By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 05:26 pm:

Hey Bob,Dennis,Ralph etc,etc
I notice George is planning a get together in Sept. Why don't we plan a major reunion at some local hotel-get all the players and the people that were the magic of our times back together ?
Hey Bob maybe-Gary Dean could organize it, if he is feeling better.
Mike

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 08:18 pm:

Mike,
That would be SOMETHING!!

By BOBBABBITT (205.188.197.162 - 205.188.197.162) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 10:01 pm:

MIKE.......GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A REUNOIN.......
GARY NOT DOING TO WELL NOW,HOPEFULLY IF HE START'S FELLING BETTER I AM SURE HE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER........BOB BABBITT

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.195.163 - 205.188.195.163) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 12:59 am:

Good idea Mike!

Dennis Coffey

By George Katsakis (152.163.201.192 - 152.163.201.192) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 07:23 am:

Mike,

I think your idea is good and you are also invited to join us on Sept 6. Dennis said he would be there and I know of quite a few others that will also. Come on down.

By Ian W (213.122.106.62 - 213.122.106.62) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 09:10 am:

Gents

We Brits are as jealous as hell at this reunion! Please take lots of photos & add them to the Forum!

Ian

By George Katsakis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 01:21 pm:

Ian,

You can count on it.

By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Saturday, April 13, 2002 - 08:33 pm:

I just talked to Ernie Stratons daughter. He has had a couple of strokes and can no longer copmmunicate. I afraid we will soon be saying goodbye to one of the people that gave most of us a chance way back when.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 13, 2002 - 10:59 pm:

That's more sad news Mike.

By Ian W (213.122.110.100 - 213.122.110.100) on Sunday, April 14, 2002 - 02:07 pm:

Please give him all our best wishes!

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170 - 195.153.219.170) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 08:11 am:

Agreed Ian W -

By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Saturday, July 20, 2002 - 03:09 pm:

This is in responce to a question by J SMith I saw regarding Spyder Turner.
Arnie Gellar was the Executive producer and Clay McMurrary was the producer.
Dennis Coffey and myself did the arrangements for the lp on MGM. We did rhythm,horns,strings at Terra Shirma--(the original studio).
We were also doing an album on Rare Earth for MGM at about the same time.
There was no follow up on Spyder or movement on Rare Earth because the label was not doing well.
I talked to Clay a while ago and he was trying to find the tapes on the long version of Stand by Me that spyder recorded.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, July 20, 2002 - 03:19 pm:

Mike,
Good to see you back.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 04:24 am:

Hello Mike - please take a look at the "Eastbound Records" thread and comment on working for Armen. I'm intersted in knowing what those sessions were like, especially any done in Detroit - at Pac3 or elsewhere.
TIA, Graham

By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 10:04 pm:

Hi Graham
Armen is one of the good guys of the music world in my life. I met him while I was in highschool and I had just started my own label (Sound Score).
Armen was one of the hot distributer/promotion people and was very helpful to me. Several years Later Dennis and I signed as producers and did many sessions for him.
In the Eastbound thread you mentioned Jimmy Delphs. We did him at Artie Fields studios as Tera-Shirma was gone by then. He had one release but there are a couple of more cuts in the can.
Most of the Westbound/Eastbound sessions that were done in Detroit at that time were done at Pac-3 or Artie Fields Studios.
Dennis,Babbitt and myself did a session for Armen a few years ago (The Star Wars Theme0 It was a good version but we could not get a mechanical licence from Lucas Film.
I am still in contact with Armen and expect him to become more active again after he finish's his rather involved court cases with most of the major labels for sampling westbound product and not paying the royaties due .
In fact "The Mike Theodore Orchestra" is still under contract to Armen.
Mike

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 04:40 am:

Hi Mike, and thanks very much for your reply - you have a great memory.
I wonder if Armen was invloved in the Jack Montgomery 45 - Dearly Beloved - that was released on the Scepter label. I think Armen's distributor (Music Merchants?) handled this label. Both sodes are great! I imagine it's one of the earliest Theodore/Coffey Productions. Did you record those sides at Golden World. I know Don Mancha was involved.
Graham

By acoooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 04:44 am:

Mike - if you speak to Armen - would you be good enough to ask hin if remembers a label he had called Knock-Out. There were just two 45s released, both by a female group named The Sonnettes. Norman Whitfield wrote one of the sides and the releases are c. 1962.
Thanks, Graham

By Davie Gordon (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 01:42 pm:

Graham,

I think the name of the label for the
Sonnettes was K.O.

