By George Katsakis (152.163.201.57 - 152.163.201.57) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 03:04 am:

A lot of musicians that are posting to this site had their roots in the Detroit area teen clubs and have plenty of stories to share. If it wasn't for these early venues many musicians would have probably not considerd pursuing their careers. Share your stories. I remember seeing Bob Babbit auditioning at the Wayford Teen Club. Let's hear from some others about the scene that preceeded nightclubs and recording.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 02:16 pm:

George,
Do you remember how many clubs there were in the teen club circuit? I'm drawing blanks. I remember one in Redford somewhere.It was rather large and on the second floor of some building. All I seem to really remember is the Garden City club being THE place to play. Only the top bands played Garden City. Also, do you remember how much we were payed to play these clubs?

By DeAnne (24.234.185.134 - 24.234.185.134) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 02:57 pm:

Walled Lake Casino was big. Motor City Roller Rink had shows once a week. Regina High School had dances. That's all I remember. If George (Terry) were still around, he would know a bunch. He and Dick Stanford played them all with the Teenbeats.

By Guy Gillis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 03:45 pm:

Ralph, the club your talking about in Redford
was the Kit Kat club on the corner of lahser and
Grand River. The club in Graden City was the
Stork Club on Middelbelt just off Ford Road.
I rembember working at the Stork Club for $30.00
a night with a band called the Frantics. Gary
Mulligan on Guitar, Paul Piersal on Sax, Jerry Harb on Drums and myself on piano. Another band that worked the Stork club was the Pyramids with
Bob Gurski on Drums, Val Gurski on Piano, Grant
Smith on Bass and Mouse(Jim Pashcott)on Sax.
Please excuse the spelling on some of the last names.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 04:00 pm:

Guy,
Thanks for reminding me of some of these places. I remember the Pyramids very well.

By Marilyn (67.217.183.132 - 67.217.183.132) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 05:28 pm:

Garden City's teen club was called The Top Hat. I even have a pin from it. The reason it was the best was because it was the first. There were about 20 before the end. Too bad parents don't think enough of their kids these days to do things like that now. Although,we DO have a fairly new teen club out here in the sticks. I have hundreds of photos from the different clubs. Bands,stars,talent contests,dance contests,fund raisers,etc.
Any time anyone wants to come out & see the whole collection,they are more than welcome!

By Bob Olhsson (68.53.120.100 - 68.53.120.100) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 06:31 pm:

From what I remember, the teen dance clubs pretty much lost out to private parties where people listened to the latest rock LPs with all of the booze, drugs and sex they wanted readily available.

Drugs and the birth control pill totally changed what teenagers did for entertainment during the late '60s.

By Guy Gillis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 06:34 pm:

Marilyn

The Top Hat is correct but the name was changed to
the Stork Club.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 07:10 pm:

anyone ever come across the dixieland skating rink?

By Joe Moorehouse (205.188.197.41 - 205.188.197.41) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 02:44 am:

Some more '60s era, SE Michigan teen centers:

The Hideout (two legendary clubs)
Birmingham/Bloomfield Teen Center
Cage Au-Go-Go
Walled Lake Casino
Greenlawn Grove
Wamplers Lake Pavilion
The Fifth Dimension
Crow's Nest (two clubs)
The Chatterbox
The By-Pass
Mt. Holly (northern resort)
Something Different
The Inferno
Hullabaloo's (multiple clubs)
The Pumpkin
The Mump
The Club
Blue Light (also up north--Midland)
BMF Club parties (various locations)

There were tons of others, many short lived...

By Dennis Coffey (206.47.172.178 - 206.47.172.178) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 02:51 am:

Hey Guy. I also played guitar on those gigs as a member of the Pyramids. I met Val Gursky again a few years ago. He was a widower and getting married again. I actually went to the wedding reception and played a set with him and Bob. Talk about old times. Val now lives with his new wife in Myrtle Beach SC.

Dennis Coffey

By detroit gal (205.188.192.58 - 205.188.192.58) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 05:15 am:

P.S. the Birmingham-Bloomfield Teen Club later became the Palladium.

You had to have some sort of I.D. to get into the Teen Club and I well remember not being old enough!

As always, born too late ...

By Marilyn (67.217.183.235 - 67.217.183.235) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 06:26 pm:

Dennis-
I understand you were recording Tommy Frontera way back. I managed him for awhile. Do you know how to get in touch with him? I've got some great photos of him.
By the way,everybody, I also have a bunch of copies of the old Teen Life newspapers. Talk about HISTORICAL!!! They're really cool many years later
I moved to N.Y. in 1959,so that must have been when the teen club changed their name.I have lists of all the teen clubs in those old newspapers. I'll have to look them up.

