By Greg (67.82.201.184 - 67.82.201.184) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 07:34 pm:

I was fortunate enough to meet Herman Griffin's widow a few months ago, and I was curious to know if any of the people on this board had worked with Mr Griffin and would willing to share any stories or reminiscences.

By M.McLeanTech (64.236.243.243 - 64.236.243.243) on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 10:36 pm:

I remember seeing Herman Griffin many times back in the 1961-64 period at Hitsville. I seem to remember that he and Mary Wells were either very close, or married. I could be wrong. He was a short fellow who always seemed like he was very busy with one thing or another.

Another fellow a little like Herman was George Fowler, who was in charge of the Gospel Department. George was a little more relaxed then Herman.

Mike McLean

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 12:25 am:

Hey Mike,
Welcome home!

By M.McLeanTech (64.236.243.243 - 64.236.243.243) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 01:02 am:

Thanks Ralph. Don't fail to read all of the posting directly below about bass players.

Mike McLean

By Greg (67.82.201.184 - 67.82.201.184) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 10:31 am:

Yes, Herman was married to Mary Wells. After they split, he married Gigi Jackson (of Gigi and the Charmaines).

By Willy (64.27.214.241 - 64.27.214.241) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 01:39 pm:

Herman was the first artist to record a Barry Gordy song, unfortunately, my brain is frozen and I can't remember the song right now.

By Willy (64.27.214.241 - 64.27.214.241) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 01:40 pm:

Herman was the first artist to record a Berry Gordy song, unfortunately, my brain is frozen and I can't remember the song right now.

By willy (64.27.214.241 - 64.27.214.241) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 01:41 pm:

see what I mean about the brain freeze...

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 04:07 pm:

That'a ok Willy. You're among friends here.

By keith hughes (195.92.67.74 - 195.92.67.74) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 06:23 pm:

I'm so glad I learned to do the cha cha was one of the sides of that record, I think I need you was the other. Dunno which one BG wrote without checking, though.

By john lester (213.1.129.199 - 213.1.129.199) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 09:17 pm:

I am still trying to learn it...is it easy Keith?

LOL

By john lester (213.1.129.199 - 213.1.129.199) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 09:20 pm:

after that last note, I better be good...

....I have a picture of Herman Griffin to post.....

I scanned it at work on Adobe and the file size is 1600KB....how the heck do I get it from the office computer with only a floppy disk medium and the internet. BTW, I only have aol for internet access.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 09:29 pm:

John

If there's a "resample" function in your software, you could reduce the image resolution. (This is measured in DPI - dots per inch - and it was probably scanned at a high resolution by default.) The general resolution for web images is 72 dpi, so if you can reduce the image to this, the file size will reduce accordingly. Alternatively, you could email it me from work, and I'll sort it out. :o)
- Mail me off-list if you like.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 12:12 pm:

Herman Griffin and The Melow-dees recorded "Hurry Up And Marry Me - Do You Want To See My Baby" for Anna Records - #1115.
Graham

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 04:01 pm:

Here's what info. I have on Herman's records

HOB 112 12/58
I NEED YOU SO (Berry Gordy)
I'M SO GLAD I LEARNED TO CHA CHA CHA
(Berry Gordy - W... Johnson)
Prod. Berry Gordy

Stepp 237 4/60
HURRY UP AND MARRY ME (Wm. Stevenson)
DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY BABY (Wm. Stevenson)
Prod. Wm. Stevenson
(reissued on Anna 1115, 5/60)

Tamla 54032 10/60
TRUE LOVE (Don Davis)
IT'S YOU (Don Davis)
(reissued on Columbia 41591, 10/60)

Motown 1028 06/62
SLEEP,LITTLE ONE (Wm. Stevenson - Ivy Jo Hunter)
UPTIGHT (Brian Holland - Barney Ales -Irv Biegel)

Double L 718 08/63
NEVER TRUST YOUR GIRLFRIEND (Stevenson - Bateman)
MR. HEARTBREAKER
Prod. Bob Bateman (?)

Mercury 72401 02/65
DREAM GIRL (Van McCoy)
NOTHING BEATS A FAILURE BUT A TRY (Hunter - Hunter)
Prod. Andre Williams arr - Dale Warren
(Dream Girl is on UK CD "Northern Soul - Lost
and Found " Goldmine GSCD ... )

Spring 103 1970 (THE BOYS IN THE BAND)
BOYS IN THE BAND (Leiber - Stoller)
SUMPIN' HEAVY
Prod. Bob Feldman & Herman Griffin
["Boys" is on UK cd "The Spring Story" on Kent)

Spring 106 1970 (THE BOYS IN THE BAND)
MONEY MUSIC (Bob Feldman, Richard Gottehrer)
FIVE FAT FAST FUNKY FINGERS

Magic Touch 007
ARE YOU FOR ME OR AGAINST ME ?
GETTIN' BETTER - inst.

Additions, corrections are welcome

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 10:06 am:

Davie - Do you have any details of a "Barbees" 45 on Stepp?
Graham

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 03:10 pm:

Graham,

I'm pretty certain I do - check tomorrow

John, this is today's Velvelettes reference !

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 04:25 pm:

Graham,

Stepp 236 The Barbees
The Wind / Que Pasa

If I remember correctly the producer was Mickey
Stevenson.

