By nancy (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 10:32 pm:

Hey Stu and Kev I am working on an article on Eddie Kendricks can you tell me some of your memories please!!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:18 pm:

OK KEVGO...I'LL TAKE HONORS HERE!!!...HEY NANCY!!!...SORRY TO SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PERSONAL MEMORIES OF EDDIE KENDRICKS!!!...I'D SAY IN ALL...THAT I MET HIM PERSONALLY NO MORE THAN TWO OR THREE TIMES...USUALLY WHEN I WAS BACKSTAGE OR SOMETHING HANGING OUT WITH PAUL WILLIAMS!!!...EDDIE DID SEEM TO BE THE MORE QUIET AND SUBDUED MEMBER OF THE GROUP...AT LEAST WHEN I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE...BUT HE SEEMED LIKE HE WAS A VERY NICE AND FRIENDLY GUY!!!...SORRY I CAN'T BE OF MORE HELP ON THIS ONE!!!...STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:18 pm:

YOUR TURN!!!

By Nancy (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:26 pm:

Thanks Stu any piece of help is appreciated hey kev go we need your thoughts
Nancy

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 10:44 am:

Nancy:
I never knew Eddie personally and I feel there are others who probably have more vivid memories of him than I do.

His status in pop music history is beyond question - from his years as one of the (now-Classic) Temptations to his solo success (he was, and is, the only Temptation to have a #1 Pop hit as a solo artist - the record was "Keep On Truckin'"). His team-up with David Ruffin, Daryl Hall & John Oates in the 1980s showed that he still had the chops (all four of them were at Live Aid and participated in the Artists United Against Apartheid's "(I Ain't Gonna Play) Sun City.")

That's really all I can say about our dear Mr. Kendrick(s).

Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Jim G (12.47.224.12) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 11:06 am:

Nancy,

Exactly what type of article are you writing?
A detailed biography? A 'personality' article?
A discussion of his singing style? An article about his early years? A survey of his career?

If you can define what you're after, I'll be happy to suggest resources if I can.
I don't know anything at all about Eddie.

By Soulaholic (68.41.47.183) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

Hello Nancy:

I spent a night with him back in 1976.
Is this the type of thing you are looking for?

Soulaholic

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 06:16 pm:

soulaholic now don't leave us hanging like dat lol

nosey elite angel
fayette

By Nancy (64.12.97.7) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 08:32 pm:

Jim G I am writin a biography about his career any help would be appreciated
Thanks kevgo

By Soulaholic (68.41.47.183) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 10:36 pm:

Hello Fayette:

I was a club jock back in Boston. Eddie K. came to perform at a place called the Ratskellar. It was a little place that did different live acts from jazz, blues, and soul, rock whatever. It was owned by the organization I worked for Kenmore Square Organizations. Their motto back then was the owner�s of the most nightclubs in the Free-World (cold war thing). They had Big Discos, Vegas Type performance clubs, rock, jazz, blues, pubs you name it, they had it. Straight, gay, black, white didn't matter to them if people wanted to be entertained they would do it.

So Eddie K. comes to the Ratskellar and an other jock from my club and my manager and our girl�s friends all go down to see him perform. It was the middle of the week I think a Thursday and the place was slow, maybe 25 people in the whole place. Now this was a smaller venue and with every one upfront it looked and felt great.

Eddie sang and talked for about three hours. People asked him to do tunes, we requested date with the rain about 3 or 4 times and he did it with just the piano and drummer man was it sweet. Thinking back on it now and realizing how hard life had become for him later brings a tear to by eye. We spoke about what is soul on another post, well that was soul, and I truly heard and saw it that night. Well any way we were buds with the fella that was the manager at the Ratskellar and we went back stage and meet Eddie and the fellas he was with. I'm sorry I don't remember who was with him at the time it was over 25 years ago and to tell the truth just being about 20 myself I was in awe just being able to sit and speak with him. We had drinks and then offered to take him to another club that was owned by the people we worked for and go to eat on the free. We went to a couple of clubs (Yesterdays, Lucifer�s and then over to see John Loungo at the Rhino and then off to eat at a Greek place in Kenmore Square. I think he must of had enough of us by the time it was over, I am sure that we where falling over ourselves just being there with him and all the questions we asked him about his taste in music (soul) did he like disco (yes, girl you need a change, date with the rain, boogie down were disco type tunes as far as he was concerned), what was it like with the temps. What were his favorite song (sorry I don't remember so I won't even try and guess) and all that sort of stuff? I do remember very well that he took it with a smile, appreciated who and what we represented (club jock pushing records) white kids that could name just about every record he had something to do with. The part that stuck with me over the years was that he was really now different than you or me. It took a bit for him to open up but when he did he was just another human being who was polite, nice and a pleasure to be with. We ended going back to the club I worked at and we all drank at the bar until about 3 or 4 in the morning. had him sign our lp's and 45 records. Somebody took some pictures, sure wish I had those now. Then Eddie and his crew took off and we went home. I swear we spoke about that for the next 3 years every day.

That is about all the memory tape has of that time, but man was it sweet.

Soulaholic

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 12:06 pm:

Nancy,

Two questions: How many words, and who is your audience?
If you are writing for Soul Scholars (e.g., many Forum members) then original research is called for.
If your intended audience is only casually interested in music, there are at least two bio's on the internet (I used google). However, I'd ask verification from Forum members as to the accuracy of information.
You could use this as a base (with attribution, natch) and spice it up with recollections from Forum members.

If you cast your information net deeper into the Forum, I'm sure there are many members with personal memories of Mr. Kendricks who would be willing to share them with you.

If you are going the original research route, I'd suggest contacting first hand sources, people who worked with or played behind Mr. Kendricks, maybe family members too.
The Motown Museum might have materials, contact information etc.
A review of contemporary publications could yield information (I'd bet many Forum members have this information to hand).

Good Luck!

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.18) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 12:59 pm:

Didnt Weldon A McDougal 111
work with Eddie Kendricks at some stage of his illustrious career.
Here's a guy that has done so many things and achieved so many things with so many of the finest musical geniuses around that wouldnt be there if it wasnt for his and obviously various others around him and there total commitment.

As I recall
weldon was very helpful at one time with Willie Hutch and also with the great Eddie Kendricks after whatever was happening.

Obviously regards Eddie at the time
it was probably just when he left the Tempts.
So dont all start jibbing me
We all know how big Eddie was already at that time.

just a thought for what its worth.
mel

By Nancy (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

Hey mel great suggestion I will get in contact with Weldon. Jim there are some music scholars in my audience, I write for a small newsletter in Toronto. I looked up the phone number for the motown museum and will call them on Monday
thanks for your help guys
Nancy