By Marilyn (67.217.183.235 - 67.217.183.235) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 06:36 pm:

Ralph-
By the way,I thought you were going to send me a photo of the old Club Cliche? Did you forget?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 07:13 pm:

Marylin,
I didn't forget. I haven't seen my brother for quite a while, and he's the one who does the scanning. When he comes into town I'll give him the photo.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 07:16 pm:

marilyn
i don't think anyone in the uk will have seen a pic of tommy.

he is definitely of interest over here.

do you have one you could upload please?

By Dennis Coffey (206.47.172.178 - 206.47.172.178) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 01:39 am:

Hi Marilyn. I don't have a number on Tommy.

Dennis Coffey

By Ian W (213.122.14.67 - 213.122.14.67) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 03:34 pm:

Marilyn & Dennis

Tommy Frontera recorded 'Merry-Go-Round' as the flipside to 'Street Of Shame' on Palmer 5015 which has the backing track to (the much talked about) 'Head And Shoulders'. Were you managing/recording him at the time? If so how did the track come about?

Ian

By Marilyn (67.217.183.53 - 67.217.183.53) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 05:11 pm:

Hi guys-
I've got a lot of running & phoning to do today,but I'll post at least one of Tommy tomorrow early for you. No,I actually had him in about 58 to early 59,but then I met & recorded Jamie Coe,& moved to N.Y. right after that,so didn't do anything with Tommy. My loss,I guess,but N.Y. was just too cool to pass up,plus I had great contacts there.
Thanx,Ralph. I've still got a couple of weeks to go for the book deadline.
By the way,who REALLY owned Palmer?

By acooolcat (211.78.28.79 - 211.78.28.79) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 01:41 am:

Marilyn,
Wasn't Palmer was owned by Jay Kay Distributing? I beilieve the owners were John Kaplan, Tommy Schleisinger and Harry Droz.
Graham

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.56 - 152.163.201.56) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 06:40 am:

Marilyn,

I would love to see your pictures from the teen clubs. What's chances of posting a few? I'm really glad you were around taking pictures and preserving the mood of the day.

What about all the great vocal groups that also played the teen clubs. Tommy Good and the Tabs, the Laredos, The Seminoles, the Royal Jokers to name a few.

By John Lester (213.122.204.40 - 213.122.204.40) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 12:22 pm:

Before I drop another clanger (as in the Dalton Boys)

Is Tommy Good of Tommy Good and the Tabs, the same as Tommy Good as in "Leaving Here", "Baby I Miss You", In The Neighbourhood", "Honey Lane", She's A Living Doll", I Gotta Get Away"..

By Marilyn (67.217.183.251 - 67.217.183.251) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 04:49 pm:

George-
Yes,I've got a ga-zillion photos of groups & anything else that was happening back then. I posted 15 on the forum,in hopes that someone would be able to ID them for me. You need to go out to see your daughter,& stop out to see me,so you can look at all these.As I said,I even have quite a few old copies of Teen Life.

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.84 - 152.163.201.84) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 07:27 am:

John Lester,

I don't know if it is the same Tommy Good but I will try and find out. I have a picture of him with his group to post but my scanner is on the blink and as soon as I fix it I will post the picture. Tommy is a fine singer but I don't know anything about his recording past.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 10:02 am:

Hi Marilyn, Didn't George Braxton have a record label called "Teen Life"? The Senenaders had a release on it - c.1958 - called Love Me Now.
Graham

By John Lester (213.1.134.221 - 213.1.134.221) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 10:43 am:

George...that would be really great if you could post the picture.

If it is the same Tommy Good that recorded at Motown, he seems to have been associated with the Headliners quite a bit.

Tommy Good paraded outside Hitsville USA in about 1964 protesting that Mr Gordy was not giving him studio time..........

Any idea what Tommy might be doing these days?

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.188 - 152.163.201.188) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 02:56 pm:

I don't know what Tommy is doing but I will ask around, I'm sure we can find. First we have to establish if we are talking about the same person.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 04:19 pm:

John,
If I remember correctly...Tommy's protests outside of Hitsville was a charade fabricated by Motown to draw attention to this new white singer they had signed.

By Marilyn (67.217.183.248 - 67.217.183.248) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 06:45 pm:

Yes,George Braxton had Fox,Brax,Teen Life,Dial & Chant.
I sure hope you're right about JayKay owning Palmer. I'm supposed to go see Marian Kaplan real soon. Maybe this week.
Well,I've got to scan them first,but I'm posting photos of Tommy Frontera,plus one of Danny Zella at the old Walled Lake Casino. Does anyone know where Danny is? I know someone who owes him some money.
Marilyn

By Marilyn (67.217.183.248 - 67.217.183.248) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 07:29 pm:

Here goes!

|image{Tommy Frontera.jpg}

By Marilyn (67.217.183.248 - 67.217.183.248) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 07:33 pm:

I guess it wouldn't handle both,so here's Tommy.

