By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 10:21 am:

He called himself Bill Upchurch (NOT Phil the gituar player), Think was from L.A., of course it may have not been his real name.(?) It was NOT James Jameson. Trying to refresh my memory, any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 10:50 am:

Hi Soul Sister, Bill Upchurch sounds right.

I remember one of the UK magazines interviewed
the Supremes' band director (Marvin Marshall?)
when they toured the UK in '71 or '72.
The name Bill Upchurch was mentioned and it stuck
in my mind because of the similarity to Phil.

Where is he now ? - I've no idea.

Davie

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 11:41 am:

The reason I wasn't possitive on that Davie is he would joke about being Phil's brother and that the song Don't Mess Wtith Bill was for him. Of course we know that there was alot of b.s.ing going on back then, Just curious maybe someone else will have infornation. Thanks for your input Davie!

By Eli (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 03:39 pm:

Gil hired me for that tour and I bought my new Les Paul and Acoutic amp, but I opted to stay in Philly , as PIR was just starting to make noise and I was needed here, thankfully so!!

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 04:12 pm:

Bobby' First time we (Manhattans, band, myself & Smitty's sister) all met him was at the Apollo Christmas Show 1970 when the Supremes (Jean, Cindy, & Mary) headlined the show. I'm sure Bill said he was from L.A. I'm suprised no one knows of him.(?) S.S.

By Eli (172.160.200.191) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 04:46 pm:

Keni Burke was Gil's son in law around that time and it may have been him.
BTW..the tour that I was hired for was Diana Ross starting with Hollywood Bowl.

By Leoscasino (66.72.200.216) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 05:19 pm:

I had the great pleasure of meeting Bill's sister, Rae, in Cleveland a few years back at the Rock n Roll Hall of fame. She was with Eddie Kendrick's cousin Katina. Being in such legend company, I asked Rae about her brother. She immediately called him and I had a great conversation with him. He was living in Hawaii at that time. He suffered a stroke and has since passed away. Interesting fellow he was. Very gracious.

By Andy Skurow (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

On a concert from 1971, I think it's their Central Park show, but I'd need to double check, it's Gil Askey conducting. On "Oh Happy Day," Jean Terrell introduces Bill Upchurch as bass guitarist during the band intro break. Hope this helps.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 07:54 pm:

So sad to hear Bill has passed, he was a sweetheart, I guess he was in his mid 40s maybe a little older in 1971. Thank You Leo & Andy. Hawaii does sound like him! Gracious too.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 11:35 pm:

Eli...thanks for shedding light on the Keni Burke/Gil Askey relationship. I often saw the name Day Askey-Burke & wondered...but had no way to verify.

By Linda Di. (66.67.194.109) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 12:42 am:

Indeed Bill Upchurch was the early 70s Supremes' base player. He was such a nice man, and I'm sorry to hear he's passed. Dick Ricardo played percussion and Napoleon Allen played guitar. A few years later, Mr. Allen was touring with the Inkspots. I also remember Marvin Marshall touring with the Supremes, playing a mean guitar!

Diana Ross had a drummer by the name of Mel Brown. Does anybody know what he's up to? Thanks!

By Marv (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 11:01 am:

Does anyone here remember the Supremes Conducter Teddy Harris? I heard he was still performing in Detroit. It's been years since I've heard about him. Can anyone help?

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

I have a couple of photos of Bill Upchurch from '70-'71, I will send if ever I learn how to scan this darn thing, Iam truly computer illiterate. I have so many photos from back in the day, I'm sure would be of interest to someone.

By MEL&THENSOME (212.159.49.26) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 02:29 pm:

SoulSister,
I am interested(andthensome)

By longgonelover (65.238.154.51) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 03:54 pm:

Does anyone know the conductor from The Supremes show in Montreaux....about 76? I saw the video once, but, didn't catch the name of the conductor. Somehow Teddy Harris sounds familiar.

