By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:21 am:

Not sure if this was the topic on an earlier discussion or not, but what the hell...

Who is your favorite falsetto singer (group or solo), and why?

I really like that guy from the Stylistics, don't know his name(again I apologize to any fans), and also Eddie K. of the Tempts. But now I also have to keep it real with you guys...when I was younger, Debarge was really IN, so I kind of fell in love with El Debarge and his voice...OK there I said it...now I'll just sit back and wait to get voted off the forum...

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:03 am:

Stylistics lead - Russell Thompkins Jr. :o)

By DF (24.90.9.138) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 07:04 am:

Many people say that Frankie Lymon is the father of the modern falsetto. I won't argue too much with that. I heard a song with him (not "Why Do Fools...") singing lead at 13. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. At that age to boot. Peace.

By reddoor (65.238.154.182) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 07:42 am:

No one could rock it like Sylvester! The best counter-tenor out there in his day. The visuals were rather mind blowing, too!

By RD (63.188.32.132) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 08:10 am:

Eddie Kendricks. And please, don't anybody say Smokey Robinson, he's not a falsetto singer.

By John Barry Sheffield (195.92.168.165) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 08:15 am:

It just has to be Eddie Kendricks, his falsetto was just so "pure"

John

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:37 am:

DF, Frankie Lymon sang in his natural voice therefore he was not a falsetto.

I'll give a tie to William Hart of the Delfonics and Ted Mills of Blue Magic.

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:30 am:

Philip Bailey, Eddie Kendricks. Bailey seems to have gotten better in recent years, hasn't he?

By RD (63.188.32.132) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:46 am:

I forgot Eddie Holman who still sounds great.

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:51 am:

Eddie Holman is great, for sure and he should be up there.
In fact, he should be #1.

Also Damon Harris should be mentioned.

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.3.96) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:00 am:

..don't know his name, but the Guy that sings with the Dells
The Leader of the Dynamic Superiors
The Leader of the group The Young Hearts(I've got love for my baby)
Nick Ashford
Ron Banks (Dramatics)
I want 2 say the Moments(Ray, Goodman & Brown),Blue MAgic, but I'm not sure. so...

By RD (63.188.32.132) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:18 am:

Adding mames to Medusa's post:

Johnny Carter - the Dells

Tony Washington - the Dynamic Superiors

Ron Preyor - The Younghearts

And both Harry Ray and Billy Brown of the Moments/RG&B were/is great.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:28 am:

#1-Eddie Holman
#2-Johnny Carter

As Bobby said Frankie Lymon was singing in his natural voice as his idol Jimmy Scott sings in his natural God given voice, tho' some have also mistaken him for a falsetto. In fact, Jimmy told the other Frankie (Valli) years ago to open up his voice not to always sing in the falsetto style or he would ruin his vocal cords, he didn't listen, now today how much singing do you hear Valli do and how much voice does he have left?

By SB (206.214.1.4) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:39 am:

I agree that Frankie Lymon was a great falsetto. My fave though is Eddie K. IMO � Eddie is the only falsetto and 1st tenor that made up his own harmony when he sung - IMO. He didn�t have to rely just on his falsetto style � because he could go in and out. Melvin, once said, that because of Eddie � the rest of the guys could utilize their abilities to fit right in between he and Eddie.

Remember in the song, �You�re My Everything�, the rest of the Tempts were not heard on the record as background singers. (One of the few records where there were no distinctive background singers of the Tempts) David fitted right in singing his lead part � but Eddie made up his own harmony. Eddie�s voice, like any other is very distinctive � because just like a fingerprint, everyone�s is. Plus � Eddie�s Alabama accent was present in many of his songs. Philip Bailey & William Hart has gone on record stating how much they admired Eddie�s voice. And there are many others that have given this man his props. He is another one that influenced many singers to go the falsetto way.