By Bebopman (67.38.92.117 - 67.38.92.117) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 09:00 pm:

Hey guys, does anyone remember the Bell-Hops? We were a black band from Highland Park and had a white singer (George). We played a lot of local parties (mostly private cabarets). But for one summer '62 or '63 we played for Lee Allen "the horn" at some of his sponsored fucntions. That summer especially, the Walled lake Casino was a spot we played several times. Also, there was a bowling alley in Allen Park I believe, that had some sort of dance room attached to it. All I can remember is that the stage was like up in a balcony and we played there. It seemed so strange that we were up so high and looking down on the crowd. Does anyone remember that room?

By John Lester (213.1.132.34 - 213.1.132.34) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 10:17 pm:

Ralph

Re Tommy Good....

I thought that would be the case......cos Tomy was working quite hard in the studio...mostly with Staunton and Walker and Robert Dobyne.

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.195.163 - 205.188.195.163) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 12:55 am:

Hi folks. I worked with Tommy Good. He and his band played at my house for my wedding to my second wife. A lot of musicians and music industry people from around the country attended in the seventies. The last time I saw Tommy about 8 years ago, he was singing at a lounge called Toppers on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Tommy worked at Chrysler designing models for prototype I think. I do not know what he is doing now but he sounded good the last time I saw him.

Dennis Coffey

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.192 - 152.163.201.192) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 07:06 am:

John Lester

I spoke with Nick Palise this evening and he will be posting more information about Tommy Good and what he is doing these days. Nick tells me that this is the same Tommy Good you are talking about. As soon as I get my scanner working I will post a picture of Tommy with his group the Tabs. (circa 1959)

By John Lester (213.122.193.137 - 213.122.193.137) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 10:32 am:

Wonderful George.......

I have some plans up my sleeve too......I just got to see whether I can get them approved by a record company.

I am gonna try though.......

Tommy Good recorded a live album for Motown at the Dutchess...I didn't know what that was until I came on this site.

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.154 - 205.188.200.154) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 02:26 am:

John Lester,

I'm going to try and get Nick Palise more involved with the forum so that you and him can exchange some dialogue regarding Tommy Good. Nick, was the primary saxophone player that played with Tommy Good and are very good friends. Chances are pretty good that he was playing with Tommy at the Duchess Lounge and cold possibly be playing on that album if it was recorded with the band he had at the time. I will call Nick and let him know to read your postings and your interest.

By John Lester (213.122.196.252 - 213.122.196.252) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 07:19 am:

Thank you George.....I appreciate that...

By Nick Palise (64.79.80.141 - 64.79.80.141) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 01:33 pm:

To John Lester. John, Stan Adams was Tommy Good's main sax player for a long time. I worked off and on with Tommy when he needed a sax player to fill in. I was wroking mainly with Mickey Denton and then Geroge Young and the Youngsters while Tommy was working at the Duchess. Tommy stood up for my wedding. He's my "cumpari." Then, in 1970, Tommy worked with my band for 3 years. Nick Palise & Tommy good and the "Odds & Ends." The drummer and organist happened to be a couple of the finest drummers and organists in the business, Kenny Everts and Jim Roberts. We were together for five years before Tommy and I went with another group to play the commercial wedding circuit. Regarding Tommy's "live" recording at the Duchess, that would have been Stan Adams playing the sax at that time. Good luck with your search, and let me know if you find an album or whatever information you find. Nick Palise

By John Lester (213.122.200.106 - 213.122.200.106) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 07:47 pm:

Nick

Thank you for your insight....from all of us...

Tommy Good's Baby I Miss You is a big sound over here as is some unissued tracks from him "Honey Lane", I Gotta Get Away and "She's A Living Doll"

Staunton and Walker worked almost exclsively with Tommy Good....does either of those names ring any bells with you? Add in the names Robert Dobyne, Headliners, Hit Pack.

(PS Keith Rylatt...make sure you are keeping all this information in the files!!)

PPS Keith....we need to do start a who's who in Detroit.......you're the man!

By George Katsakis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:16 pm:

Regarding the Headliners:

The Headliners were a show group that came to Detroit and played at the Suburban Lounge in Melvindale. The leader of the group was a bass player named Lonnie London. His stage brother, Larry London was a great drummer that later ended up in Nashville and became a session drummer, however, he has passed away. I believe Babbit may have done a lot of recording with him in Nashville. Bobby Lewis, their guitar player is awsome and stayed in Michigan and has a band called Bobby Lewis And the CrackerJack Band. I don't know what became of Lonnie or the sax player that was with the group. Primarily they were a road band that did very well in the Detroit area. I will try and contact Bobby and tell him about the site as he could supply you with all the information you may desire about the Headliners.

By John Lester (213.122.200.106 - 213.122.200.106) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:25 pm:

This site never ceases to amaze me!! I am what we say in the UK, GOBSMACKED!

George....I have only been trying to find out this information for about 20 odd years!! I come on this site for a few months ago and it's almost falling in my lap!

