By matt (208.130.56.167 - 208.130.56.167) on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 05:44 pm:

has he been discussed here? i heard that he passed away not long ago. any info? i had the pleasure of seeing him play quite a few times. what a character. sitting at the organ with an electric guitar in his lap, sherlock holmes hat on his head, smoking a pipe...

does he play on "band of gold"?

matt

By RJ Spangler (205.188.197.39 - 205.188.197.39) on Monday, June 17, 2002 - 09:11 pm:

I had the pleasure of using Preacher on guitar with Alberta Adams a number of times. He was a regular studio player for Invictus. A real sweethart of a guy. As Matt said, he played both organ and guitar. Johnnie Bassett once told me he was "the best rhythm guitartist around Detroit." He was VERY funky. He used to love to jam on "In The Ghetto." When I was working with him, he was living with drummer baby Pepper, who plays with Cash McCall. Preacher called me to inform me he had moved into a Church. Pepper called out of the blue one day to say Preacher was found dead in the Church. I wish I knew more. Preacher is on many of those Invictus sides and can he heard on the Cash McCall CD and the latest Cody Black CD, produced by Mack Rice.
RJ Spangler

By Ian W (213.123.44.20 - 213.123.44.20) on Monday, June 17, 2002 - 09:52 pm:

RJ, is this the same Alberta Adams who did 'I Got A Feeling' on the Thelma label? If so, ...what a record!

By Andy Alonzo (63.96.230.167 - 63.96.230.167) on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 01:52 am:

Preacher was one of the finest guitar players around, he had a style of his own. He played on both sides of the Latin Counts 45. Not just a great player, but a great man.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.56.81 - 213.122.56.81) on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 07:55 am:

Ian

Yes, this is Alberta.

I've never heard that track on Thelma.

By RJ Spangler (152.163.206.207 - 152.163.206.207) on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 08:06 am:

Yes, that is the same Alberta Adams on Thelma. A collector I know of made me a copy of the song last year. She also recorded for Chess under her own name and is on a TJ Fowler side on Savoy. By the way, as Andy Alonzo knows, Alberta's late son was James Drayton of the Five Dollars and the Don Jauns. One thing about Preacher, he was not a virtuoso, but damn he sure "had that thang" in his playing. Sho nuff greasy funk.

By Ian W (62.6.67.25 - 62.6.67.25) on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 09:32 pm:

RJ & David

I have a copy of the record on a cassette. It's one of the first Thelma recordings, a bit early to be described as 'Northern' soul, more uptempo blues and/or gospel. She really delivers the song! Wow!

By RJ Spangler (66.14.7.138 - 66.14.7.138) on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 09:59 pm:

Yes, I agree with Ian, it's not Northern Soul and yes, she does deliver the goods! I am with her now on the way to the Pacific NW for gigs at several jazz & blues clubs and appearances at the Vancouver and Victoria Jazz fests. Alberts's son, James Daryton (Five Dollars/Don Juans) passed last year at the age of 69 so she has to be in her mid to late 80's. She sez she'll "give out before she gives up!" Alberta was an orphan and has sketchy birth records. She is quite a lady indeed.
RJ Spangler
via internet cafe in WI

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 11:22 pm:

RJ...tell her to tear the house down.

By acooolcat (61.202.229.133 - 61.202.229.133) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 06:36 am:

R J, Please pass my warm regards on to Alberta.
Does she remember recording those Thelma sides for Mr & Mrs Coleman?
Best wishes, Graham