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Message |
 
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144)
4-Laureate
Username: harlem_144
Post Number: 120
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.12.116.138
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 6:26 pm: �� |     ���  |
Did you know that Karl Chambers and Tony Drake
were members of Terry Johnson's Flamingos, in
1965 ? |
Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 179
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.183.209
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 6:55 pm: �� | ��� |
Who were Terry Johnson's Flamingos? Were they the continuation of The well-known Flamingos group who still had Jake and Zeke Carey when they left End, but lost Nate Nelson as lead? I believe he formed his own group, "The Starglows", of ATCO. Were Terry Johnson, Tony Drake and Karl Chambers the non-Carey members of The Flamingos on Philips? Or was there a different, local, Detroit, or Chicago group called "Terry Johnson's
Flamingos??? I was living in Chicago at that time, and drove to Detroit once a month to scrounge for records. As Tony Drake was from Chicago, I'm surprised I don't know anything about this. I assume the Terry Johnson you refer to is the same as he who recorded for Gordy, and was a local from Detroit?
(Message edited by Robb_K on May 08, 2004) |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 617
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 7:39 pm: �� | ��� |
I only know that Terry Johnson was their guitar player & he sang those soaring Falsetto parts on I Only Have Eyes For You, which is easily one of the most beautiful songs ever! Those harmonies were exquisite!!! He was a member of the Carey Flamingos on a recent PBS Doo Wop show. |
Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 183
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.196.160
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 8:06 pm: �� | ��� |
Well, then, Tony Drake and Karl Chambers were also members of the Flamingos when they were on Phillips, as they were on Philips in 1965. I assume, then, that their guitar player was NOT the same person as the Terry Johnson who sang "Suzie" on Gordy a few years later. It might be interesting to see the COMPLETE list of members of The Flamingos from 1953 through the end of their run. As far as I know, Jake and Zeke Carey were always members (until one of them died recently?), and Solly McElroy was the first lead singer who recorded with them. Then Johnny Carter took over. I Know that Tommy Hunt and Nate Nelson also led. What other lead singers did they have, and what other members?
(Message edited by Robb_K on May 08, 2004) |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 622
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 8:22 pm: �� | ��� |
Robb, I'll check a few books & give you the info that I have, unless someone beats me to it. I'll only check up to the 70s, as that their last hit was Buffalo Soldier in 1970. All of the more recent permutation of the group is not quite THE Flamingos, if you know what I mean.
Juice |
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144)
4-Laureate
Username: harlem_144
Post Number: 121
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 205.188.116.138
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 8:59 pm: �� | ��� |
Hey Juice & Robb K !
Terry Johnson was the guitar player for the
original group but also the lead singer and
composer on " Lovers Never Say Goodbye" and
"Mi Amore", which he briliantly
performed on the PBS special, before the last
one. He was also inducted into the Rock And Roll
Hall Of Fame along with Tommy Hunt, Johnny
Carter, at the time as Michael Jackson.
There were two groups, one was Jake Carey's
the second was Terry Johnson's Flamingos,
which Tony Drake and Karl Chambers were a part
of. I e-mailed David a picture of Terry's group
which he will post later.
Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)
chancellorofsoul.com
|
Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 184
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.30.20
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 9:44 pm: �� | ��� |
Thanks, Juice and Chancellor, that makes more sense to me. I couldn't figure out where all those Flamingos could fit. It's amazing how the Flamingos kept there same sound during the End years, having Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt and Nate Nelson all as leads, and sounding so similar. I noticed a big change when Johnny Carter replaced Sollie, and then another big change when they moved to End. But, I didn't realise that their lead changed while on End, until I heard that Tommy Hunt had taken over, and then when Nate Nelson did. I had never even heard that Terry Johnson had sung lead. Lovers Never Say Goodbye is, by far, their best cut on End (to my taste-the ONLY one that kept up their Chess quality-which, to me was a drop from Chance and Parrott). Why did they not give him more leads on End, considering he was so good???
I'll bet that Nikki or R&B will probably be able to come up with a complete list of members. I'm not so much interested in their lineup after "Buffalo Soldier". |
Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 185
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.30.20
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 9:49 pm: �� | ��� |
Now that I know The Flamingos' Terry Johnson sung with a falsetto, I'm thinking that he could well be the same singer who recorded for Gordy a few years later, as he also sang in falsetto. And, by 1967, Motown was signing a lot of former R&B/Soul/Pop "stars", but uniformly not plugging them (other than The Isleys and Gladys Knight & Pips).
(Message edited by Robb_K on May 09, 2004) |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 281
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:10 am: �� | ��� |
here are some recent pix of Terry and his group.