It's perhaps a timely occasion for me to thank David and Lowell for getting this site going and
also to our Ralph and Bobby who both deserve a pat on the back for their efforts too. Oh and thanks to Keith Rylatt for telling me about the site!

By Dave f. (62.253.128.5 - 62.253.128.5) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:27 pm:

George,
Are these the same "Headliners" as,
"George Goodman & The Headliners" who recorded on
Val,W.Bros and A&M around 65 to 68?.
Dave f..

By John Lester (213.1.132.91 - 213.1.132.91) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:42 pm:

The Headliners were recording at Motown through 1964 to November 1965

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.156 - 205.188.200.156) on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 12:59 am:

Dave F.

I don't believe this is the same Headliners, I knew them quite well and the name George Goodman doesn't ring a bell. However, when Bobby Lewis comes on line he will know all the intimate details about the Headliners, at least the Motown Headliners.

By John Lester (213.122.199.184 - 213.122.199.184) on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 07:05 am:

wow......this is all so wonderful to read

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.182 - 205.188.200.182) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 03:20 am:

John Lester,

I spoke with Bobby Lewis, former guitar player with the Headliners and he will begin answering questions about the Headliners in the next several days. Because he is a novice with a computer I have created a new heading under The Headliners (Bobby Lewis) so Bobby will have an easier time geting started. Bobby is an expert on the Headliners because he was probably the only guitar player with the group.

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 03:26 am:

Hi...I guess I'm pretty good at saving old stuff

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 03:28 am:

let's try again

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 03:38 am:

Image was too big

By John Lester (213.122.203.192 - 213.122.203.192) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 07:16 am:

DeAnne.

knock me down with a feather. Woweee.......

I just knocked my cornflakes over!

Ralph..help me, I nearly said an "over 18" word accompanied by HELL.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 02:38 pm:

We're all over 18 here John ( way over )so let it fly.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 02:45 pm:

DeAnne,
I see Bo Savitch to Tommy's left. What is the name of the guitar player? The first time I went to Rose's I was going to see Dennis Coffey. I didn't even know what Dennis looked like then, and the guy in this pic was playing on stage. I told my date it was Dennis Coffey.

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 04:53 am:

I wish I could remember...I think his name was Dick, but it could have been Bill...funny how you can't remember. Anyway, I believe he played with Dave Mountz with the Classmen". I never worked with him, but I sat in with the group. Maybe Millie Felch...(Tilly) knows where Dave is, and he can solve the puzzle. Anyway, he was a great player.

By George Katsakis (205.188.200.42 - 205.188.200.42) on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 06:30 am:

The Guitar player is Dick Maxwell and the guy holding the tamborine is Jimmie Edwards, organist.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 02:14 pm:

George,
You cleared up years of mystery for me. Dick Maxwell it was.

By DeAnne (24.120.38.66 - 24.120.38.66) on Friday, April 05, 2002 - 10:22 pm:

Dick Maxwell...I remember now. I think I played with Jimmy Edwards for a short time too. I wonder where they are today?

By George Katsakis (205.188.195.199 - 205.188.195.199) on Saturday, April 06, 2002 - 07:47 am:

I saw Jimmie Edwards about a month ago. He is managing a piano store and working a single but I don't know where. Perhaps Guy Gillis knows. What about your pictures?

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Saturday, April 06, 2002 - 04:22 pm:

Okay..George, here is an old photo from Panorama from the Grandale

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.53 - 152.163.201.53) on Saturday, April 06, 2002 - 05:36 pm:

Thanks DeAnne, you put a big smile on my face. I can't wait to hear from Guy after he sees the picture. Very Professional.

By Joe Podorsek (152.163.197.77 - 152.163.197.77) on Sunday, April 07, 2002 - 11:59 pm:

This site certainly brought back memories. The club in Garden City was (when I worked it) the Way 4 Top Teen Club. Somewhere, I have a gigantic picture of the local bands taken in back of a Sears parking lot in Highland Park. Lots of young looking musicians. Does anyone remember Mrs. Troeder?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 01:10 am:

Joe,
George Katsakis and I have both mentioned her.
She was quite a lady.

By Ian W (213.122.31.80 - 213.122.31.80) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 09:46 pm:

Post 'em up here Joe. I guess everyone would love to see your picture!

