By Lowell (165.121.214.23 - 165.121.214.23) on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 09:22 pm:

During the next few days I am moving soulfuldetroit to a new server. To keep our collected forum, I need to freeze the site for the time being. In the meantime, you may carry on with this temporary forum site.

So carry on, you know what to do. Oh yeah for the geeks among us who have figured out to get into the old forum by another route, please do not post any more there as it will complicate matters for me.

Thanks in advance for your patience while I grope through this process.

By Friday (209.245.116.37 - 209.245.116.37) on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 10:08 pm:

Ralph,I want to read your bio-was wondering what led you to California? Motown? Friday

By John Lester (213.1.135.180 - 213.1.135.180) on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 02:35 am:

Lowell....not all of us are THAT clever to find the old site!!!

...and Ralph, I wondered about the same thing - you were doing great in Detroit....

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 10:36 am:

Friday and John,
A lot of factors prompted my move to California. Most of them personal. Suffice it to say I needed a major change in my life. I had been through a lot with Tera Shirma, a failed marriage and then the departure of Motown. California seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn't an easy move emotionally. I left many loved ones, famiy and friends,to come out here. I'm still here but Detroit is always inside of me. Maybe someday I'll return.

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 11:38 am:

The handwriting was on the wall as early as 1970 that Motown Detroit was closing. Holland and Dozier had not been nearly as successful as people expected and Terra Shirma was gone.

As a result, everybody I know was seriously looking at working elsewhere in the country and as opportunities elsewhere came along, people began moving. The word was also out about who the Funk Brothers were and key members were doing sessions all over the country.

Like it or not, our Detroit recording community had been scattered to the winds and those of us who wanted a career in recording needed to look outside Detroit to continue.

By Sue (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 12:14 pm:

Ralph,
Detroit is starting to hop again, you'll have to come check it out ...like the clubs around and in Ford Field and Comerica Park ...new construction and renovation all over.

A sort of highly-strung editor I know (from California, ha!) complained one day that her asthma was aggravated in downtown Detroit because of dust from all the construction going on. The rest of us were cheering it!

By Friday (65.59.99.166 - 65.59.99.166) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 12:27 pm:

Ralph,are you still involved in the music business in some capacity outside of this website?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 12:49 pm:

Friday,
Yes. I have a small production company. Powerhouse Productions. I hadn't planned on talking about this just yet, but what the heck. My partner, Teddie Morrow, and I are signing a deal with John Rhys Eddins and Harry Balk and an album ( Trackmaster and the Doctor ) is coming soon. Here we go again...

Sue,
You never know...if things go well I just might move the operation back to Detroit.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 01:41 pm:

Ralph

It's great to hear about your project.

I'm sure everyone on SoulfulDetroit wishes you, Harry and John all the best with it.

Please keep us up to date.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 01:47 pm:

I second that - with a pedigree like that, the deal sounds like a "powerhouse" in itself.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 02:35 pm:

Thanks guys,
I'll keep you informed. I am happy with the results. I just completed the final mixes yesterday and it all gets sent to L.A. later this week.I don't know all the details as of yet but I do know that three companies are interested in hearing it. who knows......

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 02:48 pm:

Hey Bro!

Why am I the last to know about this? I've been one of your biggest supporters and you treat me like this? Seriously...FANTASTIC!!!!! Send me something as soon as possible!!!!!! At Last!!!

Love,
Your Sista

By SisDetroit (67.25.217.44 - 67.25.217.44) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 06:11 pm:

Congratulations Ralph!

By Friday (209.244.237.192 - 209.244.237.192) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 07:23 pm:

Ralph,sounds like a winner!!Hey,I looked at the standings of Major League Baseball in the sports section today and saw the Tigers dead last.You were right.Hopefully they can get on a winning track as well.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 08:39 pm:

Millie,
I thought you knew wat was going on? Oh well...family is always last to know anything. I'll keep you informed, I promise.
There is a lot of interest in Elina, but the decision has been made to hold back on her for now. John is actually knocked out with " The Women Of Leningrad " and the fact that Elina is Russian and speaks the language fluently. We have kept her busy in the studio though, doing background sessions. She's developing into a great back-up singer.

Friday...I don't even look at the boxes lately. I KNOW where the Tigers are. Sooner or later they'll be back.

Sis Detroit,
Thank you. It will be interesting to see where this goes. The album spans about 8 years of material we recorded on Teddie. The general consensus is there is some very strong songs on the album. Teddie Morrow is an amazing talent. My brother and I used to muse that if we had him when we were at Motown we would be e-mailing each other on our respective yachts.

By Ian W (213.1.165.109 - 213.1.165.109) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 05:12 pm:

Ralph, you deserve all the success you will get! I'm sure everyone on the Forum would like to hear your work. Just the name dropping is enough for me!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 07:39 pm:

Thanks Ian,
Having been around this business for some time now, I haven't a clue where it all may lead. I'm proud of the album for whatever that's worth but time will tell all. However, if things do start to pan out, you have to know that I'm bringing the show over to you guys. First things first though.

By PKOVARIK (209.244.91.143 - 209.244.91.143) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 08:14 pm:

STEVE THE COUNT,
IF YOU READ THIS GET IN TOUCH WITH ME PLEASE.
PAMELA

By thecount (166.90.228.137 - 166.90.228.137) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 08:56 pm:

PAM,check your mail box.Thanx for coming out Sat.and Betty to.Always a pleasure to see you "DUNGAREE DOLLS".COUNT

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.97 - 195.219.7.97) on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 04:49 pm:

Ralph,(joking aside)I wish you all the best,in whatever road you take,Im sure from your past history,that your new venture into the production world will also rise to great heights,keep on keeping on,MEL.(P.S.)Your still an icon.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 06:16 pm:

Thanks Mel,
I'm doubtful about the icon thing though.
At any rate at this point the masters have been sent to John Rhys in L.A. He called me today just to touch bases and is very excited about the prospects of this project. Well it's been years since I've had a record released and as Babbitt always says, " It's too late to do anything else anyway ".