By Jerry Light (68.17.241.211 - 68.17.241.211) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 02:31 pm:

Hi, I'm Jerry Light and a member of the original Valadiers, Motown's first white singing group. We released three records between '61 and '63 under Miracle and Gordy labels. All of the original five are still alive and in touch with each other and even doo-wop when we get together. We have lots of great memories and Motown history to share. Let us hear from you - if you have any questions....we were there!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 02:44 pm:

Jerry,
Welcome to the forum. Get ready. I'm sure there will be many questions coming your way.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 03:09 pm:

Hi Jerry

Indeed - welcome! OK, your starting round for four points.....

Who's who?



(pic from my own archive collection)

By Eli (205.188.198.188 - 205.188.198.188) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 06:01 pm:

Welcome indeed from Bobby Eli, The sound of Philadelphia

By John Lester (213.122.198.165 - 213.122.198.165) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:12 pm:

Jerry

Welcome from me too.

You go way back in our history books to a time when the Temps were sans David Ruffin, Sammy Ward, Francis Burnette, Supremes. Did you have idea what was in store for you all?

What do you remember about that that first session at Hitsville? Who was in the studio that day and do you recall working with the likes of Dale Warren, Andre Williams, CLarence Paul. And on a personal plea...have you got any stories on my idol, Hank Cosby please

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:14 pm:

Welcome to SoulfulDetroit Jerry.

By millie (64.152.158.28 - 64.152.158.28) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 01:47 am:

Hello Jerry,
Just listened to "Greetings from Uncle Sam" this evening. I met Stewie Avig when I was in high school, and we've kept in touch over the years. This site is absolutely amazing, and I know the other guys would enjoy it as well. As you may know, Andy Alonzo is on the site too. Welcome aboard Jerry...warning...it's addictive!

By Jerry Light (68.17.241.211 - 68.17.241.211) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 05:41 pm:

Regarding the picture sent by Richie - Top left is Marty Coleman - top right is Art Glasser - top middle is me ( Jerry Light) and bottom middle is Stewart Avig. There was also a fifth member not pictured: Gary Frankel. Thanks for all the welcomes! I'll try to post some stories tonight.

By Andy Alonzo (63.96.230.163 - 63.96.230.163) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 10:40 pm:

Hey Jerry, tell em about the time you guys took your parents to Motown to meet with them and sign contracts. Andy

By John Lester (213.1.135.249 - 213.1.135.249) on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 05:04 am:

So Jerry, was there 5 of you and not four?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 01:40 pm:

Jerry,
I never knew that Marty Coleman was a member of the group. The things one learns on this forum. Whatever became of Marty? The last I remember of him he was going through some sort of wierd changes and was acting strangely. Pam Sawyer and I ended up taking him to some hospital emergency room to be looked at.I can't remember the outcome of all this though. Is Marty still around?

By John Lester (213.1.130.95 - 213.1.130.95) on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 10:08 pm:

Ralph

Pam Sawyer is from the same area as me...hope you didn't think she talks odd!!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 10:31 pm:

John

I wonder how she ended up at Motown?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 11:57 pm:

John,
I thought Pam sounded just fine. I would probably think YOU sound odd.

David,
I'm not sure how Pam came to Motown. I don't think I ever thought to ask her.

By John Lester (213.1.131.24 - 213.1.131.24) on Friday, May 31, 2002 - 07:03 am:

That's it Ralph....just when I start to be nice to you - you get back at me!

Arghhh!

LOL!

By Jerry Light (66.157.221.6 - 66.157.221.6) on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 04:47 pm:

Hi, guys! I've been working on the road ( not singing!!)and this is the first chance I've had to respond - sorry! John, I do remember our first recording session. We were recording "Take a Chance" that Marty Coleman had written ( before Mary Wells' "I Don't Want To Take A Chance") In that recording Marty sang lead and Gary Frankel, Art Glasser, Stuart Avig and myself sang background. This was the only song we recorded with all five of the original Valadiers. We recorded it again after Gary left the group with just the four of us but Berry Gordy liked the first one better and released it on the other side of "Greetings". In the studio that day I recall Benny Benjamin, Jamie Jamerson and some other band members.

