By Jim G (152.163.213.54) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 09:26 am:

Lars Bjorn and I will give an informal talk, supported by photographic slides & recordings, on the history of jazz in Detroit 1920 - 1960. It will be held at the Detroit Public Library, main branch, Explorer's Room, on Tuesday, February 18, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Admission is free and there will be an opportunity for questions/discussion following the presentation. I think they will provide coffee & cookies.
We finish up with a Motown track and include Jump bands & the Flame Show Bar.
Copies of Before Motown will be available for purchase.

By Cool Ju (152.163.197.72) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 08:12 pm:

Way cool!

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 10:29 pm:

Jim - I wish I could attend as I really enjoyed reading your excellent book.
Just one point - in it you mention a company called Staff Records and - going from memory - you say they never released any records after the 1950s. But - there was an Arabian's 45 on the Staff label that dates from around 1962.
Did you ever track down and speak to the woman who owned the Staff label?
Best wishes, Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.72) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 11:29 pm:

Graham,
I know of a record on a label called Staff records but dont know if its the same one you are speaking of.
Any way its a 60s cut by a group called The Versatiles and called 'cry like a baby/lonely man' staff records(no.210).
Not a bad record which was big around the all-nighters around the late 80s.They also recorded on Bronco records.
probably not the same,but worth a mention.
mel.

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

Graham, Mel
Thanks for the info and your kind words.
No, I couldn't track down Idessa Malone. I had a phone #, tried other sources, then I found out she (likely) passed around 1990.
I took the info about last recs issued from, if memory serves, the Independent Label volumes.


Jim

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:59 pm:

Jim and Mel
I think The Arabian's 45 on Staff was something that James Hendix did and probably got Ms. Malone to fund the pressing of - just a guess after speaking to Edward Hamilton, the lead singer.
Mel, I don't know The Versatiles 45 you mention.
Graham

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 12:33 am:

PRESENTATION by JIM GALLERT AND LARS BJORN: February 18th, 2003.

Soulful Detroiters, I went to the presentation on "A History of Jazz in Detroit." I must tell you that I had a great time. The presentation started on time, and I was right there. They talked on the society band music in Detroit, blues blues, big band jazz, bee bop, blues jazz from Detroit and Philly. They presented clips of great jazz musicians from Leroy Smith in the 20's through other great musicians.

Additionally, they played the different jazz music showing the evolution, which were recorded by Leroy Smith, Big Maceo, Sippie Wallace, (the latter two took me back to the sounds of the small churches in Detroit in the early 50's), Jean Goldkette, McKinney's Cotton Pickers with Todd Rhodes on piano, Willie Anderson (Anderson put me in jazz heaven), Billy Mitchell (The Zec) which I didn't want to end, Barry Harris Trio, Yusef Lateef (Who was William Evans in a swing band at Miller High School in Detroit), Todd Rhodes, and finally, can't leave Earl Van Dyke out of the sounds as he played piano on Mary Well's "You Lost The Sweetest Boy."

After the presentation, there was more book signing and real tasty snacks, which I had two helpings.

Thank you for inviting me Jim. It was great meeting you and Lars Bjorn. Two wonderful soft spoken gentelmen. It was a pleasure meeting Mrs. Gallert. I had a great time. IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH. I WANTED MORE.

The jazz fans were excited. A lady there, by the name of Jacqueline Bernhardt informed me that she was the groomer of Diana Ross's poodle. She said BG always sent her a check in the mail. She also worked for the owner of the Fisher Theatre. She would love to visit Soulful Detroit.

I urge everyone to attend the next presentation. Of course I took pictures. :o) And here they are.

http://motownsoul0.tripod.com/motownsoul/id3.html

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 01:15 am:

HEY SIS: DID THEY DISCUSS THE RENOUNED JIMMY WILKINS ORCHESTRA IN RELATION TO " SOCIETY" TYPE OF MUSIC??? MR. WILKINS HAD A FINE ORCHESTRA...AND...BROKE OUT OF THE MOLD...PLAYING FREQUENTLY AT "WHITE ONLY" AFFAIRS AND EVENTS WHICH WAS...TO SAY THE LEAST...SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL DURING THAT ERA!!!...STU

By David Meikle (213.122.14.240) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:35 am:

Thanks for an excellent overview Sis.