Ian

By the count (64.152.156.89 - 64.152.156.89) on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 06:25 pm:

Hey all you guys and dolls,greasers and frats,and teen queens,you to George(welcome home,its about time)and thats what this is all about,time,in the the MOTORCITY,When I was a drummer for the 5ive Invictas,1958-1965,then one day my uncle Sam says,here I am,uncle Sam needs you boy,Iam a gonna cut your hair off, take this rifle son,give me them drums.Here are a few of the fun spots and local bars we performed at,and with many other great Det.talent.Places that have a*next to the name are the gigs we played.The Boardwalk(Jackie Wilson),Grande Ballroom,Westside six*,The other Place,Oddesy lounge*,Guidaros*,Harolds club*,Roxys*,Det,Dragway*,Driftwood*,Redwood,Crystal Gardens*,Fredricks*Your Moustach(Stix&Stoned),Walled Lake Casino*,Moreys Royal TWIST LOUNG*(Owner Joe "Bananas"Banono),Dale Youngs Det.Bandstand*,Surfside 3 dance club*,Phelps,Momos,Masonic Temple,Graystone Ballroom*,Light Guard Armory*,Thunderbowl Arena(this is where we met Ronnie Paturka and did some band back-up sounds for him),Motorcity roller rink*,Hilo-club*,The crows nest,The Band Box*,Ambassador Roller Rink*,Club CLISHAY*,MITCH HOUSEYS.This is just a few of the great places the Motorcity had to offer then.All the best talent came right here on the right coast,Iam very proud to be able to say we played at a lot of these fine places,along with the so many talented groups and artists.My heart is still into the DOO-WOP sound,as it always has been.I!am the president of our car club "Kontinentals THE DOO-WOP Kruisers...We are the host club for our kruise nites on Monday at Buffalo wild wings.We are acar club durring the summer months,and a nostalgia club durring the winter months.Five of us in the Kontinentals sing Accapella DOO-WOP,we will be putting on a winter dinner DOO-WOP danceparty this DEC. We will be inviting special celebertiesas our guests. As soon as I have a date I will post ,and flyers will be handed at our kruise nites.I hope I havented been to boring to this great site.I will leave you alone now and leave room for all you other fine people to add your fond memories to.P.S.,Yes I do play drums a hell of alot better then I type.P.S.S. It is three over a dozen in front of the bewitching,does anyone remember that .The time telling mochine?????Love to all,Steve 'The" COUNT" Gronas.Hey all you guys and dolls,greasers and frats,and teen queens,you to George(welcome home,its about time)and thats what this is all about,time,in the the MOTORCITY,When I was a drummer for the 5ive Invictas,1958-1965,then one day my uncle Sam says,here I am,uncle Sam needs you boy,Iam a gonna cut your hair off, take this rifle son,give me them drums.Here are a few of the fun spots and local bars we performed at,and with many other great Det.talent.Places that have a*next to the name are the gigs we played.The Boardwalk(Jackie Wilson),Grande Ballroom,Westside six*,The other Place,Oddesy lounge*,Guidaros*,Harolds club*,Roxys*,Det,Dragway*,Driftwood*,Redwood,Crystal Gardens*,Fredricks*Your Moustach(Stix&Stoned),Walled Lake Casino*,Moreys Royal TWIST LOUNG*(Owner Joe "Bananas"Banono),Dale Youngs Det.Bandstand*,Surfside 3 dance club*,Phelps,Momos,Masonic Temple,Graystone Ballroom*,Light Guard Armory*,Thunderbowl Arena(this is where we met Ronnie Paturka and did some band back-up sounds for him),Motorcity roller rink*,Hilo-club*,The crows nest,The Band Box*,Ambassador Roller Rink*,Club CLISHAY*,MITCH HOUSEYS.This is just a few of the great places the Motorcity had to offer then.All the best talent came right here on the right coast,Iam very proud to be able to say we played at a lot of these fine places,along with the so many talented groups and artists.My heart is still into the DOO-WOP sound,as it always has been.I!am the president of our car club "Kontinentals THE DOO-WOP Kruisers...We are the host club for our kruise nites on Monday at Buffalo wild wings.We are acar club durring the summer months,and a nostalgia club durring the winter months.Five of us in the Kontinentals sing Accapella DOO-WOP,we will be putting on a winter dinner DOO-WOP danceparty this DEC. We will be inviting special celebertiesas our guests. As soon as I have a date I will post ,and flyers will be handed at our kruise nites.I hope I havented been to boring to this great site.I will leave you alone now and leave room for all you other fine people to add your fond memories to.P.S.,Yes I do play drums a hell of alot better then I type.P.S.S. It is three over a dozen in front of the bewitching,does anyone remember that .The time