Our Monthly Club Meeting will be this Sunday,
May 6th at the Homewood Public Library.
2:00 PM
RECORDS & CD’S-----MUSIC------FOOD------FRIENDSHIP
GOOD TIMES-----GUEST SPEAKERS
MEMBER PRESENTATIONS

**********NEXT CLUB MEETING WILL BE JUNE 10th, THE 2ND SUNDAY**********

We’re another month closer to our record & cd show. Just over 3 months left to be exact. Some things have already been completed or are underway but there’s still plenty to do. Your help will be needed to help make it another successful show. Ten people can’t do it all. Even 20 people can’t cover all the areas adequately. Can you cover the door for 1-2 hours? Can you help in the kitchen 1-2 hours? Do you work for, have connections with or just know of a company that might be able to donate something for the show. Food, refreshments, door prizes, advertising or anything that might help will be appreciated. Every little bit helps. Thanks.

Again let me remind those club members that plan on having a table at the show, get your name on the list as soon as possible. Tables are already being requested from dealers and you don’t want to wait too long.
Here are the answers to last month’s trivia questions.

1) What was the first girl group song that hit # 1 on the US charts?
The SHIRELLES' “WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW”

2) What girl group was Dusty Springfield the lead singer for?
THE LANA SISTERS

3) What girl group recorded “Candy Kisses” and had a 9 year old lead singer? FAITH TAYLOR & THE SWEET TEENS

The other names more notable girl groups used to record under are now matched

1. Charlettes were the e. Toys
2. Clickettes were the c. Jaynettes
3. Masterettes were the g. Exciters
4. Mirettes were the i. Ikettes
5. Primettes were the f. Supremes
6. Cinderellas were the a. Cookies
7. Ginger & The Snaps were the h. Honeys
8. Ronnie & The Relatives were the k. Ronettes
9. Darnells were the j. Marvelettes
10. Del-Phis were the b. Martha & Vandellas
11 Four Pennies were the d. Chiffons

Going back to previous music themes for just a moment. I found another teen tragedy song that might outdo all the rest. Cathy Brasher recorded a song titled “The Hero”. She loves the star football player. She gets a phone call from a friend on game night telling her the team bus crashed and EVERYONE was killed. Top that. Sorry, I can’t find a clip or sound bite to share.

Also, I’ve got another answer song. Pearline Caesar recorded a song entitled “Go”. What song did it answer? I’ll be playing it at this month’s meeting.

MUSIC THEME FOR MAY: DOOWOP

**********MEMBER PRESENTATION**********

Keeping with the DOOWOP music theme, at this month’s meeting, Jack Wilson will be spinning some tunes we are all familiar with but there is one catch. These recordings are done by other artists in DOOWOP style. Some of the tunes are “All You Gotta Do”, a hit by Brenda Lee, “Jennie Lee”, a Jan & Arnie song, and 2 instrumentals in a DOOWOP version, “Sleep Walk” and “Canadian Sunset.” Do you have a DOOWOP song of interest? One that might stump us all. One that is very unusual. Bring ‘em.

1. Sounds made by a singing group as they provide harmonic background vocals for a lead singer.
2. A form of R&B based harmony vocalizing using phonetic or nonsense syllables (like a repeated “doo wop”) for rhythm and intricate harmonic arrangements.

The 2 definitions above are for the music known as DOOWOP. Did it start on street corners, school hallways, living rooms, the subways or in a recording studio? What group was the first DOOWOP group? Who knows? It was and still is just great music. All we know is that the sound caught on over 50 years ago and still has a very strong following. Did you enjoy The Spaniels, The Five Satins, The Clovers and The Del Vikings? Did you listen to B’ham DJ Dave Roddy sign off with the Flamingos’ “Lover’s Never Say Goodbye” nightly? The number of groups that had DOOWOP hits is numerous but the number of DOOWOP groups that had recordings that were never played on the air waves would be countless. You’ve heard of The Orioles, The Drifters, The Cadillacs, The Penguins, The Moonglows, The Marcels and of course The Platters. But do you know The Calvanes, The Rockin’ Ducks, The Fawns, The Bracelets or Noland Strong & The Diablos? It goes on and on with many good recordings heard by very few. There’s no doubt this genre of music played an important part in the music of the 50’s & 60’s.

Here are some video clips of some DOOWOP groups. Some early, some new.

2 from The Platters

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (first national TV appearance)

A medley from The Cleftones

Gene Chandler

Del Vikings
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a7J2pj0UPQ8

A song some consider the DOOWOP anthem. The Five Satins.

How about some DOOWOP trivia?

