By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 11:57 pm:

dennis/mike/babbit
can you recall if this was recorded in tera shirma?

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 04:49 am:

Dennis - and what's A.N.B. Productions?
Graham

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.200.137 - 205.188.200.137) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 11:58 am:

Hi Graham. It was recorded at Tera Shirma. I can't recall what ANB Productions was. Nabay was local singer Nickie Robbins. Babbit probably has more info on him. Mike Theodore may remember what ANB stood for.

Dennis Coffey

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 02:43 pm:

sounds like A (a bushamie) AND B (bob babbit)?

so who was songwriter 'a bushamie' bob?

thanks for adding to our tera shirma listing,dennis.

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.49 - 152.163.201.49) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 03:28 pm:

Ali Bushamie started off as a saxophone player that played with the Counts. The Counts was one of the early groups that Bob Babbit played Upright Bass in. The group consisted of Ali Bushamie (sax) Gene Malido (sax) Norman Sands (drums) and Nabay(Nabay Restum)vocals. There may have been one more singer but I don't recall who it might be, check with Babbit on this, he was there. Circa: 1956/57

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 03:58 pm:

thanks george.

dave moore suggested a few months ago that nabay was lebanese. did he also record under an alias of nickie robbins then?

was babbit playing bass as long ago as 56/7?

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.53 - 205.188.200.53) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 07:22 am:

I thought about the Counts today after writing my last post and I remembered the name of the other singer, his name was Rick Ciccarelli. I felt real stupid after I remembered because Rick and I played in the Court Jesters after the last days of the Royaltones. Rick was a singer that later played drums and then once again changed to Valve trombne. We traveled the U.S together playing in Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Miami Beach.

Now I will answer your other question about Nabay. Nabay was Lebanese and was raised in the South end of Dearborn. That is where the entire group, the Counts lived. Babbit lived there also when he move to Michigan from Pennsylvania. Yes Babbit was playing bass in 56/57 and even further back than that because he started back in Pennsylvania and was a dam good player the first time I saw him at teenclub (the WayFord Civic Center) which is on the corner of Wayne Road and Ford road. The place is still there. They were auditioning at the same time we were auditioning with the Paragons the group that went on to become the Royaltones.

Let me know if you have any other questions that I may be able to answer.

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.53 - 205.188.200.53) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 07:28 am:

Dave,

I fogot to tell you that Nabay and Nicki Robbins are one in the same. Most of the time he sang under the name Nicki Robbins but the people that knew him well called him Nabay. By the way, Nabay also sang with the Royaltones in some of the local clubs. At the time the Royaltones was comprised of myself, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbit, and Marcus Terry on Drums. Marcus also played with the Court Jesters and a few years later with Jose Felicano.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 03:47 pm:

Geoge,
Here's one that goes So far back, but I've always remembered it over the years. We were'nt even The Sunliners yet, Just a very young and inexperienced band. We were auditioning in Garden City for some sort of show and the Paragons were there to audition also. The panel of judges was some group of women. The Paragons went on before us and absolutely SMOKED!! I had never seen anything that good in my young life. Then we went up and did our little inexperienced thing which I'm sure, compared to the Paragons, was a joke. And guess what happened? We beat you.As young and inexperienced as we were, we knew as a band, that this was a grave injustice. I've never forgotten that incident. It must have been my first lesson in the injustices of the music business. I even remember something about the song you guys did....something about " fire" . Does that ring any bells? Anyway, it was my first experience at seeing a really great band and realizing we had a long ways to go.I guess that is what happens when the panel of judges is a bunch of " mothers ".

By george katsakis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 01:47 pm:

Ralph,

I don't remember that particular evening but here's one that I do remember and it might very well be the same night.

The first and only audition that the Pargons did to gain access to the teen club circuit took place at the WayFord Civic Center in Garden City and there were numerous bands auditioning. One in particular that I remember was the Counts with Bob Babbitt ( our first meeting), Rick Ciccarelli (singer who later worked with me in the Court Jesters) Nabay (singer) Ali Bushami (sax) Gene Malido (sax) and Norman Sands (Drums). Perhaps this is the night you are talking about. Does it ring any bells.