In watching the Tempts miniseries movie during the �New Year�s Eve�, scene � Eddie�s voice is heard above all the rest when they sung Auld ___ ___, song. (Don�t remember how to spell the other two) I also read, where Terron Brooks � who played Eddie, was the only actor to sing his own parts. And if it is true � and I have no reason to believe it�s not then, he was copying and trying to sing like someone else. He did a superb job; yet, he was still not the original.

I would say that William Hart of the Delfonics is my second fave. And whether technically Smokey sings falsetto or not � he is another of my faves. Eddie, Smokey, Sam & Curtis, are my all time fave singers, and/w Marvin & Stevie and Otis, on their heels.

Below is an interesting read on this writer�s take on Ruffan and others.

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.11.96/motown-9628.html

By SB (206.214.1.4) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:40 am:

My Bad - for spelling Ruffin wrong. It was Mr. Ruffin to me. LOL!

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:41 am:

Clyde McPhatter - made the high tenor COOL in R&B.
Eddie Kendricks - made the falsetto really GO during the soul era.
Smokey Robinson - great high tenor, just awesome.

By SB (206.214.1.4) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:44 am:

And I forgot to add - David Ruffin to my list.

By SB (206.214.1.4) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:52 am:

And I forgot William Hart of the Delfonics,as being one of my fave singers of all time. They were my second fave group for singing the slow songs. The Jackson 5, were once quoted as saying, that the Defonics were their fave slow singing group, and that they loved all of their songs.

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:10 pm:

SB,
David Ruffin was a second tenor who, sometimes threw in a melismatic falsetto run, as James Ingram faithfully re-created.

Frankie Lymon was NOT a falsetto.
He was 13 years old and it was his natural voice at the time.

The Tempts DID sing harmony on You're are everything.
Listen again.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

*CURTIS MAYFIELD*!!!...HIS SOFT AND SMOOTH FALSETTO BLENDED PERFECTLY WITH ALL HIS MATERIAL!!!...EDDIE K...OF COURSE...ALONG WITH SMOKEY...POPULARIZED THE MODERN FALSETTO!!!...THE DELFONICS AND STYLISTICS WERE GREAT FALSETTO LED GROUPS...ALTHOUGH I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE GETTING THOSE TWO GROUPS MIXED UP WITH EACH OTHER!!!...AND JUST TO TOSS IN ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITES...FRANKIE VALLI!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

OH MAN!!!...I FORGOT THE GREAT EDDIE HOLMAN TOO!!!...CAN'T FORGET THAT FALSETTO LEGEND!!!...STU(SORRY EDDIE)BASS

By SB (206.214.1.4) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:34 pm:

Eli - you are right - but one can barely hear them - is what I meant. They are mostly oohing and awwing very faintly and softly. When they sing - "you're my everything", in the background, one can barely pick them up, because Eddie's voice is so strong and prominent. Yet - the way they do it is still sweet to the ear. And Eddie & David still ruled. LOL!

So may bad - my man.

I'll get back with you on the other thread as soon as I write up a list.

By Eli (151.197.181.206) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:36 pm:

Kool SB!!

By STUABSS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:52 pm:

WOW SOUL SISTER...JIMMY GIVING ADVICE TO FRANKIE VALLI!!!...YOU CAN HEAR ON MANY OF THE FOUR SEASONS TUNES...FRANKIE SLIDING BACK AND FORTH FROM NATURAL TO FALSETTO!!!...UNFORTUNATLY FOR FRANKIE'S VOICE...BOB CREW...KENNY NOLAN...AND ALL THE OTHER WRITERS WROTE FOR FRANKIE TO SING FALSETTO...SO HE PROBABLY HAD NOT A BIG SAY IN THE MATTER!!!...STU

By Vickie (198.81.26.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:55 pm:

It's Eddie & Russell for me...


