By ~medusa~ (68.79.90.113) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 07:21 pm:

Although I'm not sure if he ever worked for Motown or not..he was a great at Mixing and Engineering musically. If you happen to check out the Credits on most of your Recordings (70's-80's mostly)...
For The Engineer/Mixing, you will see the name Barney Perkins.
He passed away a few years ago, but I think everyone in the music business had some kind of contact or connection with Barney Perkins.
Oh, by the way, his Daughters live next store to me and that's what gave me the idea for this thread.
Maybe someone who knew him can say something nice about Mr. Barney Perkins...
I will let his Daughters see this thread. I'm sure they would be glad to know he's remembered.
Oh, and I meant to mention on Anita Bakers recording of the song "Mystery" those were his Daughters doing the fingerpopping.

By dvdmike (68.23.161.37) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 08:20 pm:

I know he worked at Holland-Dozier-Holland's studio in Detroit and then in L.A. (I don't remember where).

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 11:54 pm:

Barney also engineered most of the Anita Baker records that Mike Powell produced in L.A. at kendun studio D which changed its name , but I dont reemember what it was changed to.Maybe Red Zone, but Im not sure.

He was a class guy.

By mike s (195.93.34.12) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 08:15 am:

I can't remember the number of albums that had Barney's name on them in the 70's especially...you were always sure that it would sound good even if the musical content etc wasn't that great. He worked quite a lot for ABC I think and with Lamont Dozier after Invictus,didnt he work with Lamont's engineer brother Reggie too?
Some of his best work was later with Beverly Glen including Anita Baker,Bobby Womack (The Poet) and Johnnie Taylor. Hoped he got paid!!

By John Lester (81.132.0.233) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 05:33 pm:

Barney was mixing engineer on Popcorn Wylie's ABC album..the one with "ESP" on ii

By Russ Terrana (198.178.8.81) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 05:48 pm:

I'm very saddend about Barney's passing. I always respected his abilities and creative sharpness. He was one of the best. I knew Barney quite well and he was always a pleasure to be with.

By steve w (81.174.205.51) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

I once read womack would always try to get Barney to engineer his albums, if I see an album with his name on it, you just know its gonna have class

By ~medusa~ (68.249.245.173) on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

MIke, You are right, it probably was the 80's. I just stated what was at the top of my head...
sorry!

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 01:41 am:

I used to be Medusa's next door neighbor. I grew up with her kids. I have since moved away from the old neighborhood, but my Mom still stays there.

I received a phone call from my Mom telling me to call Medusa about an online forum. Medusa said that she was having a discussion about my dad. She says she wasn't sure if anyone believed her or not.

Well, Medusa is telling the truth. Yes, you're making reference to my dad. Barney Perkins: born October 29, 1945 and died December 15, 1993. I'm glad to see that someone still remembers him and his work. I appreciate everyone for responding.

Barney had four daughters (34,33,28,27) Some of you may know us and some may not. We're in different parts of the country, but we still contact each other often. I would love to chat further with everyone who responded. I'll be online tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m (EST) and tomorrow evening at 8:30 p.m. I may need to enlist my older sister's help. She kept track of the music scene more than I did.

Again, I hope I can get the opportunity to talk to you.

Thanks,

Butterfly

P.S. The part Medusa was talking about on March 6, 2004 - the finger-popping on Anita Baker's album - that session was recorded here in Detroit at a studio not far from Wayne State University. I can't remember the street but you can see the building from the Lodge Freeway (northbound) before you get to Grand Blvd.

By Ju (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 01:51 am:

Untied Sound of course.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 01:57 am:

Hi Butterfly,
Remember him, are you kidding??
I am a HUGE fan of your dad's work.
IMO, he was one of the greatest engineers around and I know his wwork from HDH to Anita and then some.

By the way, do you know a guy from Detroit named Brian Spears who said that he worked with your dad quite a lot?

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:00 am:

Ju,

Yes. United Sound. Thank you. I take it you've been there?

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:04 am:

Hi, Eli.

I'm calling my sister right now to see if she remembers Brian Spears...

She says Brian Spears was a partner with a lawyer that worked in the music business or handled the music business side. Sound familiar?