The Sonnettes was apparently Norman Whitfield's
first production.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 01:47 pm:

Davie - I think 45s were printed with either "KO" and "Knock-Out."

Graham

By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 03:16 pm:

Hi Graham
I will be talking to Armen soon and will be glad to follow up on your question.
As far as the Jack Montgomery session. It was one of the first Theo-Coff arrangement gigs.
I am not sure what studio we used but I do not think it was Golden World.
Maybe Dennis remembers.

Mike

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 30, 2002 - 12:01 pm:

Thanks Mike,
There were another two Jack Montgomery recordings released, one song is titled "Don't Turn Your Back On Me."
I guess you did these sessions at the same time. Does that song title ring a bell?
Graham

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 01:12 am:

Hey Graham. I think we recorded that Jack Montgomery session at United Sound Studios.

Dennis

By acooolcat (211.78.28.80 - 211.78.28.80) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 12:20 pm:

Thanks Dennis.
Mike - your name's on both sides of a Gino Washington 45.
Can you remember arranging "Now You're Lonely" and "Romeo"? The label is called W.I.G. and was connected to Sidra records; Bob d'Orleans has the publishing.
Best wishes, Graham

By Mike Theodore (68.38.221.96 - 68.38.221.96) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 03:49 pm:

Hi Graham
Yes I remember Gino and I remember doing the sessions for him. I knew him and his family well at that time. The original relases was on a label called Creed and the original publisher was Teke Music. We did the sessions at either Tera-Shirma
or United Sound.
Mike

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.85 - 195.219.7.85) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 06:39 pm:

MAY I JUST ALSO SEND MY SINCERE,BEST WISHES ON TO MR.STRATON AND TO ALL HIS FAMILY.WITH THANKS. MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 04:51 am:

Mike, what a great memory - I forgot to mention the Creed 45. I think Gino owned the label with another couple of guys - Were you one of them? I think The Debonaires are singing background.
Best wishes, Graham

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.18 - 195.219.7.18) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 03:46 pm:

MIKE,DENNIS,WERE YOU ALSO INVOLVED WITH JACK MONTGOMERYS TRACK ON THE AUSTONS LABEL/A0001-BEAUTY ISNT BORN(VOCAL&INST).I ALSO RECALL THAT YOU BOTH PRODUCED MELVIN DAVIS-LOVE BUG GOT A BEAR HUG/FAITH ON MALA.(GOOD THUMPING BEAT,WITH LOTS OF STRINGS DARTING IN&OUT)WITH FAITH BEING MORE MID-TEMPO.CAN YOU ADD ANYTHING PLEASE.MANY THANKS,MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 09:25 pm:

Hey Mel&thensome. I don't remember that one. I guess I would have to hear it. Maybe Mike remembers it.

Dennis

By Ian W (213.122.57.43 - 213.122.57.43) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:17 pm:

Hi Dennis,

Did you get the Lonette 45 and the cassette I posted? On the cassette is Jack Montgomery's single on Austons mentioned earlier by Mel. I'll try and get your photo scanned from when you visited Manchester's Beatin' Rhythm!

By Ian W (213.122.57.43 - 213.122.57.43) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:26 pm:

Mike,

The Sonnettes 45s mentioned by Graham - the second 45 is titled 'Hit And Run Lover' and was written by Kendricks/Davis/Boladian.

You made a great team with Dennis!

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.196.57 - 205.188.196.57) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 01:04 am:

Hey Ian. I did get the record and cassette. Thanks. I enjoyed meeting you.

