By RJ Spangler (205.188.193.33 - 205.188.193.33) on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 02:24 am:

I am sure many of you know Joe Weaver was a mainstay at Fortune Records where he was house bandleader/pianist behind acts like Nolan Strong, Andre Williams, the Five Dollars, etc. He also recorded with his band, the Bluenotes, featuring his own vocals. Joe's cousin was drummer Benny Benjamin and thus Joe was also involved with Motown doing demos and live dates. He does rare dates around Detroit and will return to Holland in the fall, this time with the Motor City R&B Pioneers (Stanley Mitchell & Kenny Martin).

Joe has a few gigs this month I thought folks might want to know about. This Wednesday Joe is at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak with my band, the Rhythm Rockers. The show is from 6 to 7:30pm.
Below is a press release about the other show:

The Tangent Gallery, Spangler Blues Productions & Big City Blues Magazine present a summer blues picnic/BBQ and blues show featuring Fortune Records Legend Joe Weaver, RJ's Rhythm Rockers and Jeff Grand & the Grand Masters at the Tangent Gallery, 715 Millwaukee, Detroit, on July 28, from 3pm to ????
Tangent Gallery: 313.873.2944
Spangler Blues Productions: 313.881.3005
or: rjblues2@aol.com

I want to also mention that Stanley Mitchell will the special guest with the Rhythm Rockers next week at Detroit's Palmer Park (July 18, 6 to 7:30pm)

If you dig authentic R&B, you might want to check this out. If you know about these wonderful fellows, your continued support is certainly apreciated.

Thanks,
RJ Spangler

By acooolat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 03:08 am:

RJ, it's great to hear that Joe is still performing. I know one 45 of his from the early 1960s, something involving Don Davis. Do you know if Joe has a Detroit gig in September - I'll be in town then.
Wasn't Stanley Mitchell in a vocal group that recorded a song called... something like... "4 O'Clock In The Morning" in the very early 60s, or late 50s?
Best wishes,
Graham (in Taiwan)

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 04:03 pm:

Graham,

Stanley was in The Tornados from around 1956
to 1960, they had a single on Chess and later
on another on BumbleBee. CAn't recall the titles
offhand but I think "Four In The Morning" was
their Chess single in '56.

By RJ Spangler (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 06:30 pm:

Graham,
As David sez, "Four O'Clock in the Morning" was the Tornados hit for Chess in the 50's. Stanley told me the bassist was Willy Dixon. It's available on a Chess comp today. Later tunes by Stanley can be found UK Northern Soul comps. Stanley still sings the hell out of "Four O'Clock in the Morning!" As Mack Rice told me "Stanley Mitchell has always been a BALLIN' tenor."
RJ Spangler

By Sue (64.244.93.44 - 64.244.93.44) on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 06:58 pm:

Stanley's talent stands on its own, but I have to say, to my ears he had a great Jackie Wilson type tenor when I heard him live last winter at the Music Menu. An incredible range, he sounds like he has notes he still hasn't sung ...

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 03:56 am:

Thanks everyone, and yes Davie, I see that The Tornados had "Ginie In The Jug/Love In Your Life" on Bumble Bee #503 c.1959.
Does anyone know who else was in the group?
Graham

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 04:09 pm:

Graham,

I've a line-up for the Tornados at home - I'll
try to post details tomorrow. William Weatherspoon
was a member and wrote "Genie in the Jug" - possibly his first published song.

By RJ Spangler (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 09:30 pm:

Fellas,
I just spoke with Stanley on the phone. He sez Willaim Weatherspoon, Charles Sutton & Ben Knight were the Tornadoes. Charles was later replaced by Bobby Eaton. Ben sang bass with the Falcons reunion I was involved with a few years ago. Alonzo Tucker wrote "Four O'Clock in Morning" by the way. -RJ Spangler

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 03:32 am:

RJ - thanks to you and Stanley.
Please give him my regards and let him know he has a fan in Taiwan.
Graham

By Greg (192.147.58.6 - 192.147.58.6) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 02:09 pm:

What does Stanley remember about "Get it baby" and "Quit twistin my arm" ? Since the backing tracks were used elsewhere, I presume he just sang over the pre-recorded tracks, but how on earth did he ever sing "Get it baby". Did he make up the words himself on the spot? Or was it Popcorn Wylie and Tony Hestor who told him what to sing? It sounds spontaneous to me, but I'd like to know the full story.