1) In 1957 what group had 3 songs on the charts at the same time while the songs were found on 3 different labels?
2) What were the above songs and the labels?
3) What was the first HIT record showcasing the phrase “DOOWOP”?
4) Many people credit Philadelphia and the east coast as the “birth place” of DOOWOP.” However, one of the all-time classics, “Earth Angel” was recorded by the Penguins. Where were they from?

For more info on DOOWOP try these sites:
http://www.thedoowopjukebox.com (over 5,000 songs you can play)
http://www.alldoowop.com
http://www.palmsradio.com/doowop.html

DOOWOP show in Birmingham. Saturday, July 14th at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center located on the UAB campus. Show times are at 2:30 & 7:00. Acts include The Drifters featuring Charlie Thomas, The Crystals, Jay Siegel (Tokens), Larry Chance (Earls) and The Toys featuring Barbara Harris. Ticket prices range from $40 – $300. 1-800-239-4000.

NEXT MONTH THE MUSIC THEME WILL BE MUSIC FROM THE BRITISH INVASION. CLUB MEMBER, ANDY MILLARD, A NATIVE ENGLANDER, WILL BE OUR GUEST SPEAKER. WE KNOW THE PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS SIDE OF THE “POND” SO ANDY WILL GIVE A BRITS PERSPECTIVE OF THIS TIME IN MUSIC HISTORY.

Here’s this month’s article from Jerry Grammer. As promised last month, he has another remembrance of Hoyt Johnson.

Hoyt Johnson and THE RIDE
It is difficult to remember many details of this ride to Montgomery! The most important part of the story might lie in the fact that none of us were booked as an important act, but, we were all going to be paid very well. The gig was at Maxwell Air Force Base in the Officers club. The group (The Cavemen) consisted of J.C Raynor, Scotty Moore, Mabron McKinney, Hoyt Johnson and me, Jerry Grammer. The year was quite unforgettable except for the fact George Wallace was running for Governor.
We packed an 8 x 12 boxed rental trailer with most of the equipment. The rest was in the trunk and over the hat rack of Hoyt’s Oldsmobile. There wasn’t anything unusual about this until the return trip.
Our manager and booking agent at the time was Buddy Couch. He preceded us, in a vehicle, with George Wallace stickers and an overhead swivel banner on his automobile. This proved to be a bad choice!
After the shows, that were accepted well, Scotty (James Moore) asked for a pitcher of beer to go. This was embarrassing to me, for I knew, it was not allowed. More excitement followed. We loaded equipment and noticed our manager’s car was vandalized! After summoning base MP’s and being told we shouldn't have visited a Military facility, with politics, we all proceeded home.
Between Montgomery and Birmingham, Hoyt's “OLDS” started steaming. So did Hoyt! He ranted and raved, asking that everyone buy him a new car. He had agreed to pull the trailer loaded with equipment, for a percentage higher than the rest of us. We fought on the side of the road until everyone started laughing about how ridiculous it looked. We managed to find enough water in a creek to get us to a service station, where we replaced the thermostat and antifreeze-coolant. We all made it home and remained friends.

Here’s a site to go to for memories of B’ham radio and Dave Roddy. Thanks to Paul Osburn for sending this to me.
http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/roddy1.htm

UPCOMING RECORD/CD SHOW
Atlanta Record & CD Show. Sunday, May 20th At the Marriott Century Center Hotel located at I-85 & Clairmont Rd (exit 91). The hotel is on Century Blvd 1/4 mile from I-85.

We’ve lost 2 more performers from the golden age of music.
Bobby “Boris” Pickett, whose recording, “Monster Mash” hit #1 in 1962 died on April 25, 2007 due to leukemia. “Monster Mash” also charted in 1970 and 1973. Trivia: Leon Russell played piano on the recording.

Zola Taylor, the only female singer with The Platters from 1954-1964 died on April 30, 2007 due to pneumonia following a series of strokes. Zola came to The Platters from the group, Shirley Gunter and the Queens. She was 16 when she joined The Platters. Although she had no documentation, she claimed to have been married for a while to Frankie Lymon.

BRC 2007 Record & CD Show
Date/Time: Saturday, August 18, 2007 (9AM-5PM) and Sunday, August 19, 2007 (10AM-4PM)
Location: The Cedars Club, 301 Green Springs Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 Admission: $3.00

Dealer Information
Dealer Set-Up is Friday, August 17, 2007 ... 12:00 NOON and Limited early admission (MEMBERS ONLY) 2:00 p.m. . For info on reserving dealer table(s), contact Ben Saxon.

Questions, comments, ideas???? Send them to me. cbailey@bsc.edu

See Ya,
Charlie