By Andy Skurow (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 04:42 pm:

Yes, long gone, Teddy Harris was their conductor in the last years.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 05:31 pm:

Mel;
I just dicovered under the Stax/Volt site info. about a record by Derek Martin (probably one Bobby Eli mentioned to me on the phone the other night), they even had a small picture of Derek.
Record: Soul Power/Sly Girl on Volt 160
Info: It was first issued onthe Tuba label from Detroit! Produced by Teddy Randazzo & V. Pike.
Derek Martin was formerly a member of the Top Notes and recorded too for Sue & Roulette. But they never mentioned Buttercup. I always suspected a Detroit connection. He may be singing Gospel now(?) Don't know for sure.
S.S.

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 05:42 pm:

Marv,

Teddy Harris is very much alive and well and very active on the Detroit jazz scene.
He was recently honored (I raised a Teddy Harris thread and offered a brief review of the gala affair).
Teddy has a fine big band, The New Breed BeBop Society Orchestra, which performs once or twice a month at Baker's Keyboard Lounge.
Teddy writes some swinging charts for the band.
He also hosts a weekly Wednesday jam session at Baker's.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.41) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 08:11 pm:

Soulsister,
many thanks.
check out the Roulette Demo called "breakaway"
by Derek Martin.

Breakaway
Roulette White promo copy
no.R-4743
written by
T.Randazzo/V.Pike/L.McCorkle.
and dig this,
it says on the label
Razzle Dazzle Music.

Also produced and arranged by
Teddy Randazzo.

The Tuba release was
Sly Girl/Soul Power Tuba records no.2010.

same as the Volt 45(no160)as you said.

The Buttercup 45 was
you blew it baby/Moving hands of time
Buttercup no.9.

Regards the Top Notes
I know of a 45 by the Top Notes
titled
wait for me baby/come back cleopatra
on Festival Records(no.1021)

but havent seen one
or heard one.

Is it the same group with Derek in?


back to the Buttercup label
I have a record on a Buttercup label
by Sheila Anthony
called
living in love/woman to woman
on Buttercup no.7.

many thanks Soulsister
your nite-owl buddy
mel-o-deeeeeee

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 09:05 pm:

Mel-o-deeeeeee:
Thanks much for pullin'my coat to the 411 !
I knew of the Top Notes before & once I have a friend refresh my memory I'll get back to you with more on that. Your knowledge & collection blows me away! Always good to hear from you & read your lists!
S.S.

By MEL&THENSOME (217.14.178.40) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 09:08 pm:

Soulsister,
your the one thats in the groove.
you've forgot more than I know.
your too kind.
mel(aka grasshopper)

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

Mel a.k.a. Grasshopper...where does that come from? "You" are too kind my friend.
S.S.

By MEL&THENSOME (217.14.178.40) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 09:42 pm:

Remember Kung fu
with David Carradine Soulsister.
He or someone in the series was Grasshopper
the Learned monk.
"when you can take the pebble from my hand etc".
I am that Learned person.
regards
mel(the mad monk)

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:08 pm:

Melowiseone; I do remember grasshopper in Kung-Fu, and I must say you are quite learned andthensome!
S.S.

By Marv (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:48 pm:

Jim G, thank you very much man. I appreciate knowing Teddy Harris is still out there doing it. I had the chance to see him conduct a "Motown All-Star" type band at Chene Park in the summer of 1994. It was a dual celebration of Dr.Bean Bowles and Mary Wilson's Detroit Homecoming (after that tragic accident). I hadn't heard about Teddy Harris much since then. I know Aretha had some sort of dinner honoring Mr. Harris and his wife Martha some years ago in Detroit.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

Soulsister, the Top Notes were Derek Martin
and Howard Guyton. That single on Festival that
Mel mentioned fits in somehow but I'm not sure when - the label was owned by Herb Abramson who was the executive at Atlantic who signed the Top Notes. It looks as if The Top Notes hooked up
again with Abramson after he'd left Atlantic and started his own labels.

Oh, Buttercup was Teddy Randazzo's label - that
single's from '69, Teddy took Derek Martin with him when the label was set up.
Davie

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:41 pm:

Davie:
Thanks so much for the additional info. on Derek & The Top Notes connection. Derek had a wonderful voice but none more better than when he recorded "You Better Go"on Roulette!
Teddy Randazzo was a brilliant writer & producer, he put out all that great stuff on Little Anthony & The Imperials.