telling mochine?????Love to all,Steve 'The" COUNT" Gronas.Hey all you guys and dolls,greasers and frats,and teen queens,you to George(welcome home,its about time)and thats what this is all about,time,in the the MOTORCITY,When I was a drummer for the 5ive Invictas,1958-1965,then one day my uncle Sam says,here I am,uncle Sam needs you boy,Iam a gonna cut your hair off, take this rifle son,give me them drums.Here are a few of the fun spots and local bars we performed at,and with many other great Det.talent.Places that have a*next to the name are the gigs we played.The Boardwalk(Jackie Wilson),Grande Ballroom,Westside six*,The other Place,Oddesy lounge*,Guidaros*,Harolds club*,Roxys*,Det,Dragway*,Driftwood*,Redwood,Crystal Gardens*,Fredricks*Your Moustach(Stix&Stoned),Walled Lake Casino*,Moreys Royal TWIST LOUNG*(Owner Joe "Bananas"Banono),Dale Youngs Det.Bandstand*,Surfside 3 dance club*,Phelps,Momos,Masonic Temple,Graystone Ballroom*,Light Guard Armory*,Thunderbowl Arena(this is where we met Ronnie Paturka and did some band back-up sounds for him),Motorcity roller rink*,Hilo-club*,The crows nest,The Band Box*,Ambassador Roller Rink*,Club CLISHAY*,MITCH HOUSEYS.This is just a few of the great places the Motorcity had to offer then.All the best talent came right here on the right coast,Iam very proud to be able to say we played at a lot of these fine places,along with the so many talented groups and artists.My heart is still into the DOO-WOP sound,as it always has been.I!am the president of our car club "Kontinentals THE DOO-WOP Kruisers...We are the host club for our kruise nites on Monday at Buffalo wild wings.We are acar club durring the summer months,and a nostalgia club durring the winter months.Five of us in the Kontinentals sing Accapella DOO-WOP,we will be putting on a winter dinner DOO-WOP danceparty this DEC. We will be inviting special celebertiesas our guests. As soon as I have a date I will post ,and flyers will be handed at our kruise nites.I hope I havented been to boring to this great site.I will leave you alone now and leave room for all you other fine people to add your fond memories to.P.S.,Yes I do play drums a hell of alot better then I type.P.S.S. It is three over a dozen in front of the bewitching,does anyone remember that .The time telling mochine?????Love to all,Steve 'The" COUNT" Gronas.Hey all you guys and dolls,greasers and frats,and teen queens,you to George(welcome home,its about time)and thats what this is all about,time,in the the MOTORCITY,When I was a drummer for the 5ive Invictas,1958-1965,then one day my uncle Sam says,here I am,uncle Sam needs you boy,Iam a gonna cut your hair off, take this rifle son,give me them drums.Here are a few of the fun spots and local bars we performed at,and with many other great Det.talent.Places that have a*next to the name are the gigs we played.The Boardwalk(Jackie Wilson),Grande Ballroom,Westside six*,The other Place,Oddesy lounge*,Guidaros*,Harolds club*,Roxys*,Det,Dragway*,Driftwood*,Redwood,Crystal Gardens*,Fredricks*Your Moustach(Stix&Stoned),Walled Lake Casino*,Moreys Royal TWIST LOUNG*(Owner Joe "Bananas"Banono),Dale Youngs Det.Bandstand*,Surfside 3 dance club*,Phelps,Momos,Masonic Temple,Graystone Ballroom*,Light Guard Armory*,Thunderbowl Arena(this is where we met Ronnie Paturka and did some band back-up sounds for him),Motorcity roller rink*,Hilo-club*,The crows nest,The Band Box*,Ambassador Roller Rink*,Club CLISHAY*,MITCH HOUSEYS.This is just a few of the great places the Motorcity had to offer then.All the best talent came right here on the right coast,Iam very proud to be able to say we played at a lot of these fine places,along with the so many talented groups and artists.My heart is still into the DOO-WOP sound,as it always has been.I!am the president of our car club "Kontinentals THE DOO-WOP Kruisers...We are the host club for our kruise nites on Monday at Buffalo wild wings.We are acar club durring the summer months,and a nostalgia club durring the winter months.Five of us in the Kontinentals sing Accapella DOO-WOP,we will be putting on a winter dinner DOO-WOP danceparty this DEC. We will be inviting special celebertiesas our guests. As soon as I have a date I will post ,and flyers will be handed at our kruise nites.I hope I havented been to boring to this great site.I will leave you alone now and leave room for all you other fine people to add your fond memories to.P.S.,Yes I do play drums a hell of alot better then I type.P.S.S. It is three over a dozen in front of the bewitching,does anyone remember that .The time telling mochine?????Love to all,Steve 'The" COUNT" Gronas.