I've seen it stated somewhere or other that it was
released in 1957 but that seems awfully early.
The Herman Griffin single's from 1960 so that
might be a more accurate date.

By John Lester (213.122.202.1 - 213.122.202.1) on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 07:41 pm:

what..how...who....err.....

The Barbees.....ah yeah...I dont' have it...some guy wouldn't sell it to me...I was heartbroken..

The group consists of Bertha, cousin Norma and cousin Joyce and Uncle Simon......Producer was Mickey....Mickey was how the VELVELETTES managed to get an audition at Motown.... It all happened one day and.........

I have a picture of it. I can email it to David if you want it.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 04:32 am:

Davie - I have a date of 1957 too, but as you say - it does seem rather early.
John - I'd love to see a picture/scan of it. Are you saying The Barbees were connected to The Velvelettes?
Many thanks, Graham

By John Lester (213.1.136.41 - 213.1.136.41) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 05:57 am:

Graham........

YES - The Barbees have 50% of the Velvelettes as members.

Bertha and Norma...

By John Lester (213.1.136.41 - 213.1.136.41) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 06:03 am:

This is a scan of the Barbees 45 from 1957

\image

By John Lester (213.1.136.41 - 213.1.136.41) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 06:13 am:

Hopefully this is a picture of the Barbees 45 with the light turned on!!

By John Lester (213.1.136.41 - 213.1.136.41) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 06:17 am:

My gawd...it's worked........I am thrilled....absolutely thrilled....

I shall do the other side now...

woweee

Notice the co-writers...Mickey Stevenson and Simon Barbee....Bertha dates it at 1957...and she was IN the group!!

By John Lester (213.1.136.41 - 213.1.136.41) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 06:18 am:

Hopefully this is the second scan of the Barbess 45!!

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 11:32 am:

Fantastic John, at 6 am too! Thanks very much.
I see the name Simon Barbee-Brown: Is that one person? What do you know about the 45? Where was it recorded etc.
Graham

By John Lester (213.1.134.91 - 213.1.134.91) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 01:00 pm:

Graham

Go ahead and list all your questions and then I will TRY to ask Norma and Bertha to answer them for you. I am not sure either of them has internet connections but I am more than happy to telephone them and ask

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 01:27 pm:

John,
You're one BAD dude.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 01:43 pm:

Thanks John,
I guess you alredy know some of the information, and would be grateful if you'd list the full names of the singers on this Stepp 45.
Here are a few questions;
How did you meet Mickey Stevenson?
Can you remember meeting a guy named Fred Brown?
Who is Simon Barbee-Brown?
Where did you record the Stepp 45 songs?

TIA, Graham

By John Lester (213.1.133.88 - 213.1.133.88) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 08:02 pm:

Graham - I have written them down...and I'll try to phone her this week.

Ralph...I thought my posting of an image was quite good too...I feel real computer literate for once in my life!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 08:47 pm:

John,
Hmmmm....for once in my life....could be a good song title there.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 09:37 am:

John

You realise the downside is, every time you say, "I've got a picture of.." there's NO EXCUSE now! Glad to see you mastered the mystical art of posting images ;o)

PS, were the pics from eBay, by any chance?

By John Lester (213.122.201.246 - 213.122.201.246) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 07:32 pm:

Ritchie.......I think they might have been from ebay or maybe the seller on ebay sent them..I can't recall now. Does it make a difference then?

I might be able to load an image but I still haven't got a scanner...

The scanner at work makes files sizes for pictures too big for me to put onto a floppy disc to bring home......and they take about 40 minutes to send - plus using aol at work is always HARD WORK!!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 08:16 pm:

John

As Ritchie said earlier you probably need to re-size your images before sending them.

reduce the width to say 450 pixels, and the "kb size" shrinks accordingly.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 08:57 pm:

John

Re the eBay question - it was the just iPIX logo that gave it away! No problem - I simply recognised it as eBay's image-hosting program.

Regarding resizing images, there must be a method of "resampling" or "resizing" in the software that your scanner is bringing the images into. As David says, reducing the physical dimensions of the image will reduce the file size. Also, reducing the resolution (the DPI value) will reduce both the image size and the file size, making it more manageable in every way. Alternatively, you should be able to scan at a lower resolution in the first instance. Mail me if you get stuck ;o)

By Davie Gordon (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 01:21 pm:

Hi John,

Thanks for the scan of the Barbees disc - just out
of curiosity do you have any idea how much the
record sold for ?

I'm trying to find an old issue of "Discoveries"
which has an interview with the girls in which they talk about the Stepp disc - I know roughly
where it is but if you don't hear from me within
the next week I'm probably buried under piles
of old nagazines and books.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 01:28 pm:

Please keep digging for it Davie.
Graham

By John Lester (213.1.135.153 - 213.1.135.153) on Thursday, July 25, 2002 - 09:52 pm:

Its in a few articles actually........

The Goldmine article is about 1988..when it was all Women of Motown..that might be the one where Cal talks about the French recorded tracks.....

In The Basement is another article..and John Perrone's internet show of a few months back got Bertha talking about it. I did ring Norma but she wasn't answering the phone..I assume she was out.......I shall keep trying......