Vickie

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 01:17 pm:

STU; Frankie Valli & Joe Pesci use to follow Jimmy around in the 50's & early 60's when Jimmy lived in Newark and recorded for Savoy, F.V. & J.P. lived in the north Italian end of the city, so they grew up going to Jimmy's area "gigs" and hanging out at his apartment drinking coffee and chatting serious music. Frankie had the group called The Four Lovers, before the name change later to The Four Seasons. Jimmy told Frankie (which Frankie often quotes today) "Baby, sing as slow as you want, its the bands job to follow you, you should never try to follow the band Baby thats how you get lost, ya'dig?" That one Frankie took his advice on.

Nish;
I knew you would be the one to post one good one I forgot Clyde McPhatter, I esp. liked his voice when he sang with Billy Ward's Dominoes.
Best.
S.S.

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 01:22 pm:

That's cool re: Jimmy Scott and F.Valli and J.Pesci. He basically told them right!

Clyde McPhatter - come on, his Dominoes stuff is amazing. His rendition of "Deep Sea Blues" is so beautiful. And who can forget that voice of his in the background of "Sixty Minute Man"... so distinctive!

By STUABSS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:23 pm:

THANKS SOUL SIS!!!...I'D LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT...BUT SINCE I'M RUNNING LATE FOR WORK...PERHAPS WE CAN DO THAT LATER!!!...TWO NAMES OUT OF "LEFT FIELD"...FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!!...BRIAN WILSON OF THE "BEACH BOYS"!!!...WHILE NOT THE VOCAL TECHNICIAN OF SOME...BRIAN...ON BOTH BACKGROUNDS AND LEADS...NEVER MISSED A NOTE...ALWAYS ON KEY!!!...LISTEN TO "SURFER GIRL"...OR SOME OF THE "PET SOUNDS" FALSETTO'S!!!...BRIAN WAS SO PARANOID ABOUT HIS FALSETTO SINGING...THAT HIS WIFE SAYS THAT ONE TIME DURING A REHERSAL SHE BROUGH SOME FRIENDS ALONG...AND WARNED THEM NOT TO SMILE...SMIRK...OR ANYTHING ELSE WHEN BRIAN HIT HIS HIGH NOTES...BECAUSE THE EMOTIONALLY INSECURE BRIAN WOULD FREAK OUT...AND SHE SAYS SOMEONE DID SMILE...AND BRIAN RETREATED INTO A LITTLE VACCUM!!!...ANOTHER NOT TECHNICALLY GREAT FALSETTO...BUT A GUY WHO ALWAYS "HIT THE NOTE" AND STILL DOES (ALBEIT WITH A LITTLE MORE EFFORT)...JAY BLACK (JAY AND THE AMERICANS)!!!...JAY WAS A VOCAL PARADOX...IN THAT HIS LEADS WOULD USUALLY BEGIN ON A SECOND TENOR...AND END UP IN A HIGH FALSETTO "FIRST TENOR"!!!...ANY COMMENTS ON THESE TWO!!!...STU

By stephanie (64.63.221.173) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:26 pm:

Eddie Holman is the first person that came to my mind but if I had to name one other than him I would have to say Lou Christie and when he did it Del Shannon. I was totally flabbergasted when I heard Daddy Ruff do Walk Away from Love and he hit that high note on the line "breaks my heart" I didnt know he could go that high!!! In his day Frankie Valli could hang with the best as well..
Stephanie PS I would have said Clyde McPhatter but I liked him more when I was little..

By John Barry Sheffield (195.92.168.166) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:29 pm:

How could I forget Damon Harris "Love Woke me Up this Morning" Wow! that still knocks me out and William Hart, also Ted Mills of Blue Magic..... do these Guys realise sometimes what an IMPACT they have had on some of our lives!

They are all True Gifts and Blessings we have been given with there TALENTS!

John

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

Stu;
I agree Jay Black is worthy of honorary mention.
Lou Christy is a trip too, F.V. was definately good in his day but the true effortless smooth falsetto voice belongs only to Eddie Holman!!!
S.S.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.218) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:37 pm:

Eddie Kendricks number one because he was so imitated, then Eddie Holman, Donnie Elbert (remember "What Can I Do") and Ted Mills (Blue Magic).

