By C. Bell/Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 01:34 pm:

The Roots of Soulful Detroit are full of stories of starts, failures, and persistence. Joe Von Battle (J-V-B/VON) started then faded out, Bernie Besman and Elmer Barbee (Sensation) started then faded out, and The Brown Family (Fortune, HI-Q, Strate-8) started then faded out. There were, and still are, many label owners and musicians that have experienced periods of creative fatigue. Maybe a case of "creative fatigue" is what David is going through with the website.

Before the Soulful Detroit website I used to make fun of people who would go on chat rooms and live on their computer. Well the website forum inspired me how to use my scanner, send attachments, and I recently just got a digital camera to hopefully share some pictures on the internet. If leaving this unique medium behind is what David choses, then we (as participants) should support his choice but prepare to adopt and persist in some fashion. Which now leads into a great story of persistence that we should take notes on. This is a great story of how persistence would endure and eventually create the "Soundtrack of Life" through teamwork. Thanks to all the musicians, label owners, historians, and shared memories for "laying down the tracks" in Detroit!

By Eli (205.188.198.36 - 205.188.198.36) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 01:43 pm:

Well put and WOW!!!

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 01:50 pm:

3-D Record Mart! I'm pretty sure that this was the first attempt in the music business that Berry Gordy made. I remember reading that he did not carry Blues records but focused on Jazz. Maybe this would lead to the short existence of this business venture. I don't know about you, but thankfully this did not become as big as Tower Records. Berry persisted though.......

By C. Bell/Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:05 pm:

Rayber! (Raynoma/Berry) A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Ron Murphy for being the KING of Detroit soulful knowledge who turned my Dad, me, and many others onto these great historical recordings.

I remember reading that this was a recording service that was started by RAYnoma and BERry to get started in their own label venture. Berry still owns JOBETE??? It is a really good record that was just a taste of what was to come! Raynoma=UNSUNG HERO x 1000000

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:06 pm:

I was born in 1955 - does that make me pre-Motown? I am so glad I was born when I was, to appreciate it all.

By Eli (205.188.198.36 - 205.188.198.36) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:11 pm:

I suppose that in that regard I am pre-historic
or better yet MONO-lithic!!

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:15 pm:

Mike Power ZELMAN

Well there was probably a few dollars to be made on this one. This could of been part of the recording service because it is a Pop attempt.
The Rayber Voices are singing in the background just waiting for someone like: Marv Johnson, Eddie Holland, Barrett Strong, and Mable John.

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:18 pm:

UGHHH......Berry Persisted though...........

By U.g.G.H. (205.188.198.36 - 205.188.198.36) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:22 pm:

Wait till you hear my first ofering on Melron caled Big Butters. It was probably the world's first rap song circa 1962!!
Talking about uggh!!!!

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:34 pm:

The persistence seemed to have continued through many more obscure releases that had the JOBETE music publishing name on the label. The styles ranged from Rock and Roll instrumentals, Rock and Roll/Pop, and R&B. No gold records yet! His family probably wanted him to get a real job, settle down, have 2.5 children, and stop dreaming. (Dad are you listening?) Here are some more commercial failures that Berry kept persisting with.......

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:35 pm:

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By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:41 pm:

Bobby! I dig the Philly stuff too, but Andre Williams a.k.a. Mr. Rhythm is one of the first rappers to me. "Jail Bait", "Bacon Fat", "Please Pass the Biscuits", and etc.......

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:42 pm:

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:44 pm:

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:46 pm:

By C. Bell - Eric (67.25.205.223 - 67.25.205.223) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 03:20 pm:

The early ventures that Berry was involved with were not exactly success stories. He did have some luck writing songs for Jackie Wilson but probably was not fairly compensated for his works. The achievements that Berry made when the Motown idea was hatched were made through teamwork, dreams, and persistence. It is a shame that the Funk Brothers did not gain the respect that they SO deserve. Sometimes it takes a medium like this to make people realize how music sculpts our culture. Motown was there through civil rights movements, president and civil rights leader assassinations, and rioting. The songs that were created in Detroit became fight songs for the young and old of all races. To me that is the meaning of Motown, Soulful Detroit, and music in general. "What Can I Do"............

By Vickie (205.188.196.49 - 205.188.196.49) on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 08:41 pm:

Beautiful Eric - Just Beautiful!!!

Vickie

By Ian W (213.122.60.198 - 213.122.60.198) on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 09:33 pm:

Fantastic, Eric! Great label shots. Now we know what they look like!

By Julian (205.188.193.172 - 205.188.193.172) on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 05:26 am:

Wow I never knew of those pre-Motown labels!