With yours truly
 |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 282
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:11 am: �� | ��� |
At rehearsal
 |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 283
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:15 am: �� | ��� |
With Gil Saunders formerly of the Bluenotes
 |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 284
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:16 am: �� | ��� |
Here it is |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 285
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:20 am: �� | ��� |
One mo'time |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 286
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.38.208
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 12:21 am: �� | ��� |
 |
Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (weldon)
4-Laureate
Username: weldon
Post Number: 80
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.80.162.3
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 1:09 am: �� | ��� |
the new Flamingos
(Message edited by weldon on May 09, 2004) |
Nikki (45rpmgal)
3-Pundit
Username: 45rpmgal
Post Number: 36
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 65.206.46.218
| | Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 9:37 pm: �� | ��� |
The real early Flamingos consisted of Solllie McElroy, Johnny Carter, Paul Wilson, Jr., Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Nate Nelson. These members (or some of these members) were on their Chance, Parrot, Checker, and Decca recordings. I've had the pleasure to have seen Sollie, Zeke, and Jake perform at some UGHA venues in the early to mid '90's. Sadly, Sollie and both Careys are gone. Here are some memories of these legendary Flamingos members:
Zeke & Jake Carey with Ronnie I (president of UGHA)
Sollie McElroy
Nikki |
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon)
2-Debutant
Username: davie_gordon
Post Number: 25
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 213.18.222.34
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 12:20 pm: �� | ��� |
Robb, Terry Johnson of the Flamingos IS the same
guy as on Gordy. He did a fair amount of writing
and prodction work for Motown (usually with Smokey Robinson) as well as the few tracks issued under his own name. "Whatcha Gonna Do" is one
of my favourite underrated Motown tracks.
Terry's nickname was "Buzzy" so I'd think we can
take it that he was also "Buzzy" who did "Stone
Soul Booster" on Soul (or was it Gordy ?)
Davie |
Don (don)
4-Laureate
Username: don
Post Number: 94
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.179.210
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 11:12 am: �� | ��� |
Hi there Nikki,
That's the Sollie I remember the last I saw him was in Maywood. Great pic Nikki and bless you.
Don |
Don (don)
4-Laureate
Username: don
Post Number: 143
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.176.147
| | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 11:38 am: �� | ��� |
Nikki, I had to follow up on this thread. I was happen to be listening to Legendary Chicago number
one Deejay Th Mayor of Bronzeville Herb Kent "The Kool Gent", and he was playing a certain song by The El Dorados as I post. I ran across this thread and saw this picture of Sollie McElroy again. It brings a joy to my heart and a tear to my eye just to see this again.
I remeber once Sollie was at an reheasal of The Vows (of Chicago) over at one of the members apartment, and heard them do their own rendition of their own arrangement of The Flamingos' "I Only Have Eyes For You". Sollie remarked The Vows done the song better than while he was with the group. I tell anyone Sollie Was no joke either while he was with The earlier Chi-Lites, wished all on this forum could've been here to have witnessed it. I get the chills , the shakes and goosebumps just thinking about it...I was fortunate and privledged to have witnessed it.
Don |
Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 229
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.183.107
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 12:56 am: �� | ��� |
I'm jealous, Don. Sollie McElroy's Flamingos were my favourite group. I was too young in 1953-54, to go see them perform live. Also, I never did see him perform live as a solo act, or while in The Moroccos or Chaunters (although I did buy all those records and have seen a few films of him singing). |
Andy Alonzo (joker)
1-Arriviste
Username: joker
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 69.54.205.162
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 1:35 am: �� | ��� |
We worked with Terry Jonson's Flamingos in Clevland Sat, at the Ultimate Doo-Wop show and you couldn't meet a finer bunch of men and one lady, they sound and look great. Andy Alonzo(The Shades of Blue) |
Don (don)
4-Laureate
Username: don
Post Number: 145
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.57.198
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 9:43 am: �� | ��� |
I used to get Sollie and (the first time I saw) Mick confused being rather young kinda at the time. The only two faces I never gotten confused with. Robb, that was a golden era that has gone by. Can't believe I was around in the classic Chi era. Still have to give managers Ruth L. Moore and Al Williams credit where's credit is due,that I consider for being #1 managers in the Chicago music scene.
Don |
Don (don)
4-Laureate
Username: don
Post Number: 148
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.57.198
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:12 am: �� | ��� |
I think Sollie should've gotten a Roll 'n Roll Hall Of Fame Award to help his family now that he's no longer here. That's my opinion. |