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:44 pm:

Donnie Elbert a good one Scratcher!

By Rhythm and Blues Showcase (151.204.38.119) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

1. Eddie Kendricks
2. Damon Harris
3. William Hart
4. Russell Thompkins Jr
5. Jordan Knight

By SB (205.186.128.196) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

I don't know who was the best. I just named my favorite. Others, to include my number one - "Soul Sister", know more than I. How can I judge the best - when I might not have heard them all?

By LeVan45789 (63.202.187.191) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:38 pm:

Here's the best I think

Eddie Kendricks - the best
Bobby Debarge - true style
Phillip Bailey - a master

I know there are others but these three stand
out for me.

By fayette (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:39 pm:

sylvester (you make me feel mighty real)
philip bailey(reasons)
clyde mcphatter
one of the lead singer of the floater(you
don't have to say you love me)
maxwell
the falsetto with the dells

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.18) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:40 pm:

Like Stu's thread
asking for the best soul singer
I will keep out as there are far too many to mention.
must say though theres some mighty fine names on.

Now wheres that
material by The Kodoks,
or the Duponts no
Johnny Ace
no stick with that Mill's brothers track
Mel

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.3.96) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 05:08 pm:

Stu,
U mentioned Kenny Nolan. Where is he now? If my memory serves me, he wrote 'Lady Marmalade' and my favorite 'I Like Dreaming', (Love's Grown Deep).
Any News On him?

By C. Bell/Eric (67.25.222.112) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 05:14 pm:

Nolan Strong

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 05:53 pm:

MEDUSA!!!...KENNY NOLAN AND MY BROTHER DID A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER!!!...YES...HE DID WRITE LADY MARMALADE...AS WELL AS THE "DISCO TEX" STUFF HE AND MY BROTHER WORKED ON!!!...KENNY WAS ALSO DOING SOME WORK FOR THE GROUP "ALL FOR ONE"!!!...KENNY IS BASICALLY A NICE GUY...WHO HAS TALENT...AND LETS YOU KNOW IT!!!...HE'S STILL OUT HERE IN SO CAL...BUT I HAVENT TALKED TO HIM IN A FEW YEARS (HE USED TO CALL ME WHEN HE NEEDED A CAR...AND NEEDED TO TELL SOMEONE HOW TALENTED HE IS)!!!...STU

By Eli (141.151.3.90) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:06 pm:

Medusa,

I spoke to Kenny Nolan several times around two years ago and he is doing great.
I told him that I would like to write with him as he is a big fan of Sideshow.

By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:17 am:

Okay... this great high tenor/falsetto gets major points from me for not only replacing one of the top 5 tenors in history, but also adding his own flavor to one of the classic old-line Motown groups. That voice belongs to Billy Griffin. He revitalized the Miracles, gave them a number one hit, and permanently earned this high-tenor lover's respect just by his mere delivery of "I Love You Secretly" and "Do It Baby." I think he seriously has an awesome voice. Smokey Robinson is a HARD act to follow, yet he didn't try to sound like Smokey, he only did Billy Griffin, and that was more than good enough.

And to say he was dreamy back in the day would be a gross understatement, too! :-)

By bcollins3 (68.200.130.115) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 02:32 am:

1st time post from someone who has been following [and loving] the forum for months. Though he is hardly a falsetto,one of the great performances featuring falsetto is Levi's I BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME. Also one of my favorite albums is Ray Charles' LISTEN where he covers standards, singing in his regular voice for a verse or two and switching to falsetto for the fnal verses. Lastly, Joe Hinton's version of FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY ends on an unbelievable falsetto scream. Favorite real falsetto for me is Russell Tompkins.

