By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 10:20 am:

Imagine the last round of A.I.,the remaining contenders for the top prize are: Eddie Levert, Levi Stubbs, David Ruffin, Wilson Pickett, Dennis Edwards, Gerald Alston.

Put yourself in the shoes of Paula, Simon and Randy. Who would be the big winner. also list your consolation prize wimmers.

What are the credentials of Simon and Randy musically speaking?

By ALJAYDU (68.18.112.172) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 11:06 am:

Is American Idol more about "Vocals" or "Showmanship"? Man, I think you just opened a can of worms !!!!! You've got some real TUFF choices listed. HAHAHAHAHA...
Seeing how Levi can take and make any song HIS song...I'd have to vote for Levi.
Soulpuss, we'll never see a group on A.I. like the group you've listed here. Thanks !!!!!!

By Aljaydu (68.18.112.172) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 11:15 am:

Here's the scoop on Randy Jackson from American Idols:

Randy Jackson, a Grammy Award winning producer, is a twenty-year music industry veteran. For eight years, he was the V.P. of A&R at Columbia Records followed by four years as Senior V.P. of A&R at MCA Records.

Randy has recorded, toured and performed with the likes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child and many more.

Randy has worked on over one thousand gold and multi-platinum albums. His contributions have helped to sell over 200 million albums worldwide. With his amazing talent, immense studio knowledge, performing, touring and record company experience, Randy is one of today's most highly coveted music industry experts.


Here is the scoop on Simon Crowell from American Idols:


Simon Cowell�s music career is now infamous having, over the past 20 years, shaped what we consider to be modern pop music today. In the last 10 years, Simon, a BMG Record Executive, has been making and breaking records. Cowell has achieved sales of over 25 million albums, over 70 top 30 records and 17 number 1 singles.

He has worked and developed groups and individuals such as Westlife, the pop siren Sinitta and Robson & Jerome.

Simon became a celebrity in his own right for reducing a string of teenage wannabes to tears while serving as a judge on the UK version of the show, "Pop Idol."


By the way. Randy attened Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. He's from Baton Rouge, La. ( a homeboy...I'm 30 miles from Baton Rouge).
Hope this helped.

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 11:38 am:

Hi Aljaydu
You sure gave the scoop on Randy and Simon.

I've been several times to Baton Rouge. I usually stay at the Red Roof at Sherwood Forest and I-10. Is that record shop run by Buddy Clark still in business. I can't remember the street name but I recall it had a concrete island dividing opposite lanes. I believe Buddy was a veteran musician. He led a band which backed up Joe Tex at one time.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

I'm down to three (3): Levi Stubbs, David Ruffin, and Gerald Alston. These are my final three, now it's up to the people to call in and cast their votes. :o)

(I took the easy way out.)

By Aljaydu (68.18.112.172) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Hey SoulPuss, that record store is still there. I think it's called "treasure Chest". As a matter of fact, just last week, somebody rolled a car through it and stole the atm...shades of "Barber Shop". It was too funny. It's on the corner of Goverment abd Florida Blvd. and yes, the Gent did back up Joe Tex at one time. Glad to have you in our fair city (leave the politica alone, though...)

SisDetroit...shame on you...taking the easy way out. Heck, I shudda thought of that :o)

By ted cogswell (68.165.77.95) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 01:22 pm:

Wouldn't there be any female finalists?

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 02:58 pm:

Hi Ted

In this imaginary series the females were eliminated in the earlier rounds.

By Aljaydu (68.18.98.140) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 05:05 pm:

Today (monday, 24 Feb.), on Oprah, Simon, from American Idol, is on tv.

They're talking about his career right now.

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 05:09 pm:

I'm going Sis' route, the Easy Highway - David Ruffin, Levi Stubbs, and then Wilson Pickett. From there, hit those phones people! :-)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

LOL, Nish - Way to go.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 08:40 am:

A REAL TOUGH ONE,BUT IF I GOTTA TAKE ONLY ONE THEN IT'S LEVI,WITH RUFFIN,EDDIE LAVERT,AND EDWARDS GETTING THE CONSOLATION PRIZES.VERY,VERY CLOSE BETWEEN LEVI AND RUFFIN AND THE WINNING EDGE BEING JUST THE TINIEST BIT MORE STRENGHT IN LEVI'S VOICE.