Dennis

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.4 - 195.219.7.4) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 07:11 pm:

HEY GUYS,THE OTHER SONNETTES TRACK ON K.O.OOO1-WAS,IVE GOTTEN OVER YOU.DENNIS,WAS BILLY WOODS AT SUSSEX AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU WERE?AND IS THE DENNIS COFF ON MAVERICK RECORDS,ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU IN ANY WAY.CHEERS,MEL.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.106.53 - 64.12.106.53) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 10:53 pm:

Hi Mel&Thensome. Hair and Thangs on Maverick was my first album for Clarence Avant. I don't remember Billy Woods.

Dennis

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.119 - 195.219.7.119) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 04:51 pm:

Hi Dennis,I forgot you were on the MAVERICK label,did you meet Terrible Tom,he had a massive northern soul track on maverick,called,We were made for each other.An absolute wall-shaking,brilliant stomper.Icould go on forever talking to you,so much,that youve done.So i wont waffle on,but im reading an article 1972,which states,the first guy to use a wah,wah,pedal,in the pop/rnb mode,Dennis Coffee.Using it for the temps& Cloud nine,also,The Detroit Guitar Band(Jack Ashford on drums&on bass guitarBob Babbitt).MAGIC.So Dennis,thanks for all youve given us,especially,those ric-tic sessions.And a very early track,i first heard around 1971,Real Humdinger.cheers.Mel(andthensome).

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.201.214 - 205.188.201.214) on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 04:32 pm:

Hi Mel. Thanks for the compliments. I appreciate the interest in my music from everyone on this forum. I didn't meet Terrible Tom unless he went under another name and lived here in Detroit.

Dennis Coffey

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.69 - 195.219.7.69) on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 01:40 pm:

Dennis,the Terrible Tom I mentioned was a Tom Bowden from Portola,which I think is in Oakland,and is married to one of the NATURAELLES,a Lauretta Bowden.I dont know if this rings any bells with you?MEL.

By Flynny (213.1.133.128 - 213.1.133.128) on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 07:08 pm:

Anyone know why he was called, "Terrible" Tom, on the 45?

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.21 - 195.219.7.21) on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 01:42 pm:

Flynny,apparantly tom,claimed to be the first black kid born in Portola,(an all white neighbourhood),the night he was born,there was a mighty storm and his mother had to go there to give birth.Tom,like the Ballads,was brought up in the slums of Oakland and this is where he got his nickname from,as he went back and forth to reformatory school.He started as a professional boxer and won all of his 17 fights,15 by k.o.a very good record by anyones standards.His first cousin was Jesse Belvin(the late)where he got his inspiration to sing.he rubbed shoulders on various west coast stages with the likes of The Temptations,4 Tops,Jackie Wilson,Aretha Franklin,Little Richard,and the Ballads.In july 1965,he stated he had dropped his terrible ways(although he had just cut we were made for each other)as he had started doing social work in the slums to help kids with his same unfortunate background as himself.tom has also sang in San Quentin,and stated if his showbiz life was not a success,he would dedicate his life to social work.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By Flynny (213.122.201.153 - 213.122.201.153) on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 04:34 pm:

Fascinating, as Mr.Spock would say! ;-)
Nice one.

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.199.166 - 205.188.199.166) on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 12:26 am:

Hi Mel. I don't remember Tom Bowden. Sorry.

Dennis

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.98 - 195.219.7.98) on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 01:17 pm:

Dennis,thanks for taking the time out to replying,not just to this,but everything else ive asked you.MEL.

By acooolcat (211.78.28.74 - 211.78.28.74) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 01:15 pm:

Mike and Dennis - I recently spoke to Don Mancha and he told me he thought those Jack Montgomery tracks were cut at T-S.
Graham

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.107.152 - 64.12.107.152) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 09:23 pm:

Hey Graham. I thought we did that first session at United. Maybe Ralph remembers. If we cut it at Tera Shirma he would probably remember it.

Dennis

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 11:46 pm:

Right Dennis,
Like I even remember what I was doing yesterday. Well to quote Joe Messina...If it sounds good...we did it.

By acooolcat (211.78.28.85 - 211.78.28.85) on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 08:42 am:

Dennis - I mentioned United to Don and he ummed a bit. You could be right.
Graham

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.105.38 - 64.12.105.38) on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 01:36 pm:

Hey Graham and Ralph. Well I know we recorded it somewhere. If I can remember what I am supposed to do next week, I am having a good day! ;-)

Dennis