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:33 am:

LeVan...I think I like your list the best, and on that note I'll take two of yours and add it to MY list...Philip Bailey(how could I have forgotten), and Bobby Debarge (isn't he one of the older brothers of Debarge, in a group called Switch? I think sometimes I mistakenly credit some of my favorite songs to Debarge instead of Switch...they kind of sound alike.)

By RD (63.188.33.208) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:34 am:

Nish, like Smokey Robinson, Billy Griffin is not a falsetto singer. They have high first tenors (male sopranos) which is a different; Smokey dislikes being labeled a falsetto.

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:42 am:

Eddie Kendricks
Damon Harris
Glenn Leonard
Ron Banks
Philip Bailey
Bobby Debarge (Switch)
Prince (??)
Russel Thompkins
Ted Mills
Eban Brown
Ricky Ownens

These are the few that come immediately to mind. Eddie Holman is still great and so are Those brothers from the Moments.

PS : The Tempts were prominently featured in the backgroud of You're my Everything. Its probably the mix in the version that you have. Motown was notoriuous for providing those 'tricky mixes" where the original 45 was mixed for radio play in mono and the stereo albums sounded a bit different, in fact on some of the old albums played on old equipment, you could actually hear the lead singer on one channel and the background singers on another, and sometimes you would lose the background all together or it was so faint as to be non-existent.

Kdubya

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:52 am:

Favorite Falsettos:
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Holman
Ted Mills
William Hart
Russell Thompkins
Frankie Valli
Marvin Smith of the Artistics (sang falsetto on "I'm Gonna Miss You")
Otis Leavill (check out "I Love You")

I'm surprised no one has mentioned EUGENE RECORD of the Chi-lites. His falsetto on "Have You Seen Her" and "Stoned Out Of My Mind" was right on the money.

As for Frankie Valli, he chilled out on the falsetto when he recorded solo for Private Stock Records in the mid 1970s (as well as the Warner Brothers stuff the Four Seasons recorded during that time). Unfortunately, as Stu indicated, the damage was done by then and now Frankie's "reed" has worn thin.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:53 am:

For sheer strength and unadulterated power I would have to say Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire. Some guys do not produce their falsettos well outside of the studio. I have never heard Mr. Bailey live when he wasn't it great voice.

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:54 am:

RD - thanks for the clarification. I know both Smokey and Billy are high tenors as opposed to falsettos (as are Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson), but for the purposes of the sound, I mentioned them and I just call the whole group high tenor/falsettos or high tenor and/or falsettos. Thanks! :-)

By SB (205.186.130.93) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Kdubya - you're right 'cause I can barely hear them on the "With A Lot O' Soul Album." Faint is definitely the word I'd use. And the only chorus, I hear them singing is a very faint "You're My Everything." That song is my all time fave by the Tempts btw, and with dozens on it's tail.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

RD MENTIONED JOHNNY CARTER OF THE DELLS!!!...ALTHOUGH I ASSOCIATE MORE WITH HIS BACKGROUND FALSETTO'S...HIS HIGH PART ON "STAY IN MY CORNER"...IS VERY DISTINCTIVE...AND QUITE OUTSTANDING!!!...AS FOR PHILLIP BAILEY...MY TAKE...AND ONCE AGAIN...I MAY FIND MYSELF BOILING IN A POT OF HOT WATER HERE...PHILLIP'S VOCALS ARE TOO "OVERLY DRAMATIC" FOR MY TASTE!!!...I THINK HE NEEDS A "GOVERNOR" FOR HIS VOCAL RENDITIONS!!!...PHILLIP HAS GIVEN ME MANY "REASONS" TO FAST FORWARD TO THE NEXT "EW&F" TRACK!!!...STUBASS

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:22 pm:

SKIP MAHONEY - OF SKIP MAHONEY & THE CASUALS

CHARLES McCORMICK & CHARLES LOVE - OF BLOODSTONE

BILLY GRIFFIN - WHEN HE SANG LEAD FOR THE MIRACLES

By Nish (216.148.244.38) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:27 pm:

Stu - HAHAHAHAHA @ Phil Bailey giving you many "reasons" to ffwd to the next ewf track! Head angel showing out again!!!

