By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:12 pm:

Hey Everyone..

The snow here in Toronto is just awful!!

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone cared to share any memories about hanging out at Hitsville in the 60's? Was it like the utopia that I imagine? Were the groups hanging out on the front lawn? Could you just go up and talk to them?

How I wish I could time travel back to those glory days!!

Peace,

Michael

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:22 pm:

Sis

It would be interesting to know if you ever went about Hitsville back then. Did you know people who did?

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

Sis,

No..I never went to Hitsville! I'm only 21...!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:09 pm:

David - No, I did not hang around Hitsville. First, my father wouldn't let me off the porch. Then, my husband wouldn't let me out of the house. By 1967, the artist at Hitsville were somewhat beyond reach for the general population, unless you already knew them personally. If I was around any of them, with a friend or relative, it was always about business, which didn't involve me.

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:14 pm:

Sis!!

Sorry about the confusion!

I thought you posted a message asking me if I had been there...my mistake!! It was David's message asking you!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:39 pm:

Hello MichaelOH - I used to pass Hitsville all the time. But, it was just like passing all of the other studios. You just didn't think about it. It was taken for granted that it was there. But there were groupies, who hung around the building hoping to get a glance at the artist. But when "Motown" moved, then you notices that they were gone. :o)

Of course we all loved the groups and purchased their records. We had other groups within the City, and in other cities that we also loved. It's hard to explain, but during that period of time, music was from from Philly, and Chicago. There were other favorites such as Aretha, Curtis Mayfield, Fantastic Four, Emeralds, and other greats that I can't think of right now.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:44 pm:

What I'm trying to say is, we didn't know "at the time" that "Hitsville" would be the "Greatest of Greats" per say.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:44 pm:

I always enjoyed sitting on the steps of the porch while taking a break during a session. I liked to watch the cars on W. Gd. Blvd. amd talk with whomever came out to join me.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:46 pm:

I should have gone and said "hello" to you Ralph. Popcorn Wylie took my brother's group there to audition.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:56 pm:

You should have Sis. I was the white hippie looking dude on the front porch. Besides, any friend of Corn's is a friend of mine.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 08:12 pm:

(LOL) Ralph, when I read your post I thought of, and pictured how Dennis Coffey looked on one of his LP's. (LOL)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

MichaelOH - May I introduce to you, Ralph, who was a manager at Hitsville. I tried to get him to tell us how he issued discipline to my sweet prince, David Ruffin. But, he couldn't remember. :o)

Ralph, would you tell us again what you did at Hitsville, and what your title and duties were?