I would have loved to have been there.

Like they say "Before Motown". A very important era.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:12 am:

It's nice to hear that you had a great time Sis, thanks for sharing it with us here. I was wondering which "one" Motown recording they'd choose.
Graham

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:53 am:

Stu,
No, we didn't mention Jimmy Wilkins. Jimmy's bands really got underway in the 60s and that is beyond the scope of our book.
His bands were always right on the money, they were jazz bands pure and simple. Jimmy's years with Count Basie helped shape the sound and style of his own bands. Jimmy now lives in Las Vegas, he's in a wheelchair but at last report still working.

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:56 am:

Sis,
It was wonderful to meet you last eve, I'm really glad you enjoyed our presentation--having you in the audience was an inspiration to us.
I realized after you left that I should have taken a photo of you to post on your cool website!

By dave (207.241.133.153) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:47 am:

Jim G
Sounds like a great time, sorry I missed it. Loved the book. Keep us posted if you do it again.

A history of Detroit Jazz in the 60's & 70's would be a good story too. Maybe somebody will do that.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:57 am:

JIM: THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE ON JIMMY WILKINS...A REAL FINE MUSICIAN...AND I HOPE THAT HE'S DOING WELL!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

Thanks DMeikle!

Jim - You had a room full of jazz lovers. They were so into the presentation. I'm sure they, like myself, was not ready for the presentation to end.

Watching the slides of Hastings Street, Koppin Theater, MaRainey and her Prarmount Flappers, the Graystone Ballroom which opened in 1922, exterior and interior; Jean Goldkette's Graystone Orchastra with Steve Brown who played the upright bass (4 beats); the exterior and interior of the Blue Bird Inn still on Tireman Street.

I'm not going to give everything away, and just say, "go to the next presention." As you can see, I was all eyes and ears. It's wonderful to be surrounded by information on history of great music. Now, I'm going to start reading the book.

Oh Jim, believe it or not, I am sort of bashful, and not very photogenic. :o) But you can see my picture at the services of Pistol Allen on Wenkiah's Funk Brothers Site.

(Tonight at 7pm, at the Detroit Public Library there will be "An Evening of Ellington" featuring MARCUS BELGRAVE & Company. It is free and open to the public call 833-4042 for reservations.)

By Karyl (65.33.211.201) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:59 pm:

Sis, the pictures are "Jazzy" to say the least! You are amazing, not only did you go to the signing, you took pictures, gave a review and THEN put your web site up all in one night! You go GURL!

Um, you're bashful?? LOL!!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:13 pm:

Karyl - I run so much that I won't be going to see Chaka & Teddy Pendergrass Friday at the Fox, nor will I be going to the 70's Jam at the Fox on Saturday.

Although I should go and see Teddy, I've not seen him perform live in person since he has been back out there.

By Larry Rott (216.23.183.2) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:53 pm:

Jim,

Will you have another Talk about the book?
If so, I'll make sure and tell some relatives in Detroit. My Grandfather owned King Solomon's Bar on Clay & Cameron and his brother Max owned The Royal Blue which I believe is mentioned in the book. Any chance you can write me privately *if* you hold another talk? Thanks.

By the way I absolutely loved your book. It made me proud to be from Detroit. Wonderfully detailed and researched. Kudo's to you and Lars.

By Karyl (65.33.211.201) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:15 pm:

BOOM! That's the sound you hear of me falling off my chair when I read you won't be going to see Teddy! What a disappointment and I was looking forward to a review too! :-(

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 03:19 pm:

Wow, the pictures are great ... I wish this could have happened in March. Everything's in February!

Probably because of Black History Month -- I wish they'd spread that over more than 28 days.

And the spread looks great! Jeez, how did you guys get that kind of food presentation?

Sis, the website is becoming a pictorial journal of what's going on in Detroit music -- great stuff!

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

Sue, thanks, yeah the food was really good--catered by Clara Dixon, pres. of the Scarab Club. I don't know how we rated such a spread. Overall the audience was one of the nicest we've spoken to, interested, asked many good questions.
And having Sis there was icing on the cake. And thanks again Sis for honoring us by posting those wonderful pics.

Yeah, every month is Black History month for me...
There should be year round talks about Detroit Music History, eh Sue?