By john lester (213.1.135.40 - 213.1.135.40) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 09:32 pm:

Are we talking about William Weatherspoon of Dean-Weatherspoon (Motown) and later of Invictus fame?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 09:42 pm:

I was wondering about that myself, but didn't want to appear ignorant! Thanks, John! :o)

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 10:17 am:

John, Ritchie

Yes - THE William Weatherspoon.

Thanks RJ you beat me to it !

Here's the details of the Chess single

Chess 1649 Stanley Mitchell and the Tornados
"Four O'Clock In The Morning"
"Would You, Could You"
released 12/ 56

There are a few unissued Tornados tracks in the Chess vaults - I'm trying to track down the titles.

Bobby Eaton replaced Charles Sutton ( who'd been
in the original Midnighters) after the Bumble Bee
single.

He and Ben Knight were of course later in the
wonderful Brothers of Soul with dozens of writer
/ producer credits in addition to their own discs

By John Lester (213.1.137.75 - 213.1.137.75) on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 07:56 pm:

Mr Weatherspoon has a bit of explaining to do...we need to ge him here on the forum.

RALPH!!! Where are you...I have a little job for you!!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 11:27 pm:

Yes John,
What would you like done?

By John Lester (213.1.133.126 - 213.1.133.126) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 12:44 pm:

Your task is to find William Weatherspoon...and persuade him in your usual kind and friendly manner, that he should posting on this forum!!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 01:42 pm:

John,
I'll think on it.

By acooolcat (211.78.28.71 - 211.78.28.71) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 02:58 pm:

John - there was a photo of me knocking on William's door on this very site - but it seems to have disappeared.
Graham

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 03:01 pm:

Maybe he let you in...

By John lester (213.1.134.28 - 213.1.134.28) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 07:23 pm:

what a shame...I missed it...

By david, glasow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 07:29 pm:

John

Go to the Northern Soul Tour and click on "Paying Homage". Then click on the photo that comes up.

Another site glitch. Thanks for pointing it out Graham.

By RJ Spangler (205.188.193.42 - 205.188.193.42) on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 07:13 pm:

Sorry, I was at the Ottawa Blues fest with Alberta Adams. You folks knock me out (Stanley too)! Greg, to answer your question, yes, those are Popcorns tracks that Stan sang over and he seems to recall Popcorn provided the words also.
Stanley just told me that Mr. Weatherspoon just had a triple bypass and is recovering well. Also, yes, this is the Dean/Weatherspoon from Motown and Invitus.
Stan also sez that they recorded 6 sides for Chess but only the two came out.

Thanks for the interest. Remember, Stan will be at Palmer Park in Detroit this Thursday, from 6 to 7:30pm in a free concert with my group, the Rhythm Rockers.

-RJ Spangler

By Greg (192.147.58.6 - 192.147.58.6) on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 07:34 pm:

Thanks for the info on Stanley Mitchell's fantastic "Get it baby". I'm sure Popcorn didn't spend too much time coming up with those words, though (get it girl, oh get it, come on and get it...)! "Quit twistin my arm", now that's something altogether different. How many times do you think Popcorn used the same backing tracks again and again? Doesn't matter, really, as they're great tracks!

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 03:12 pm:

Hi RJ,

Sorry to hear William Weatherspoon's been ill - please ask Stanley to pass on our best wishes to him.

Re The Tornados - according to my info. ( from
an article on the Midnighters by Marv Goldberg )
there were 2 separate Tornados sessions for Chess.