By Marilyn (67.217.183.119 - 67.217.183.119) on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 03:06 pm:

Hey guyts. The Way-4-Top Teen Club was actually in Wayne at Ford Rd. & Wayne RD. Hence the name. The Garden City club was the Top Hat. That's where I lived.
Marilyn

By Fred Saxon (204.210.5.240 - 204.210.5.240) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 06:30 am:

Teen clubs! I've got some old copies of the teen newspaper called "Teen Life" from 1956. It has band news, ads, listings of teen clubs and all that stuff. Got one with Mickey Shorr on the cover and news of Clark Reid, Don McLeod and Casey Kasem inside. List of teen clubs includes one in Melvindale, the Hi Spot in Royal Oak,(Jimmy Cramer and his C-Notes), Top Hat in Garden City (D-Luks-4)

By Dick Stanford (4.33.134.129 - 4.33.134.129) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 11:28 pm:

Hi Fred,boy you sure touched some memory nerves talking about teen clubs.Our band played them all and also all the record hops with dee jays like Clark Reid,Lee Alan and many more.Places like the Lightguard Armory and Motor City roller rink.I'm not sure but wasnt there a lady,mrs. Schorder that got the teen clubs going?I cant remember right now.Good talking with tou Fred,I havent seen you since that night in california with Pete Riveria.Talk with you soon....Dick Stanford

By Millie (63.212.149.2 - 63.212.149.2) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 04:52 am:

I don't think I saw Club 182...I can't remember where it was...somewhere out on 8 Mile Road. I'm sure many of you know that Punch Andrews (Bob Seger's manager) owned a teen club...wasn't it the Palladium?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 01:34 pm:

Millie,
Club 182 was out around Livonia somewhere I think. Fred may remember. It was run by Bob Brower and two other guys who had a company called Bamb Enterprises. The Sunliners played there often and we were very popular there. It was at 182 that Brower approached us about managing The Sunliners which he would eventually do.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 01:40 pm:

In fact, the first song The Sunliners recorded after signing contracts with Brower was a song called The Hully Gully Twist. We used a group known as the Del Prados to sing back-up. They would eventually become The Reflections. In the song there is a line....the whole thng started at 182...It was a pretty good record.

By Millie (166.90.228.115 - 166.90.228.115) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 01:53 pm:

Ralph
Since you're so much older than me, by the time I hit Club 182 you were probably already working in the bars!!! lol Has anyone contacted Al DiNoble? I've got his number...he should definately see this site! Also Donna Sekilidus...she works at the Fox Theatre in Detroit and must also have some good stories about working with Harry Balk in the A & R Dept.at Motown.
I'm leaving in a few hours for Florida. I'll be seeing Steve Fischer which will be a lot of fun!
By the way, FYI, the Larados are now the Reflections once again! They do a lot of touring in the south with other "oldie" groups!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 02:06 pm:

Millie,
Donna must have some good Hank Cosby stories also. She worked for him at Motown. Yes sweetheart, I am So much older than you.You're still the beautiful chick who I first met at the Cliche in the middle of the last century.

By john lester (213.122.198.228 - 213.122.198.228) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 03:34 pm:

Millie......please get Donna to come on here...Hank Cosby is my idol....oh please try for me...

I'll even do a cartwheel, if she comes on here!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 03:48 pm:

John,
Donna is so cool. If you wanted something to get done at Motown you went straight to Donna. That girl knew how to work.

By Marilyn (67.217.199.29 - 67.217.199.29) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 05:44 pm:

Fred-
I don't suppose you would be willing to give up your Teen Life,s newspapers? I have about 30,but would like to get as many as possible to put in our museum. We're negotiating to get the old Latin Quarter building to put in a museum for Detroit music plus concerts. Mostly with older artists. It's called Legends of Music.
Millie-
The first teen clubs were in the 50s. They were all over the metro area & suburbs. They were started by Lowell Worley,Wilson Taylor,& Al Plant.
The ones you guys remember are from the 60s,& they were started by the individual djs.
Marilyn

By Fred Saxon (204.210.5.240 - 204.210.5.240) on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 06:46 am:

Marilyn: I think I still have a bunch of Teen Life newspapers but I've got to find them. I'd be happy to send you some, but not all. Keep after me, it will take me a while. --
Fred

By Marilyn (67.217.183.91 - 67.217.183.91) on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 12:11 am:

Fred-
You're going to become one of my favorite people,if you find those Teen Life's. If they're all from 1956,let me know the dates. We may have doubles.
Tunefully yours,
Marilyn

By Barry Kinder (216.148.83.114 - 216.148.83.114) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 04:38 pm:

I sang with a male vocal trio called "The Vanguards" back in those years and we played the teen club circuit. Yes, I remember performing at The Top Hat in Garden City. Also The Club Gay Haven in Dearborn had an ongoing Teen Age Nightclub on Sunday afternoons run by "Johnny Walenda" whose five daughters made up a rock 'n roll band called the "?" Audrey, Alfreda, Arlene, etc. Anyone remember? Johnny was a wonderful guy, he emceed the show and had a ball doing it. There were trophies for each weeks winners and there were "regulars" like my group who played every Sunday. Tommy Good and the Tabs were regulars also. Great memories!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 05:01 pm:

Barry,
Talk about a memory jolt. I remember this at the Gay Haven. I played there with the young Sunliners a couple of times.