The teen clubs at that time were run by a lady named Mrs. Troder who had a daughter named Nan. Nan used to sing in the teen clubs and was doing other type engagements because she was singing the music that preceeded rock n roll. She worked quite often with a comic named Paul Lynn. I believe Nan was also at the audition that same night but not auditioning. I also remember her as being quite attractive and wearing some type of sequenced gown.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 02:34 pm:

George,
The audition I seem to remember was for something else other the the teen club circuit.I don't remember what though. I'm assuming you were in the Paragons at that time. I remember Jack for sure.

I remember Mrs. Troder. When we first broke into the teen circuit, we were too young and inexperienced to play upstairs at the Garden City Club. Downstairs was a club for sub-teens and that's where we first played.Every so often Fred would get invited upstairs to do a little show with the band there, and I remember telling him at these times to do good so we might get noticed and be able to play with the big boys. George, those teen clubs gave all the bands great opportunities to gain experience and make some money.It was through these clubs that I would become so familiar with you. I was one of your biggest fans.

By gkatsakis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 08:22 pm:

Thanks Ralph,

I don't think many people remember the importance of the teen clubs during that time and it might need more attention. Perhaps a posting is in order, a lot of bands came through that circuit and it provided a lot of opportunity that doesn't appear to exist today. Ralph, I will continue to search my mind for the audition you are referring to.

By BOB BABBITT (205.188.197.151 - 205.188.197.151) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:31 pm:

HEY MO-FU'S...........NABAY WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND ALONG WITH ALI BUSHAMIE.......WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO DETROIT (SOUTH DEARBORN) I HEARD ALI ON SAX AND NORMAN SANDS ON DRUMS REHEARSING IN A CHURCH BASEMENT AS I WAS TAKING A WALK, I FOUND THE ENTRANCE AND WALKED IN AND INTRODUCED MYSELF AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS A UPRITE BASS PLAYER AND
THAT MY BASS WAS STILL IN PITTSBURGH BUT I WAS MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING IT TO DETROIT........
I THEN ASKED THEM WHEN THE BASS CAME CAN I PLAY WITH THEM? THEY SAID TO LET THEM KNOW AND THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO GET TOGETHER AND PLAY........
AFTER MY BASS CAME AND WE GOT TOGETHER ALI AND NORMAN CONTACTED SAX MAN, GENE MILETO, VOCALIST RICKY CICCERLLI AND NABY RESTUM...AKA NICKY ROBBINS.....MAN, NICKY HAD SOME PIPES!! EVEN THOUGH THE BAND, CALLED NORMAN SANDS AND THE COUNTS, DID NOT HAVE A PIANO OR GUITAR (NO CHORD INSTRUMENTS) WE HAD A VERY UNIQUE SOUND AND PUT ON ONE HELL OF A SHOW!!!!!!!! EVENTUALLY I SWITCHED TO FENDER BASS AND THROUGH JOE HUNTER THE BAND GOT AN AUDITION TO PLAY FOR HARRY BALK, AT THAT TIME HARRY WAS THE MAIN MAN IN DETROIT!!!!
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT TO THE AUDITION AND I WAS INTRODUCED TO HARRY HE LOOKED DOWN AT MY FENDER BASS CASE AND ASKED ME "WHAT KIND OF INSTRUMENT DO YOU HAVE IN THAT CASE" IT WAS HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE FENDER BASS......WELL.. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE AUDITION WAS THAT HARRY LIKED NICKY AND RICKY SO MUCH THAT THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE GROUP BECAME A REALITY...HARRY ONLY WAS INTERESTED IN RECORDING NICKY AND RICKY AND WAS GOING TO USE THE JOE HUNTER BAND THAT AT THAT TIME DID A LOT OF HIS RECORDS.....HE DID TAKE MY PHONE NUMBER THOUGH AND I STARTED DOING SOME WORK FOR HIM ..ONE OF THE FIRST SESSIONS THAT I DID FOR HARRY WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO BENNY BENJAMIN.......
THE RECORD THAT NICKY AND RICKY RECORDED DID NOT HAPPEN AND I WENT WITH THE ROYALTONES AND EVENTUALLY STARTED WORKING IN THE CLUBS IN DETROIT, I WORKED IN SEVERAL BANDS AND THEN GOT BACK WITH NORMAN AND NICKY AGAIN IN A BAND CALLED NICKY ROBBINS AND THE CHUCKELS. . SOME TIME AFTER THAT ALI BUSHAMIE AND MYSELF WROTE "BELIEVE IT OR NOT" THAT NICKY SANG AND HARRY BALK LIKED THE RECORD AND PUT IT OUT ON HIS IMPACT LABEL..
THE SONG WAS RECORDED AT THE ORIGINAL TERA SHIRMA STUDIO AND A.N.B. PRODUCTIONS WAS ALI, NICKY, AND MYSELF.......THE RECORD DID NOT DO AS WELL AS NICKY WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO, NICKY DECIDED TO MOVE TO NEW YORK, HE WAS THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, NOT HAVING ANY LUCK TRYING TO GET SOMETHING GOING HE RETURNED HOME TO DETROIT.......AFTER I MOVED TO THE EAST COAST THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WORKED OR VISITED DETROIT AND I ALWAYS MADE CONTACT WITH ALI AND NICKY, BUT NEITHER ONE OF THEM WERE INVOLVED IN ANY MUSIC PROJECTS.. .I THINK NICKY LIVES IN CALIFORNIA NOW.......BOB BABBITT