By Jerry Light (66.157.221.6 - 66.157.221.6) on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 05:02 pm:

John, Clarence Paul was our road man - traveled with us all the time. Not many people know this but he sang the the high-pitched ooooh-oooh sound
in the bridge of "While I'm Away".
We first auditioned at one of the open Friday auditions on West Grand Blvd. We were on the verge of breaking the group up because of a lack of progress but decided to give it one last shot.
When Smokey heard the five of us with Stuart Avig singing lead (acapella) in "Shop Around" ,Smokey gave Berry Gordy a thumbs up look and we were in! We were a white group with a soul sound!!

By Jerry Light (66.157.221.6 - 66.157.221.6) on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 05:11 pm:

John, "Singing Sammy Ward" was a happy-go-lucky guy who always wore a cowboy hat and could sing the blues like no one else.
About the Supremes - When there were four(Barbara Martin, Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson) we would pick them up at the Brewster Projects on Friday and Saturday nights. We all did shows for Frantic Ernie Durham at the 20 Grand and for Larry Dean at the Greystone Ballroom.

By Jerry Light (66.157.221.6 - 66.157.221.6) on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 05:22 pm:

Ralph - Marty Coleman was the heartbeat of the Valadiers.
He was one of the most talented people I ever met. From arranging, to writing, to lead, to background, Marty's direction guided us to Motown.
When the Valadiers broke up, Marty was asked to stay on with Motown as a writer. Marty and Stuart went on to combine their incredible talents as a duet - somewhat like the Righteous Brothers sound. Marty is still around although I haven't seen him since the late 70's. As with many who are so artistic and blessed with genius -it is said that he "marches to the beat of a different drummer".

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 06:07 pm:

Thanks Jerry,
Marty was / is extremely talented. It was during the time that he was going through the wierd changes that I heard what might have been his last work for Motown. Harry Balk called me into his office to listen to something, as he had a habit of doing. It was a ballad that Marty wrote and was singing. It was absolutely haunting. Unfortunately, and I suppose because of Marty's problems, Harry was at a loss as to what he could do with this incredible song.

By dowoplady (24.46.200.124 - 24.46.200.124) on Monday, June 03, 2002 - 04:07 am:

Hi Jerry,

I'm delighted to see you posting here! Would you be interested in being featured on our web site, Harmony Haven, which specializes in Detroit groups?

Please visit us at:

www.harmonytrain.com

We're in touch with Jay Johnson (Diablos/Velvet Angels/4 Sonics), and Jim Ellis, Chico Leverett, and Vern Williams of the Satintones, and feature them on our site.

I enjoy your music and would be interested in chatting with you. Please email me at Dowoplady@aol.com, if interested.

Thanks again for your great group sounds of the era!

In harmony,

Nikki Gustafson
Dowoplady@aol.com
www.harmonytrain.com

By John Lester (213.122.202.169 - 213.122.202.169) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 12:29 pm:

Jerry

Marty Coleman.....I recall his name...now let me think.......Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music. Yeah..I am sure that is one of his...that expression mearches to the beatr of a different drummer is a new one on me...we say "sixpence short of a shilling"....

Jerry can you keep talking please...I am fascinated here.

I listened to While Im Away and reckon it is possible to tell that Clarence Paul is on the song, (it's easy to say that when you are told first though!!!) I can almost feel his presence. The song is his key and the doo wops sound like him too. Wasn't Faye Hale involved with that record too...Can you tell me about Faye....also known as Faye Janet Hale.

Now I have dates of October 1961 for you....how does that sound to you. What songs did you record that didn't get put out....do you think there is enough for a Cd album's worth of material. (These days we talk of about 18 tracks for a CD)

What about backgrounds for other artists, whose songs were you on? Did you get roped in to provide handclaps and things too..

Now you know that Martha was the A&R secretary...that would have been about your time....can you recall her stint as Mickey's secretary?