And yes, just to chime in on Johnny Carter - I know his work with the Dells is really par excellence, but on "Golden Teardrops" with the Flamingos? Good gracious, he's dynamite!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:30 pm:

STU:
Geez, dude! I guess when we finally meet I'll make sure I'm blasting the live version of "Reasons" from the Gratitude CD on my stereo!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 02:02 pm:

Listen to Nolan Strong on "Beside You"... super high falsetto. Excellent.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:34 pm:

Dell;
I must agree with you Skip Mahoney is GREAT!!!
S.S.

By stephanie (64.63.221.14) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:54 pm:

Soul Sister and Dell what do you all know about Skip Mahoney? My brother used to play and with him and still does from time to time are you all from the MD/DC/VA area? I love Skip I used to watch him practice when I was a little girl..
Stephanie

By Scratcher (65.238.127.177) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 06:04 pm:

"Your Funny Moods" was Skip Mahoney & the Casuals most noted recording. Is James Purdie (keyboardist/co-writer) still with Skip, Stephanie? Skip was the Fuzz ("I Love You For All Seasons") road manager.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 07:08 pm:

Hi Steph;
I just know for sure he's a great singer, he, I seen blow away some great acts on a show at the Apollo once. I have some good company in that opinion. I have some of his music. Thats all. That is so cool your bro. played with him!
Got go get some office supplies to get some work done, will be back later.
Take Care,
S.S.

By stephanie (64.63.221.14) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:16 pm:

Hey Scratch
My brother still does local gigs with Skip from time to time when Skip is asked to perform but my brother is going to be touring more now with Diz Russell and his Orioles. That is how my brother got gigs playing behind the Fuzz because Skip was their road manager. Ill check with him tomorrow morning and see if Purdie is still with Skip and I will have an answer for you tomorrow.

I talked to Diz Russell on the phone once and he told me back in the old days all the male groups in the days of doo wop smoked weed, spent money and chased women...LOL WOW what stories to tell.
Stephanie

By SB (206.214.2.154) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

I read where the five actors that played the Classic 5' leads in the Tempts miniseries movie all chose "Just My Imagination", as their all time favorite Temptation's song. Can you believe it? All five? Now what was that about? It astounded me when I read that. I love that song - yet it is not my all time fave.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.177) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:29 pm:

STEPH! ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUZZ!

If I'm correct the Fuzz was two sisters and a friend or cousin who was on the hefty side but could sing. They were kinda young too. I had two of their singles but never did find the album they released.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Scratcher:
I have the Fuzz album on the Calla label.

No, it's not for sale...

Your pal,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:56 pm:

SB:
That's probably why the actors sang the song live as opposed to lip-synching.

It was the only moment in the film I really liked.

Don't get me started on the rest of the flick...

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MGBS (66.72.195.216) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:43 pm:

How about a recent falsetto? Phil Perry.
He is outstanding.

By DELL (172.146.118.168) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

STEPHANIE : SKIP IS GREAT I LOVED "WHEREEVER YOU GO" @ TIMES HE'S A LITTLE SHARP BUT GREAT NONE THE LESS, AND I'M FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y., AND STILL THERE. CHECK OUT BLOODSTONE THE NON-HITS GREAT PAIR OF TENORS, PHIL PERRY IS NO JOKE, WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR HIM EXPAND HIS VOCAL STYLINGS, HE REMINDS ME OF A MALE PATTI LABELLE, THE SAME ROLLER COASTER VOCALS,

By Scratcher (65.238.172.12) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 10:32 pm:

KevGo, hopefully they'll put those Fuzz tracks on CD. Probably not by themself but in combination with another group like they did Black Ivory and Odds & Ends. Nate Calla (Calla Records) was murdered at home in Florida and don't think the Fuzz recorded much more than what you have on that LP.