By BOB BABBITT (205.188.197.151 - 205.188.197.151) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:36 pm:

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE "BELIEVE IT OR NOT " RECORD...CAN ANYONE HELP????
BOB BABBITT

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:37 pm:

great stuff babbit.

was this harry's place on third avenue or alexandrine?

does anyone know if the nabay track has ever been on cd?

By George Katsakis (205.188.195.174 - 205.188.195.174) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 12:03 am:

Babbit,

It's about time you jumped on it and as long as I've know you I didn't recall the story. What happened to Ali?

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 04:06 am:

Babbit - would a cassette tape do? The 45 is worth a few hundred dollars now!
BTW, It was the last 45 that Harry issued on his label.
Graham

By BOB BABBITT (205.188.198.52 - 205.188.198.52) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 01:35 am:

GEORGE........I THINK ALI LIVES IN THE HAZEL PARK AREA IN DETROIT....WHEN WE WERE FILMING LAST WINTER SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THEY GAVE ALI MY CELL PHONE NUMBER BUT HE NEVER CALLED..........BY THE WAY ALI'S BROTHER WHOM EVERYONE CALLED "CAT" WAS THE PERSON WHO OFFICIALLY GAVE ME THE NAME "BABBITT"

ACOOLCAT.......YOUR NAME ACTUALLY REMINDED ME OF ALI'S BROTHER!!!!! AS FAR AS THE TAPE OF "BELIEVE IT OR NOT"........I AM DEFINITLY INTERESTED.....WE NEED TO MAKE CONTACT..........
EMAIL ADDRESS??......B0B BABBITT

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 04:00 am:

Babbit
I'm living in Taiwan but will be in Detroit this September.
I'll put together a tape of things for you - no problem. Here's my email address...
acooolcat@yahoo.com
Cheers, Graham
PS.
So, how did you get "Babbit"?

By George Katsakis (64.12.105.157 - 64.12.105.157) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 06:24 am:

Acoolcat,

Contact me if you are going to be in town in September. DeAnne is also going to be here at that time (Sept. 6) and a group of us are going to get together at the Clawson Steak House and have some fun, you are invited.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:14 am:

Thanks George. I'll try and book my flight now so that I'll be able to see you all.
I'm looking forward to it.
Best wishes, Graham

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.108.38 - 68.41.108.38) on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 10:08 pm:

When Iplayed inthe DelRoyals in 1959 with Babbitt&Danny James on guitar,later replaced by Vern Parker, Nabay would bring his foxy girlfriend to practices in my basement.Sometimes he would sing but most of the time him and his girlfriend would half-time while we practised. MAN could they dance.Nice to hear from you real musisians. Remember those all night movies on woodward after the gigs at Rose,s the Dixie Belle &Westfort tavern,or hitting Pompei,s after hours?

By Dave Moore (193.165.251.231 - 193.165.251.231) on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 05:27 pm:

Guess that's another Northern Soul myth straightened up then! No mention of Nabay being the mystery Lebanese singer who owed Harry money!

Bob Babbit,

You're reminiscences of the Detroit soul scene along with the other legendary participants have kept me glued to this site. Just wanted to take the opprtunity to say thanks man! Awesome. The Nabay disc is my number 1 want. I have most of the Impact stuff on White Demos and this little effort has so far eluded me. The search goes on!

Regards to all,

Dave