By Ju (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:05 am:

Not inside, Butterfly, but I have passed it many times going to Wayne State. There are threads on Untied Sound in the archives here, also. As you probably know it is a legendary studio. Oldest in the area, right?If you click on the link at the top of the screen, Soulful Detroit Tour, you will see it there.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:16 am:

Brian worked with a guy named Gerald Goldsmith who has a scrap metal yard called All State metals on Superior, I believe and they had a production co and label 3 G's and Brian also worked with Michael J. Powwwell Anita's producer.

Gerry used to "manage" Anita back in the day and at the time could not get arrested with her.
Go figure!!

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:19 am:

Well, Ju.

Learn something new everyday. I knew it was an old building. As far as its history was concerned, I was about fourteen at the time of the recording. I guess like most teenagers didn't pay too much attention.

I will take a look at that link that you are referring to. I had no idea it was a history maker.

Thanks,

Butterfly

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:21 am:

Eli,

Does Mike Powell still have his studio in Oak Park? Someone told me it closed. Do you know if that is true?

By Ju (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:23 am:

Also if you do a search on this site you will find past discussion threads on the studio.

Julian

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:25 am:

My buddy just talked to Mike Powell about some work last week so I guess he does.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:27 am:

Butterfly,
The studio was called Vanguard and I heard that it did close, but Im not sure.

Julian, how is Mike doing and will he still be producing Anita?

By Butterfly (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:31 am:

Hey, Julian.

That's good Mike P. is still around. Maybe I'll swing by the studio one day and bug him a little. Ha-Ha.

Would happen to know if Mike G. is still around from Sound Suite? (if the studio is still on the west side).

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:38 am:

Eli I don't know if he'll be producing her.
Eli if I'm correct he was supposed to have started a re. co. with a $,$$$,$$$ lady by the name of Varner in the First National Bank building in downtown Detroit, with that very name Vanguard Records, but that was like 2 years ago and I haven't heard anything since.

By chocletchypp2 (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:52 am:

eli and jullian could you give me some insight as to how you know all of this stuff?

By chocletchypp2 (205.188.198.23) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:56 am:

by the way, Mike G is still around and so is the studio, last I heard which was about two years ago some big project with the gloved one himself in south africa. I don't think it ever came to fruition because I never heard anything nationally. As you know studios have been hit hard with all the internet recording and nothing is done live anymore.

By Julian (205.188.112.33) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 02:57 am:

Chocletchypp2 this is not exactly classified info.

By E (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 03:11 am:

Thanks Julian.

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 03:14 am:

Gracias

By Butterfly (64.12.96.238) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 03:21 am:

Thanks Julian. Thanks Eli. I'm outta here. I'll chat with you later.

Have a pleasant night.

Butterfly

By ~medusa~ (68.79.112.172) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 09:45 am:

I believe Mike Powells' Vanguard Studio no longer exists...but I heard he's still working and doing musical projects
Boy Eli, you get around don'tcha? (smile)

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

Medusa,

Moanman christened me "Forrest Funk""
I HAVE been around indeed and sometimes it baffles me just how much ground I have covered in a relatively short period of time!!

I LOVE multi tasking as I consider myself to be a workaholic, and that is why I come on the forum a lot.
My main computer is right here in my studio and SD is generally on and all I have to do is spin around and check it out in the middle of laying down a grove of writing or whatever..and I just love it!
Im not much of a sleep person
I hit the sack around 4am and I was up at 8:30, so there it is.

By ~medusa~ (155.139.68.10) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 01:11 pm:

Hey Thanx Butterfly for responding to your Dads' Thread...I hope you wil post here more often.
I'll see you soon.
Thanx Again
P.S.
Say hello to Holly for me and I'll proibably see Bridgette.

By bigdaddyg2k4 (206.157.27.242) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 05:40 pm:

Another reason why I love to listen to Anita Baker. The mixing is extraordinary on those albums! A shock 2 me that he died, though.

By Allen (24.31.32.197) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

I use to go over to Encore studio's in Burbank to hang out with Barney and Mike Powell. Barney was the best. He was always pleasant. He didn't mind being the brunt of jokes. He always made me feel welcome.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 01:06 am:

Allen,

Didnt Encore used to be Kendun, studio D?

By Jay (24.55.22.36) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 01:28 am:

Yep

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 09:26 am:

I never met Barney, but from time to time I would hear Paul Serrano talk about how great a guy and engineer he was.