By Patrick (68.21.43.183) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 11:23 pm: |
When the 60's Motown artists played live, who backed them up? Did the session musicians actually tour with the artists?
By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 04:04 am: |
The only time I know of that a core of the studio guys went on tour was with the Motortown Revue to Europe in 1965. Choker Campbell ran a big band for US Revues. Marv Tarplin toured with the Miracles and Cornelius Grant with the Tempts. Both also worked with these groups in the studio.
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 09:32 am: |
The Sunliners never toured with any Motown acts but we backed plenty of them up when they would come to the various teen clubs to promote a record. No lip synching there...all live baby.
By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 09:52 am: |
Patrick,
Have you seen the film "Standing in the Shadows of Motown"? It explains some of this, quite hilariously. There's a scene with Jamerson and the other Funks in a station wagon in northern Michigan with Marvin Gaye.
Uriel Jones, Jack Ashford and Eddie Bongo all toured with Marvin extensively; Pistol Allen went out with Stevie Wonder.
After a certain point Berry G put the kibosh on the guys touring because they were too valuable at home, particularly Jamerson.
By Lynn Bruce (65.60.202.214) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 10:50 am: |
Ralph,if only we would have had a camera in those days and taken pictures.Who knew all those people would become stars?I recall packing up my drums at the Wayne-civic teen-club and watching the Miracles get in this old car next to mine,one spring shot in the back,and smoke billowing out the back drive away down Wayne rd.We had no idea they would become so famous.
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:15 am: |
Lynn,
I know what you mean. The guys in the band and I talk about it to this day. We wish there was video cameras back then.
By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 06:36 am: |
Edwin Starr had a number of different backing bands while with Ric Tic / Motown.
He recruited members out of both Detroit & Cleveland. Bands that backed him included the Soul Messengers ?(who were this outfits members) and also the group that went on to become Rose Royce (their name escapes me at this time).
By acooolcat (61.222.101.145) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 07:54 am: |
John
Frank Garcia was a member of The Soul Messangers. You may know that he founded an organisation called The Original Historic Music Society of Detroit a few years ago. He's been very ill for the past year or more, and so hasn't been as active as he was.
The group provided backup to a lot of acts in Detroit clubs around 1968-69-ish
Frank and some of the group cut an instrumental for Harry Balk called "The Barracuda" around 1968.
Graham
By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.33) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 10:09 am: |
Graham,
sad to hear about Frank Garcia.
I hope he improves and can get back to his normal self.
I have been a big fan of his for a while.
Thinking of you Mr.Garcia.
Mel.
By RJ Spangler (64.12.97.7) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 08:16 pm: |
I know Joe Weaver backed several Motown acts and his cousin Benny Benjamin often played drums. Joe mentioned Barrett Strong, Stevie Wonder & Martha Reeves to me. I aslo know horn players Dezie McCullers and Kenny Brinkley were in some sort of Motown road band. -RJ
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 09:05 pm: |
Graham,
It's funny. Harry referred to people of dubious distinction as " barracudas ". I wonder if the song had some influence in this?
By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 10:00 pm: |
Could be Ralph, although I don't think he would mean Frank and the guys.
BTW - I think the 45 was released in 1967, not '68.
Sonny Sanders was part a group that backed up Mary Wells on the road. They were called The Love Tones - or something like that.
All the best, Graham