By stephanie (205.187.255.100) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:05 pm:

I can see we all think it should be Levi Stubbs
That is my choice for the winner and the 1st runner up would be Eddie Levert...I wanted to say David Ruffin but I think Eddie has an edge..SORRY NISH!!....LOL
Stephanie

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:29 pm:

David Ruffin all the way!! oh but wait there is a tie..it's Levi & David..first time ever this has happened..

Winners are David Ruffin & Levi Stubbs

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

Randy Jackson also played bass for the band Journey for a short time.

I'm still trying to figure out what qualifies Paula Abdul as a judge of vocalists..!

I think they need to remove the age restriction from the show due to the fact that are quite a few "idols" over twenty-whatever years of age.

Tis a strange world we live in..!

By Aljaydu (68.18.115.53) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:54 pm:

AAAAWwwwww, come on, Horse!!! You're still trying to figure out what qualifies Paula Abdul as a judge of vocalists??? Come on, man. That's easy to figure out. What about that, uh....uh...
WAIT !!!! There's that time she...uh...hold on, now. Remember when....Didn't she get an awar...uh... Horse, I see what you mean !!!! :o)
(you don't think that she reads this stuff, do ya?)

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

If so, tell her I send my best..! And then there's the time some numbscull thought adding 2 L.A session players to Journey would constitute as "The Formula" and garantee success as long as the drummer got a hair weave and the bass player stuffed he fat ass into spandex drawers. Unfortunately it didn't work.

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

I Got An Idea.......Maybe someone will create a reality prime time show where vocals would really have to posess the ability to sing and the judges could be Aretha, Gladys, & Ruffin...! Oh Wait....then todays' "No Roots" talent would be F@#ked.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

Judges - Clay McMurray, Deke Richards, Paul Riser.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

During his tenure at Columbia Records, Randy Jackson played bass on Journey's "Raised On Radio" album (1986) and can be seen in their video of "I'll Be Alright Without You".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

I liked the recording by Journey "I Wanna Know What Love Is."


(As I'm watching "Behind The Music", I notice how fine Billy Idol is.)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:01 pm:

Sis:
I hate to rain on your parade but "I Wanna Know What Love Is" was recorded by Foreigner in 1984 on Atlantic Records.

It featured the New Jersey Mass Choir on the chorus (and video).

The single was the group's first (and only) #1 pop single.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

(PS - The lead singer Lou Gramm is from my hometown of Rochester NY & I used to hang out with him and his wife in the late 1980s when I was a radio DJ).

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:24 pm:

Oh, that's right.
Didn't the Choir record it separate also?

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:30 pm:

I mean did the choir release it under their name, separate from the group?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

Sis:
The New Jersey Mass Choir did record their own version of "I Want To Know What Love Is" in late 1984.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:53 pm:

KevGo,

Lou's definitely a heavy when it comes to the Classic rock genre. He's one of my ten best male rock voices. I was surprised to find he was from NY. I would have swore that was a definite midwest rock voice.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 11:24 am:

Horse:
Lou was definitely influenced not only by midwestern rock but R&B as well (I've heard him do a killer version of Aretha's "Chain of Fools" during a brief solo career he had in the early 1990s). He was born & raised in Rochester NY and still has a huge house in the suburbs of the city. His voice definitely stood out among rock's finest during the 1970s & 1980s.

On a personal note, I met Lou in 1989 through his (now ex)wife who worked out at my gym. At that time, he & the Mrs. told me that he was planning on leaving Foreigner for a solo career (his solo hit "Midnight Blue" hit #7 on the pop charts two years before). I worked at WVOR-FM as the producer of their morning show and asked Lou to give us an exclusive interview when he decided to make his announcement. Two weeks later on a early Wednesday morning the Associated Press broke the news of his departure from Foreigner & I immediately called him at his house. I gave the script to the morning show host and patched Lou's phone through the board. Within minutes of the interview our switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree and our competitors were ticked off!

As a thank you, Lou gave me an autographed advance copy of his single, appropriately titled "Just Between You & Me"! That song went on to hit #4 on the charts.

Kevin Goins - KevGo