy of this song. It’s a domestic violence song. Me , late vocalist Freddie Hughe’s and pianist Robert Collier wrote it. Lastly, world famous vocalist Nora Jones told Norman she loves four of the songs from the Higher Power Project and that she could maybe see doing them herself. That would a blessing if she even chooses to do one.
LYRICIST/JAZZ SINGER
Listen to ‘Waiting Tables’
Some touring, off-Broadway work and the Broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar followed, interspersed with countless waitressing jobs up and down Manhattan’s West Side. Frequently out of work, and discouraged by more than one restaurateur from pursuing a career in the food service industry, Lorraine decided to try singing. She began working with various jazz and Top 40 bands in and around New York. She sang backup for Petula Clark and Grand Funk Railroad, and finally put her own act together, eventually moving back to L.A., where she sang at local jazz clubs. Soon after, she joined producer Richard Perry’s vocal trio Full Swing and recorded three albums with the group.
With her powerhouse vocals and a remarkable ability to weave narratives in her songs, Emilia Sisco effortlessly fuses soul, jazz and blues into a mesmerizing tapestry of sound.
Her voice carries the weight of raw emotion, echoing the depths of the human experience.
Released on Timmion Records, Emilia Sisco made waves with her previous single, “Don’t Believe You Like That,” which quickly gained her plenty of worldwide admirers.
Now, she unveils the next offering in collaboration with the acclaimed production house Cold Diamond & Mink – a grooving little vinyl double-sider entitled “Trouble” b/w “It’ll get better.” These deep tracks transport listeners to an intimate space where time stands still and you can hear your heart beat. Drawing inspiration from legendary icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Billie Holiday, Emilia infuses her music with a rich blend of influences.
“I’m Satisfied,” William is bringing to you a touch of funk for your listening and dancing pleasure. This is somewhat of a different twist from his smooth jazz track “Twelve O Five,” which was reproduced by legendary bassist Brian Bromberg. William Kooly Scott is a vocalist, songwriter, producer, musician, recording artist, and entertainer. His incredible music career has sanctioned him to perform in several states across the United States, the Caribbean, and around the globe.
Including Germany, Spain, and South Korea. Most notably, he performed annually in Norway for more than 10 years. He was also the lead vocalist for the Norwegian-American supergroup “Transatlantic Express,” which had very successful tours of multiple cities in Norway.
(more…)Soul Underground
Northern Soul – The Post Wigan Years
The following article was written for the sleeve note of the 10 CD Box Set The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule compiled by Ian Dewhirst and released at the beginning of 2015. It is a brief overview of the Northern/Rare Soul scene since the demise of Wigan Casino. it is by no means a comprehensive and full overview of what was happening and has happened since 1980/1981. It focuses only on the main all-nighters of the time. There has been 100s off venues since Wigan that have held an all-nighter and it was impossible to mention all within the constraints of the word count I was held to. It neither focuses on Soul Nights of which there was literally 1000s and even more today. The majority held no influence on the scene in the way the likes of Blackpool Mecca did. That isn’t to say there was none, some are featured but many are not as space didn’t allow . Hopefully there will be a book to follow that will feature many of the venues and clubs omitted.
Much has been written about the Northern Soul scene up to the demise of The Wigan Casino, but very little has actually been written about what followed. For many, the scene died when Wigan Casino closed its doors for the final time.
(more…)History of – Paul Tilman Smith……So Far
The Norman Connors days.
Me and Norman were the young Jazz drummer up-and-comers in the sixties in New York. Normans momma was in Philadelphia and mine was in California. Norman could run to his momma’s house to eat while I starved to death,lol. We were best friends but god obviously had different intentions for the both of us. Norman had no idea I had a love for writing silly little songs on the piano from the age of fifteen.
After I left the Jazz Avant Garde John Coltrane era and came back to Oakland I kept playing but started writing again. In the mean time Norman became one of the best show-men Jazz drummers around and people started noticing him and the right record producer gave him a shot and making records and he then started making great records. We had made a pack that if either one of us could ever help the other we would so the band Vitamin E was born. His wife named the band and I at first hated that name but now ironically I use Vitamin E everyday, hahahahahahaha!
This is a song I wrote for my very young wife in the seventies when we were just learning how to get along called “LISTEN”. The first lyrics start off like this, “Listen to Me, Your hearts Not Free”. Of course today I’m the one who’s discovered I ain’t free, she free! Norman Connors version below features John Coltrane’s pianist McCoy Tyner’s sax man Gary Bartz who now lives in Oakland. Good luck Gary!
Norman had the bomb band in those days. Norman’s got a great new album coming soon and guess what, he say. (Paul can I have 3 of your songs?, U got hits! ) No I don’t Norman, them Hip Hoppers & Rappers got hits, all we got is, “Can’t Quit”. Uh Oh Norman I forgot! I like me and Freddie Hughes version of “Listen” better,lol. By the way, this is the song that Donny Hathaway was on the way to the studio to record for Norman when Donnie’s manager called and demanded twice as much money.
Finding The First Copy
Gettin’ To Me
In the mid-90s when I wandered into Vinyl Experience a second-hand collectors’ shop on Hanway Street in London’s West End, for the first time in a few weeks and while I was checking out the various specialist collectors boxes that they kept behind the counter, I noticed about 50 sealed cardboard boxes under the LP racks. On asking the shop owner what they were he said, “Oh that’s the remnants of the Carlin collection we got a few months ago”. “What’s that all about then?” I ventured. It turned out that this famous music publishing company had decided to throw out all its old demos and samples as surplus to requirements. Mark Hayward, the shop’s owner, had snapped up the massive collection which included demos and acetates from every major popular music act of the 50s, 60s and 70s, including Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie etc. etc. etc.
After turning luminous green with envy, I realised that Mark knew which were the obviously rare soul records (as did everyone with the advent of Record Collector magazine), but, as he was sketchy on the more obscure items and ignorant of US labels altogether, a bit of damage limitation was in order.
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