The first, in 1956, produced 5 tracks, two of them
issued as the single. They had a second Chess
recoduing session in 1958 when another three tracks were cut but none were issued.

The unissued titles are : -

The River
Papers
Please Mr. Mailman
Don't You Know
Back To School
Your Touch

By RJ Spangler (205.188.197.41 - 205.188.197.41) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 01:33 am:

David,
Stanley insists there was only one session at Chess and sez your titles sound corect (its been a while). I passed on your best wishes concerning Mr. Weatherspoon.
I know many in forum are all over the globe, but Detroiters out there be sure to support Stanley tomorrow at Palmer Park from 6 to 7:30pm. We will be near Gatliff Pool, close to 7 mile.
-RJ Spangler

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 04:14 am:

RJ, Would you be kind enough to relay my "Get Well Soon" wishes to William Weatherspoon?
Graham

By John Lester (213.122.201.58 - 213.122.201.58) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 08:06 am:

Me too....RJ.....me too..

A great man that has given me unlimited hours of listening pleasure.

Any chance of you getting a picture of him...I have never even seen him..only his front door (thanks Graham!)

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 04:25 pm:

Hi RJ,

Thanks for passing on our best wishes to William.

The Marv Goldberg article which gave me the info.
on the Tornados was printed in "Discoveries". I
checked Marv's own website and was very pleased
to see that it's one of his articles that's
available on-line.

Here's the URL for the article

www.home.att.net/~marvy/royals.html

Marv is one of my favourite writer / researchers
and he has made quite a few of his interviews
with doo-wop groups available on the web. To see
what's there go to the home page

www.home.att.net/~marvy.com
click on "Marv's articles" then scroll through the list.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 05:42 pm:

http://www.home.att.net/~marvy/royals.html
http://www.home.att.net/~marvy.com

By RJ Spangler (205.188.197.46 - 205.188.197.46) on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 10:03 pm:

Graham,you wanted to know if Joe had any Detroit gigs in Sept. This is to inform you that he is doing a thing called Labor Fest with Kenny Martin & Stanley Mitchell on Sept 2 (Labor Day). He will also be at the Motor City Casino on Sept 24 on a review with Johnnie Bassett, Thornetta Davis & Alberta Adams. I am sitting in my office with Joe right now and he thrilled to find he a fan as far away at Taiwan! He hopes to meet you if your schedule works so you can come to one of his shows.
RJ Spangler

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 11:29 am:

RJ - I'm gutted. I don't arrive in Detroit until Sept 5th and leave on the 22nd.
Do you or Joe have any intention of attending The Clawson show on the 6th? Or is there a chance of meeting you for a coffee and a chat?
Best wishes,
Graham

By RJ Spangler (152.163.207.182 - 152.163.207.182) on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 06:27 pm:

I don't know much about the Clawson show....what can you tell me? I am playing that night with Alberta, but the afternoon is open...
RJ Spangler

By Willy (209.142.215.167 - 209.142.215.167) on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 06:45 pm:

Hey RJ, What time does the R&B Pioneers show at George & Harry's start on Friday?

By acooolcat (211.78.28.74 - 211.78.28.74) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 01:20 pm:

RJ,
There's thread on the forum regarding the Clawson event on the 6th. If you're not going then I'll gladly call to see you in your office. In fact that would be preferable, as we'll have a better chance to have a chat.
Please let me know what time and where to go.
acooolcat@yahoo.com
Many thanks,
Graham

By acooolcat (211.78.28.74 - 211.78.28.74) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 01:28 pm:

RJ, I've remembered that I have some news clips, and a photo, of the Tordanos with the line-up as your post of July 11th that I copied from The Chronicle.
Graham

By Sue (152.163.194.182 - 152.163.194.182) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 01:55 pm:

The Sept. 2 gig Joe, Stanley Mitchell and Kenny Martin are playing as the Motor City Rhythm and Blues Pioneers is a great party, it's outside, in downtown Detroit, right after the Labor Day parade ...it's also free thanks to the UAW, and the Latin Counts are also on the bill.