By David Flynn (213.122.204.194 - 213.122.204.194) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 06:01 pm:

Discog time for Mr.Frontera - all additions welcome:
HI-LITE - 107 - (YOU'RE MY) LEADING LADY - I HEARD EVERY WORD
HI-LITE - 84003 - SHY BOY - ?
HI-LITE - 84950 - MARY MARY - ?
HI-LITE - 84951 - TO BE TO YOU - ?
HI-LITE - 84952 - BE MINE - ?
PALMER - 5015 - STREET OF SHAME - MERRY GO ROUND*
QUALITY** - 1535 - (YOU'RE MY) LEADING LADY - I HEARD EVERY WORD

TIA
Flynny
*- similar (but nowhere near the same!) backing track as Patti Young's "Head & shoulders" on Ernstradt
**- Canadian issue.

By thecount (63.212.150.95 - 63.212.150.95) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 06:37 pm:

Barry, I remember those Sunday teen club nights at the Gay Haven very well. I went to Cody Hi with Alfreda,she was one hell of a female drunner.Do you remember her last name?.I remember George Sheehan bought his first set of drums from Alfreda. Steve "The Count"

By Ian W (213.122.58.251 - 213.122.58.251) on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 09:58 pm:

Flynny

Fred Saxon talks about Merry-Go-Round on his own thread - 'Fred Saxon - Head & Shoulders' from about April 5th. It doesn't have the power of H&S though!

Ian

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:36 am:

Mr Flynn,
Here are the missing Hi-Lite sides;

Hi-Lite (no number) - Shy Boy/Dry Your Eyes
Hi-Lite (no number) - Mary,Mary/To Be With You
Hi-lite (no number) - Be Mine/That's All I Want From You

The numbers you've mentioned are the ZTSC ones.
Cheers,
Graham

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:38 am:

Hi Steve...George sold his first set of drums to Alfreda...she didn't sell her's to him....small details...she was a great drummer. Her name now is Alfreda Rowley I believe. She lives in Las Vegas and her two childred are now grown. She played in bands on the road and ended up here, playing at the Plaza. She doesn't play anymore...last I heard, she was a dealer at The Flamingo. Will you be at Clawson on the 6th?

By detroit gal (205.188.195.52 - 205.188.195.52) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 04:03 am:

Millie -- Dave Leone and Punch Andrews ran the Hideout Clubs, the first one was out on the East Side, then there was one on 14 Mile in Clawson, others as well.

Does anyone know what's in the spot where the Walled Lake Casino used to be? Did it burn down or anything?

And where was the Hi-Spot in Royal Oak??

By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.207.187 - 152.163.207.187) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 02:38 pm:

David and Graham:

Shy Boy b/w Dry Your Eyes is Hi-Lite 105. The ZTSC numbers on the two unnumbered 45s puts their pressing date between 105 and 106 (the Elites). I've also seen a listing for a Tommy Frontera single on REM called After Tonight b/w How to Love Him, but I've never run across the record.

I've also never seen copies of Hi-Lite 101-104, all of which I assume aren't soul records (Jim Edwards, Jimmy Key, Merle Everts, and George Garris). Can anyone confirm?

Thanks.

By Lynn Bruce (68.41.108.38 - 68.41.108.38) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:01 pm:

Talking about (used to be).One of the first groups I worked with,the del-royal,s had Danny James on guitar, Bob Babbit on bass,Jim Saladi on piano,myself drums.One of our first gig,s was at the wayne teen-club on wayne rd. south of ford rd. Mickey-Shore,s TV show had a dance party there.We played for it.The Miracles were there before they were famous.I remember when we were packing up they got in this really old car with one spring broken in the back,when they took off you couldn,t see the car because of the smoke belching out the back!Another time we worked a gig at this roller-rink near rouge-park on warren near outer drive,as I was unloading my drums,this southern guy comes up and ask,s me if I need a hand,of course I said yes and we made several trips.After we played the first set Mickey shore calls up Ronnie Hawkins and his band,in town to promote his first hit.Who should I see get behind the drums but this southern boy that helped me,his name was Levon Helm,s,who later became famous working with Bob Dillon&the Band.How embarassing!!By the way I never heard anyone mention Jack Scott,s Dance Ranch one of my favorite places to play as a teen-ager!!!!!Slainte Va!!!! Lynn Bruce

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:24 pm:

TIME TO CLOSE THIS ONE DOWN. CONTINUE ON DETROIT AREA TEEN CLUBS 2

By davidtenorio (205.172.132.12 - 205.172.132.12) on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 05:23 pm:

Hello: I'm the brother in law of Lynn Bruce, the best drummer I ever saw, and the best brother in law anyone could have. If I remember correctly Club 182 was on Plymouth Road just west of Wayne Road in Livonia. Does anyone remember the Rollerdrome? This was the skating rink Lynn mentioned on Warren Road near Outer Drive in Dearborn, that had record hops a few nights a week there. Of all the teen clubs I remember, the Walled Casino (which incidentally burned down sometime in the 70's) and Jack Scott's ranch were my favorites because of the number of girls in attendance.