By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:33 pm:

Mr Bobby Eli for this wonderful picture.

Bobby says, "Here is an old archive photo of Bunny Sigler's old group the Opals, circa 1956.
Bunny is the one with the guitar and his brother Benny is just to Bunny's right."

Quite simply one of the best pics I've ever seen and I was lucky enough to be in Bobby's house when he showed it to Bunny for the first time.

Philly I love you.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.194.229) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:42 pm:

The Magic of Philly
say no more
great stuff guys
mel-a-delphia!!!!!!!!!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

For years I dreamt about visiting the site of the Uptown in Philadelphia. Part of the Chitlin' Circuit, this guy was THERE.

Mr Eli take a bow. Along with Weldon you gave us a day to remember....forever.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

Awesome Stuff Bobby!!!

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

Awesome Stuff Bobby!!!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:57 pm:

Hey, Bobby!
Where's your axe!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:01 pm:

Wait a minute Kev....that could be Paule 3 Shoes....In which case, your question still works.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:06 pm:

Yikes!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

GREAT PICTURES!!!! Gosh, I'll bet your photo collection looks like a slice of musical history!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:13 pm:

Bobby's on the phone again (I'd love to know what his bills are like!!!).

This is at Weldon's (check out some of the detail behind us).

Anyway Bobby's in control...he's telling Bundino to get his ass over to meet these guys from Scotland!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:37 pm:

Hi Mr. Bobby Eli....Great to see you. Wow, DMeikle, I know you had a grand time in Philly. How'd it feel to be with one of the giants of Philly? You know that PHILLY SOUND will live forever.
Take your bow Mr. Eli. And give Paulie a hug for me. :o)

PHILLY FOREVER!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

Yes Sis, I remember telling you.

Perfect hosts they were.....just like folks in the Motor City.

By Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (68.80.162.3) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

hey Davied, the picture in the back of your head is the cover of my book I did on the Jackson Five in 1984, did the photo of me with the award that BMI gave me, for over 3 million broadcast performances
for "Yes I'm Ready" come out,if so I would like to have a copy, your main man,
WELDON

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 05:58 pm:

Weldon
See the Kudos thread.
David

By stephanie (64.63.221.145) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 06:39 pm:

Wow a history museum in a house and Nish is too young to remember this stuff but she does!!! When Im totally well I want to come to the next Soulful Detroit event and meet these people Im coming I promise..
Stephanie

By Big Daddy E. (141.151.94.253) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 08:10 pm:

Hey sis..
When you said "giant" holy cow,you're not joking!!!! I need to shed some tonnage.
Actually, I did lose about 25 pounds since the visut.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 08:53 pm:

Hi Bobby. Great picture. I played at the Uptown with my band in the seventies. At the end of the show, some kids eased in the back door and grabbed our B3 organ and started running down the alley with it. They were fast but not carrying that B3. We ran them down and got it back.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:47 am:

Big Daddy E - You don't need to lose anything unless the doctor recommended it. Just stay as you are. You have a heart full of "soul" and nothing can change that, not even your doctor.

So, I'll just call you "My Big Soul Daddy" If that's alright with Paulie and Vonnie. :o)

By 65memories (198.109.0.236) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 02:01 pm:

Bobby, great pictures. As I said before, I love this site because everyday is an instant history session. You not only learn, but you learn from those who actually lived the experience.
Gary Torgerson

By Lotsa Poppa (141.151.61.175) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 02:15 pm:

His Sis D!!!
Funny you should mention it!!
Just the other day I went to the clothing store and bought some short sets with the brand name Big Daddy!

Geez, I am glad that I had heart surgery rather than soul surgery.
If it were the former, I would be watching hockey while drinking Budweiser beer!!

By Keith Rylatt (213.104.89.69) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 02:17 pm:

Bobby. That Picture is just the BIZZO!!!! Got to admit, the biggest USA thrill I ever had was going to Philly, it just oozed SOUL......Went into a show biz outfitters store once near Chestnut....simply because there was a middle-aged, cool looking black guy standing in the doorway and there were scores of studio photos around the wall of all the Soul singers who went in there over the years for their stage outfits. When I started asking him about the Ambassadors, Showstoppers etc he was really interested and told me some great stories about those guys going in there. You folk in the USA are so lucky, having had two applications for immigration rejected.....I just don't understand why the US don't need middle-aged Art teachers????? Keith

By Keith Rylatt (213.104.89.69) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

The pic's got me going now, Bunny Sigler's `Let The Goodtimes Roll` was possibly the first Soul 45 to command a high price in Britain. It was issued in the UK on Cameo Parkway but in very small numbers (as were Jerry Williams, Doris Troy, Chris Bartley etc) anyhow in about '68 it was discovered that it was still on catalogue in France and they were imported from there. The record was so influential that an English guy, Tony Newman did a drum instrumental version on Decca. Bunny `Mr Emotions` Sigler on Craig, `I Won't Cry` is just fantastic. All of his CP 45s are great, and there are two fabulous photos on the sleeve of his CP LP but I'm not smart enough to up load them, can anyone? There is a very informative interview with him in UK magazine, Manifesto. Keith

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

Keith:
We DO need art teachers of all ages - our government just doesn't want to pay for arts teachers....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Keith Rylatt (213.104.89.69) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 03:03 pm:

KevGo Problem is as follows....imagine the scene in my classroom, old Soul 45s and LP sleeves over the walls, Drifters, Platters posters where the kid's art work should be, Andre William's `Jail Bait` over riding the PA system, Kids having to hear about the Art work on Choker Campbell's LP sleeve and me, not wanting to be interupted by the latest fight to break out because I'm trying to look at the Soul 45s sales list just delivered. Keith
PS Why aren't today's kids interested in Artie Field's Recording Studio memories???

By David Meikle (80.5.115.241) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Keith

Image uploads as usual via david@soulfuldetroit.com

Glad you enjoyed the pic. I also think it's awesome.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.102) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 04:02 pm:

I would put a few higher than bunny sigler Keith
although it was a sought after gem.

Not a lot mind,
but if not higher then certainly on a par with the Bunny Sigler.

All good sounds anyway no matter what they sold for.

mel.