| Author | Message | ||
  Eva (bigswede2002) 3-Pundit Username: bigswede2002 Post Number: 44 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 130.237.171.253 |
Hi everyone, Here's a wonderful article on John Whitehead, by someone who knew him from childhood: http://citypaper.net/articles/ current/music.shtml Eva | ||
Vonnie (vonnie) 4-Laureate Username: vonnie Post Number: 166 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Eva, Thanks for the link to this story. I'm so glad that Elizabeth Gold gave her view of how much John Whitehead was loved in the Philly community. I know Elizabeth and her dad Larry, and they are still keeping the legacy of Philly music alive. Larry is the owner of a Philly recording studio and Elizabeth is the writer of a book about the Philly music scene. Through the memory of Elizabeth I was able to see the John that I knew, smiling, happy, dancing and one of Phillys favorite sons. I hope that as was stated by Elizabeth, honor will be given to those who initiated and participated in "The Sound Of Philadelphia", while they are still with us. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 439 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.126.179 |
I just want to add, that with all the success John and Gene had as writers, producers and artists, they should have reaped the financial rewards usually associated with this kind of success. They wrote some of the biggest songs ever associated with the sound of Philly as wel as helped to define an era, so why weren't THEY living on "that house on a hill" far away from the urban madness. They most certainly deserved it! What's wrong with this picture, I ask? | ||
~medusa~ (~medusa) 4-Laureate Username: ~medusa Post Number: 126 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.79.80.209 |
That was great reading info Eli...Thanx | ||
paulie3$hoes (paulie3hoes) 2-Debutant Username: paulie3hoes Post Number: 27 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.121.178 |
Those two men GREATLY defined the sound of Philly as we know it, and as Elizabeth Gold wrote, their songs were the first and the lsast number one records that PIR had, not to mention all of the groundbreaking songs in between. Not many people are aware that Gene was so bad off at one time (after the hits) that he lived in the back of a truck for a while, no to mentions John's battle with Uncle Sam. If their record company had treated them fairly, they WOULD have had that house on the hill with ALL the trappings of success. Teddy was the only artist who did fairly well at that company. So in a nutshell, all that glitters is not gold, contrary to some opinions. I am ANGRY that John had to meet a violent death when this could have ben prevented. I am ANGRY that Little Sonny Brown of the Intruders had to commit suicide because the company refused a last ditch effort for help I am angry that Billy Paul and the Ojays had to sue for back royalties. There a lot of mysteries yet to be unsolved. I am so angry that all of a sudden my speech pattern temporarily improved, capice@#$^& | ||
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny Post Number: 178 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.10.102 |
Hi again, soulful friends! Good article and charismatic memories. Thanks, Eva! I'm previously �familiarized� with Elizabeth Gold because many time ago I read another good "article": the linner notes she wrote for the "Sweeter Than The Berry" Bunny Sigler CD. She tolds here that, when she was a child, Bunny sang to her "Ave Maria"! Hey, Paulie 3$hoes!, I allways have had a vision of the PIR family as a authentic family. For example, reading the opinions by other artists in the book of the 3 xCD Box "Philly Sound. The History Of Brotherly Love". Of course, I believe (or I don't have a solid reason for not believe) in your words. This is very sad. Many "rock stars" wich musical aportation is very poor, are living as authentic aristhocrats! And authentic genius (and prolifics also!) as Arthur Alexander, or the other you mentioned, after his rich contribution should to work as bus or truck drivers or to live in a precary situation...! This is more sad if we tought the owners of this discographic company, allways wrote messages of friendly and social justice in the jacket linner notes of the albums (!!??). Until now I have had a distorsioned idea about these persons?? Peace & Soul Food | ||
paulie3$hoes (paulie3hoes) 2-Debutant Username: paulie3hoes Post Number: 28 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.54.173 |
MANNY, All that glitters is not gold. take it from one 'who has been there" | ||
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny Post Number: 181 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.10.102 |
Hi again, PAULIE, Of course, I allways have had a critic vision of all. In some aspects I can autoconsidering very sceptic. My life, for example is full of personal deceptions and many sacrifices without compensations... But, when we becames "fans" (I hate this word!) of an artist, is something irrational and we tend to idealize it. Despite this fact, this don't diminished my high deception about some persons who not practique what they says in their "sermons" (or in their lyrics). Also in spanish have the same phrase: "No es oro todo lo que reluce". Peace! |