By Eli (141.152.255.216) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:42 pm:

Nate Mc Calla also had a hand in the Moonshot label who were the first ones to put out the Delfonics with he dont really love you.
He was a henchman of Morris Levy.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.78) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:36 am:

I asked all about Fuzz on another thread
and was totally blanked by all
yet here we are all rosey.
mel

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:47 am:

Scratcher:
All of Calla Records masters were sold to Rhino Records the same time Levy sold the Roulette catalog to Rhino.

I know they've been licensing a lot of stuff to Collectables so if anybody's gonna do a Fuzz anthology it might be them.

Eli:
I have the Delfonics' "He Don't Really Love You" on a import CD. Thom Bell sure loved tympani drums!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.100) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

Dunno Why I bother

By stephanie (64.63.221.225) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 02:37 pm:

Scratcher
Mybrotherisonthe phone right now and says
James Purdie is no longer affiliated with Skip....
Caroll Hynson was Skip and the Casuals manager and he was ALSO the Fuzz's manager. Skip introduced the Fuzzto Caroll Henson and then Caroll Henson took the band playing behind Skip and put them with the Fuzz.

James Purdie had no affiliation with the Fuzz as far as he knows. When my brother joined the group
Mr Purdie was Skips drummer and songwriting partner. James Purdie is legally blind NOW. He has no idea of what James is doing now. The last thing he did with Dave Carpin who was a lawyer. He and James Purdie were working with Chuck Brown they were responsible for financing an album with Chuck Brown....which Bustin Loose. That was the last active thing Purdie did. There was a benefit held two years ago for James Purdie in DC to help him with medical bills. The last 45 the Fuzz had was "Do Just What You Can"..by the time the song was released Caroll Henson was dropped as the Fuzz manager there were financial problems..The Fuzz thought he was underpaying them and that is all he knows.

The lead singer Sheila Young is in Baltimore, MD and she is still collecting royalties I dont know how big they are. He doesnt know if Sheila is working a nine to five or not.
Stephanie

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Here are my favorites:

Eddie Kendricks
Russell Thompkins. Jr. (of the Stylistics)
Clyde McPhatter (of the Drifters)
Philip Bailey (of Earth Wind & Fire)
The Ebonys (Lead singer) particularly on Life in the Country & It's Forever)
The Temprees (Lead singer) Dedicated to the one I Love
Next Movement (Lead)-More Love
Heaven & Earth (Lead singer)-I can't seem to forget you
Enchanment(Lead singer)-Gloria, Where do we go from here, It's You that I need
Blue Magic

By Scratcher (65.238.127.209) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 07:16 pm:

Thanks for the info Steph. I knew if Sheila was alive she was still collecting songwriting performance royalties for "I Love You For All Seasons," it has more than million performances logged with B.M.I. Bloodstone recut the song on a CD a few years ago and there will be more renditions cause its timeless. It also doesn't hurt that Sheila is the songs' sole writer. She also get money from samples, including "Shittin' On the World" from Dr. Dre Presents Aftermath CD done by Mel Man.

The Fuzz first recorded as the Passionettes and had releases on Path Records and Uni Records before cutting four more singles and an album for Calla. All I ever heard aired on the radio in my area was "I Love You..." and "Like an Open Door," its followup. The other members were Barbara Gilliam and Val Williams. The Uni single "Sister Watch Yourself" was written by two Motown writers: Clarence Paul and Ernie Shelby though they were not with Motown at the time and the song is not a Motown copyright.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 11:55 am:

ALL OF THESE GUYS WERE NOT FALSETTO,BUT THEY'RE SOME OF THE BEST..BILL KINNEY,EDDIE,SMOKEY,CLYDE,BOBBY HENDRICKS,DAVID BAUGH,JOHNNY MOORE,HARRY RAY,PHILLIP BAILEY.

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

Eddie