| Author | Message | ||
  NY-DELL-1 (nydell) 2-Debutant Username: nydell Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 38.117.188.10 |
I hear about a lot of groups that are still working even if they have replacements but nothing recently regarding two of my favorites The Spinners and The Whispers I know the Spinners don't have John Edwards singing lead for them anymore (due to illness I've heard) and G.C. Cameron is now with the Temptations and The Whispers just seem to have fallen off the face of the earth does anyone have info on these two groups. | ||
Nosey (nosey) 4-Laureate Username: nosey Post Number: 80 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.153.113.238 |
NY-Dell: I saw the Spinners @ 2 years ago when GC and John Edwards were both on stage. John Edwards was struggling and the effects of the stroke was very apparent. He was unsteady on his feet and his voice wasn't as strong. I was down front and I saw something go down that was not right and someone else who was there but who will remain anonymous for good reasons, agreed with my assessment. This is what I saw: Bobby Smith signaled the band leader (on the DL) to end the song just when John Edwards was about to sing another verse of "Cupid Draw Back Your Bow". John rolled his eyes and sorta sighed when this obvious diss occurred. (Remember this is happening in nano seconds but being "Nosey" I caught it all!) I got the impression that John was no longer wanted and this was his way of really letting it be known and on stage even! I saw the Whispers at a Mother's Day show 2001 with Stephanie Mills. They were excellent. | ||
Soul-Brother (soulbrother) 4-Laureate Username: soulbrother Post Number: 71 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.234.189.152 |
Detroit Spinners.. as we call them in Europe.. G.C.Cameron has now left and is with the Temptations. John Edwards had one of the best soul/gospel voices before he joined the Spinners..his material on Cotillion & Aware was superb. http://www.soulcellar.co.uk/Jo hnEdwardssDiscography.htm After joining the group he had to sound like Phillip Wynne.. so lost a lot of the rawness.It's a pity he is so unwell..and also sad that his association with the Spinners should end like this. Barry | ||
NY-DELL-1 (nydell) 2-Debutant Username: nydell Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 38.117.188.10 |
Nosey: Would you happen to know who's sing lead for them now I heard it maybe a former singer of The Futures. Why would the group let him perform if the stroke was as you say "very apparent". Plus the Whispers seem to only stay on the West Coast I seldom ever hear of them performing on the East Coast. | ||
Nosey (nosey) 4-Laureate Username: nosey Post Number: 83 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.153.113.238 |
NY-DELL: This is just my take on things. Contractually maybe they could not physically stop him from going on stage but it was obvious to me and to someone else that he got dissed. He wasn't moving much on stage but walking on and off, he was wobbly. Maybe the dissing wasn't intentional but when he stepped up to sing another verse he was cut off! It had to be unexpected because he rolled his eyes and frowned and dropped his hand to his side that had the mike in it. Every time I've seen the Whispers it's been in Philly. I've seen them a total of four times through the years. As a matter of fact the first time I saw them was in 1972 at a now defunct club called Ciro's. They asked for people to come on stage to dance and naturally, I got up there and did the "Bump" with my buddy Dennis who was a stranger at that time. Getting back to the Spinners: Don't know who is the lead now. As a matter of fact imo they were horrible that night. Their steps were corny and the people down front with me were laughing their heads off. It was like the act had not been updated since the 1970s. That Rubberband Man jawn was hysterical. Billy Henderson was huffing and puffing trying to keep up and getting the rubber bands twisted. Sadly it was hysterical. They were the last act and people were still laughing in the parking lot! | ||
Reese (reese) 3-Pundit Username: reese Post Number: 32 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.15.169.172 |
I saw the Whispers last year at Radio City Music Hall. They were on a bill with the Tempts, the Tops, and the O'Jays. Each group put on a good show. I caught the Spinners last year as well, at a 4th of July concert at Tanglewood. They put on a good show, but unfortunately, they had to compete with a fireworks display, so there was always a steady stream of people leaving during their set. By the time it was over, there were more empty seats than audience members. And it did seem as if Billy Henderson was having a hard time, keeping back out of much of the choreography. Nosey, regarding the Spinners concert you saw. I can't dispute your opinion because I wasn't there, so please don't be offended. You mention that John was struggling on stage. Maybe Bobby was signalling to the conductor to cut the song because John was having a hard time. Maybe they didn't want him to embarrass himself. Just a thought. | ||
NY-DELL-1 (nydell) 2-Debutant Username: nydell Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 38.117.188.10 |
Reese: Good point.....who was singing lead when you saw them last ? | ||
Reese (reese) 3-Pundit Username: reese Post Number: 35 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.15.169.172 |
NYDell: I can't recall the lead singer's name. But I saw it posted it elsewhere that he used to be a member of the Futures, Frank???. | ||
NY-DELL-1 (nydell) 2-Debutant Username: nydell Post Number: 28 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 38.117.188.10 |
Reese: Yes.....Frank Washington of The Futures. | ||
Nosey (nosey) 4-Laureate Username: nosey Post Number: 86 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.153.113.238 |
Reese, I'm not offended at all. There is always another side to any thing in life. You could be right. I just read the expression on John's face and he was caught totally off guard. | ||
johneflat (johneflat) 3-Pundit Username: johneflat Post Number: 52 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Saw the Whispers a couple weeks ago, opening for Franky Beverly. Sharp as a tack, Cleaner than the board of health, high energy show, and the STEPPIN! OMG! Harmony beautiful and precise.....Don't worry about these guys! | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 565 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
NY Dell, The Whispers make nearly yearly pilgrimages to New York. I'ved seen them with Phyllis Hyman at the Westbury Music Fair. I've seen them with The Dells & The Intruders at The Beacon Theater. They stay for a short period of time, but, they still come here. Juice | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 566 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Hey Nosey!!! I'm inclined to agree with Resse. I believe that they were sparing both John & the group major embarassment. It's sad to hear this though. | ||
Nosey (nosey) 4-Laureate Username: nosey Post Number: 89 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.153.113.238 |
Hi Juice: No matter whose right or wrong, it was sad seeing the hurt and disappointment on John's face and to see such a bad overall performance by the Spinners. I remember seeing them when Phillipe Wynn was with them and they tore "Mighty Love" up! I like the Spinners and was feeling bad for them cause the audience "was not with them" that night! | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 578 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Nosey, I agree with you. If John was that bad off, they should have made other arrangements long before. It's not as though stroke symptoms aren't evident. I can imagine that it must have hurt John tremendously. This was a man used to capturing the spotlight, it must have crushed him when that happened. That's one of the big differences between entertainers & us. Like a surgeon, they're not allowed a off night or a bad day. | ||
Nosey (nosey) 4-Laureate Username: nosey Post Number: 95 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.153.113.238 |
Juice: I know I couldn't be a performer because I know me and there would be times when I wouldn't be "feelin it". The fans deserve their monies worth so my hat goes off to any entertainer who gives 110% every time he/she/they hit the stage. And while we're enjoying the show, we never realize the drama that sometimes goes on immediately after the curtain closes. We like to think the groups are one big happy family but in reality, sometimes they ain't. |
