By Brother Love (12.65.126.43) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 03:40 am:

The women of Motown were out in full strength yesterday in Los Angeles for a benefit supporting The Rhythm & Blues Foundation. The show took place at The Mint Club and was billed as Philly Soul Explosion, a tribute to Philadelphia Soul Music. The mistress of ceremonies was Claudette Robinson with special guests Brenda Holloway, Kim Weston, Jean Terrell, Tata Vega, Freda & Scherrie Payne, Thelma Jones, The Sweet Inspirations, Leata Galloway, Jody Watley & Evelyn 'Champagne' King. The show was put together by David Nathan who also sang a song for the packed house. This was a once in a lifetime concert that we will be talking about for a long time.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 09:50 am:

From the looks of the line-up it must have been quite a show. Perhaps it's something that should be repeated in various places.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 09:55 am:

Did the women mentioned perform or were they in
attendance? If it were a tribute to Philadelphia
soul music, were there performers from that city
on the bill? I think Evelyn King is from there,
but too bad they didn't have Dee Dee Sharp.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 11:50 am:

How did Jean sound?
Stephanie

By Brother Love (12.65.150.146) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 12:48 pm:

Jean sounded great and looked great, she sang Phyllis Hyman's "The Answer Is You". All of the ladies sang one song that was part of The Philly Sound.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.60) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

Nice to see
Thelma Jones up there.
mel.

By Brother Love (12.65.144.139) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 07:10 pm:

Yes Mel I have to agreed with you Miss Thelma Jones never gets the props that she deserves and it was good to see her on the show. For her selection she sang "Now That We Found Love" which she recorded on her on her 1978 Columbia album. During her set Miss Jones had the crowd standing on her feet while they cheered her on and on. Thelma currently has a new CD entitled "Law Of Old" and is sounding as good as ever.

By Linda Di. (66.67.194.109) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

Speaking of Dee Dee Sharpe (Per Randi), hopefully she's still performing? Does anybody have an update on her. What a tremendous talent she is. What color is love???

By Marv (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 10:35 pm:

Dee Dee Sharpe still performs and sounds good. She was most recently on one of the PBS Rhythm and Blues type specials last year.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 08:31 am:

To Linda Di, DEE DEE SHARP is a very close friend
and yes, she is still performing--sounding and
looking very good! She was just with me this
past week as she and her husband have a time
share here in Central Florida. We speak all
the time and she has some new projects in the
works.

By Eli (151.197.110.254) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 08:40 am:

Hey Brother Love,
Can you give us a rundown of some of the other songs that were performed.

Also, I am curious as to why Evelyn King was the only Philly person there at a function that featured Detroit artists paying tribute to Philly music?

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 08:42 am:

Evelyn Champaine King is fron the Bronx, N.Y.
Your so right Mel! Thelma Jones has a fantastic voice, its time for her to get the recognition due to her!

By Eli (151.197.110.254) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 08:47 am:

Ive always known Evelyn to be from Philly as long as I have known her.
She was discovered by T. Life(Spiritual Concept) doing janitorial work at PIR/Sigma at barely 15 years of age.
Maybe she was born in the Bronx and moved here later??

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 09:44 am:

Bobby;
I think you are right that could be where the Bronx thing I heard about comes in (?). Or I was previously misinformed, I know you would know.
S.S.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 10:09 am:

Bobby Eli, I also wonder why they did not have
Philadelphia artists perform. Dee Dee Sharp
and Barbara Mason are both available for
booking.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

Why no Philly singers ? - from the list of people who did appear they're all (?) living in California.
Maybe the promoters wouldn't stump air-fares ?

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 01:16 pm:

I cannot imagine a Calif. promoter billing a show
as "Philadelphia Soul Explosion" and NOT booking
Philly acts. If it were to save money and not
pay hotel bills or air fares, then WHY have the
show at all (or at least NOT a show with that
billing). Besides, there are a LOT of Philly
Soul fans in the LA area and any of these artists
would probably do very well.
Who knows? But this is why so many in the general
public think the Drifters, Shirelles, just about
any black artist from the late 50s or 60s WAS a
Motown act. I went to a show one time on New
Year's Eve 1999--Motown Party Celebrating 2000--
the performers were the Platters, Shirley Alston
Reeves, and the Crystals! Why Motown? The venue
thought those acts WERE from Motown.

By Brother Love (12.65.127.165) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

The reason that there were no acts from Philly on the show was because this was a BENEFIT and there was no money to fly people in. If you do not already know The R&B Foundation is in dyer needs right now and there have not been many people stepping up to the plate to help. By using local artist one hundred percent of the money raised will go to the foundation, with no over head. It's not important who was on the show or what type of music was celebrated, but the fact that people gave of their time and energy to support a great cause in need.

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

Or maybe the show was merely a tribute. A nod to the sound by artists who respect that sound. I think that's a wonderful thing, and I'm happy to see that.

Wow Randy, that's so good to hear that Ms. Sharp is working on some new things. You know I think she's awesome! Dee Dee Sharp, Mary Wells, Barbara Mason, Barbara Lewis, Jean Terrell, Claudette Robinson - my GIRLS! :-)

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

Brother Love,

You're quite right - if I'd read your initial post
properly I'd have known it was a benefit concert. My apologies.

Davie

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

I did not see that it was a benefit show either.
That does explain why no Philly artists were
booked.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

Brother Love:
Your point is correct regarding the event being a benefit but I cannot imagine that one Philly artist who would not have put up their own money to fly out for such a gig. The R&B Heritage folks need all the help they can get to survive and right now is the time for those who can afford to help to step up to the plate (and yes, I've donated money to the foundation in the past).
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 08:21 pm:

Randy--please tell Dee Dee Im a huge fan. I just love her version of Id Really Love To See You Tonight-do U? I assume she re-married after Gamble? Barbara Mason STOLE the PBS show she was on. She is well interviewed in Ladies of Soul Book from last year.