By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.18) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 12:32 pm:

Apart from his big hit of Ghostbusters,is this talented guy still around the music industry(he must be)?The reason I ask is that I have just read an old Soul Cargo magazine about him and the band he was with at the time,Raydio.And this is what gems it unearths.Ex-Detroiter Ray Parker leader of the 6 piece band (who had notched up a gold award for Arista records)got into the Detroit music scene as a good guitar player and aged 13 formed a school band with Hamilton Bohannon and Ollie Brown called The Dynosonics.Stating that it wasnt a good band but it got them into Motown where they supposedly backed up Marvin Gaye.During a 2 year stint at Motown his constant hanging around paid off as he got to back Stevie Wonder,Spinners and The Tempts on various recording sessions.Aged 15 he got a job with the Invictus/Hot Wax set up and featured on many of the most popular sellers.Saying his most succesful recording was with Freda Payne on Band of Gold.He also says he remembers doing Somebodys been sleeping and Everything good is bad with 100% Proof as well as some cuts with Chairman of the Board.(For you Ralph)He also mentions The Terra-Sherma Studios but couldnt be sure if he did actually play there.Ill cut it short,after Motown transferred elsewhere,he left Detroit and went to L.A.where he met up again with Gene Page(of our other days,gene page a cracking N/SOUL inst.)He did work with Bill (little old man)Cosby and Leon(Baby Reconsider)Haywood.Barry(Tracy,all I Have is you,)White.Around 1977 he picked 5 mainly ex-Detroiters to join him.Arnell Carmichael(Son of the late Mike Hanks)who mentioned The Magictones and Cody Black working with his father.Also Dee Edwards.Vincent Bonham(ex member of Magic Citys,Mad Dog and the Pups).Larry Tolbert (ex Ric-Tic)as well as 2 others.So as you can see Ray Parker Jr.and company mentioned come with a high pedigree in deed.If any facts are in-correct apoligies and any info relavent to above pice appreciated.MEL.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 12:58 pm:

MEL; RIGHT ON TARGET. RAY PICKED UP A LOT OF STUDIO WORK IN L.A. HE AND OLLIE TRAVELLED MANY SESSIONS TOGETHER IN THE PRE-RAYDIO DAYS...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.110) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 02:27 pm:

Stu,did you know/or do you know Ray and Ollie,or any of the artists mentioned?MEL.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 02:33 pm:

MEL; MY BROTHER, WHO IS AN ACCOMPLISHED ARRANGER/COMPOSER USED TO WORK WITH THEM ON SESSIONS IN L.A., ALTHOUGH I DONT RECALL IF I EVER MET EITHER ONE OF THEM IN DETROIT OR L.A.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.6) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 02:47 pm:

Stu,you and your brother sound an accomplished pair,its good to talk/correspond with you.MEL.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 03:36 pm:

DITTO MEL; FEELINGS MUTUAL...STU

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 08:05 pm:

Hi Everyone. I did sessions with Ray at Tower Studios for HDH and also in LA when I moved out there. He is a good guitarist and nice guy. I don't know what he is doing now.

Dennis

By BrianChinNYC (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 08:09 pm:

Frtom his website, rayparkerjr.com:

Ray is married and has 4 boys! 7 years ago, both of his parents became ill and he wanted to spend as much time with them as possible as they were nearing the end. Being of religious background, he felt it was time to slow down and enjoy life a little. He is now in the studio writing and recording again. In his words "I have relaxed long enough and should get back to using my greatest gift!"

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 10:36 am:

I know that Ray Parker Jr. has posted a couple of times at Bob Lee's www.bassland.net about James Jamerson.
Maybe Bob has his e-mail and could tell him about the forum.
-Steve

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 03:31 pm:

HEY MEL; YOU MENTIONED GENE PAGE EARLIER ON THIS THREAD. A VERY TALENTED ARRANGER, ESP DURING THE 70'S AND 80'S...CHECK OUT HIS WORK WITH BARRY WHITE. I MET HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES IN L.A....NICE GUY. FOR THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH HOLLYWOOD, HE USED TO HANG OUT AT THE COPY CENTER LOCATED ON HIGHLAND JUST SOUTH OF SUNSET NEXT TO THE MOTORCYCLE DEALER WHERE MANY COPYISTS HAD THEIR OFFICES...A LITTLE CAGED IN AREA WITH ABOUT SIX SHACK LIKE STRUCTURES WHERE MUSICIANS AND COPYISTS WORKED AND SOMETIMES LIVED. GENES BROTHER ALSO HAD A PLACE THERE. CAN ANYONE GUESS GENE'S BROTHER BILLY'S SOLE CLAIM TO FAME. HE WROTE A VERY POPULAR 60'S SONG...BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANYTHING ELSE HE EVER DID. I'LL POST THE ANSWER A BIT LATER. UNFORTUNATLY GENE PAGE IS NO LONGER WITH US...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.89) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 03:55 pm:

Stu,Ive got an instrumental by him on the Page One record label titled Of Our Other Days which got a few spins on the u.k.Rare/Northern Soul scene around 1971/72 but apart from collectors on the scene then or thereabouts and avid collectors today,I dont think its to well known.I First got to hear it at a nighter around 1973 and got my copy for about 20 quid.It just never got the right D.J.S Pushing it more,if they did I Am certain it would of been a huge dancer.I Can dig my demo out if your interested about whos credited on the label.A truly superb and talented man.I didnt know he is no longer with us,surely a C.D.Tribute could be released as hes done so much.Regards Barry White,although famous,I have a 45 by Barry White and the Atlantics on the Faro label called Tracy(all I have is you)a stomping 60s dancer.Didnt Barry form the Jocida Label,released a track by a very young Gloria Gaynor,the track I at present cant recall,but was another dancer.MEL.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 04:45 pm:

MEL; GENE PAGE PASSED AWAY IN 1998 AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. BY THE WAY...GENE'S BROTHER BILLY WROTE THE SONG "THE IN CROWD" BY DOBIE GRAY, AND LATER RECORDED INSTRUMENTALLY BY RAMSEY LEWIS. I DONT BELIEVE HE EVER WROTE ANOTHER HIT...STU

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 04:50 pm:

MEL:
I've read Barry White's autobiography and he didn't indicate forming the Jocida label or ever working with Gloria Gaynor (although he may have done some freelance production prior to the Love Unlimited/solo hit years). Barry did write that he recorded with the Atlantics on the Faro label (owned by the same folks who had the Linda/Rampart/Gordo logos along with Cannibal and the Headhunters & El Chicano). Barry was the A&R man and later VP of Bob Keane's Mustang/Bronco/Del-Fi labels from 1965 to 1968 and produced some Detroit/Motown sounding stuff by singer Felice Taylor ("It May Be Winter Outside But In My Heart It's Spring" and "I'm Under The Influence Of Love" - both later covered by Love Unlimited) using members of LA's Wrecking Crew. His childhood friend was Motown producer/writer Frank Wilson and he even observed a Holland-Dozier-Holland session when they were doing some work in LA for Motown (don't ask what session - White didn't indicate).
Regards,
KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.49) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 05:12 pm:

sTU,bad news about Mr.Page,yet(to me)another talented guy has left us,and another without the full recognition that should have been credited to him.I certainly wont forget his work.The In-Crowd (vocal&inst)2 more old Dancers from this scene of ours.Obviously Mr.Billy Page is another great talent.KevGo,I have probably got mixed up regards Jocida records.I remember the 45 now,it was on Jocida and called Shell Be Sorry.But for some reason Barry White was in there with it.Its a good 10/15yrs since I had the 45,but I have an old Hitsville mag which ran in a few of them a page titled people we like,which reviewed at the time new artists and there records.Another one was Mary Love and her newie at the time ,Turned my bitter into sweet on (UK)King records,which I still have today.Did Barrey end up marrying one of The Love Unlimited?MEL.p.s.Linda/Rampart/another story.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.30) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 06:34 pm:

Stu the Gene Page instrumental I mentioned is not on the Page One record label,it is on the V.M.C.record Label.Sorry.MEL.

By BCNYC (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 07:18 pm:

Actually it was Johnny Nash, the visionary soul/reggae entrepreneur, who owned Jocida Records, and he even gave Gloria Gaynor her last name.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 11:29 am:

MEL:
Barry married Glodean James of Love Unlimited in 1975. They divorced almost 20 years later.

Gene Page - RIP

BCNYC:
You're right as rain about Jocida. Johnny also had the JAD label - he recorded "Hold Me Tight" under that logo in 1968. I believe at one point he used Bob Marley & the Wailers as back-up musicians (I know he cut Marley's "Stir It Up" in 1972).

Peace,
KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.24) on Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 12:49 pm:

BCNYC,I dont know how I got Barry White in with the Jocida Label,as well as your self I am totally bewildered with that one.Thanks for putting me right.My mate turned me on a few years ago to some unknown dancers(to me )by Johnny Nash,I didnt realise the amount of great tracks he had recorded.Totally Showing my ignorance as well,thinking he was just a reggae artist.Thanks for the info on Barry white KEVGO.mel.

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.38) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 05:36 pm:

Hi Stu. Sorry to hear about Gene Page. I did sessions for him in LA. He was a great arranger and super nice guy. I enjoyed working with him.

Dennis

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 09:18 pm:

DENNIS; YOU'RE RIGHT, A VERY UNFORTUNATE LOSS TO THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY. I'M SURE THAT HE ENJOYED WORKING WIH YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.18) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 09:37 pm:

Hey Stu,Dennis,I dont know if you knew,I have just been informed that Don Varner was Buried last saturday.Yet another fine artist has gone to join that illustrious group of people that are sorely missed but thanks to the talent that you guys have,will forever be remembered through the fine recordings made over there careers.I Trust you will join me in sending my deepest commisserations to Mrs.Varner and relatives.How so very apt the title of his rare Northern Soul record at this sad time.Tearstained Face.MEL.R.I.P.Don Varner.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 09:50 pm:

MEL; NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU GOOD BUDDY...AMEN TO YOUR SENTIMENTS. IT'S SAD WHEN ANY TALENT LEAVES US, BUT THEY ARE ALL REMEMBERED THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS...STU

By Mark Speck (65.58.50.153) on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 - 12:17 am:

I'll echo your sentiments about Don Varner, Mel. He was truly one of a kind. Colin Dilnot interviewed him for Richard Searling's radio show--just a great interview about a great performer.

My condolences go out to Don's widow Francine.

Best,

Mark