By Mark Speck (65.56.5.131 - 65.56.5.131) on Saturday, September 28, 2002 - 11:41 pm:

These guys were being discussed on the Soul Talk list on Topica. I'm curious to know a couple of things: first, who was Franky? Second, was George Kerr the co-owner of their label Roc-Ker?

They were probably from Philadelphia, as the Roc-Ker label purports to be a division of Phil-L.A. of Soul.

Best,

Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.34 - 193.122.21.34) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 07:15 am:

Mark,

The group were from Philadelphia or one of the
surrounding towns.

George Kerr is the "-ker" in Roc-Ker,
now who was the "Roc-" part ?

I don't think I've ever seen a lineup for the
group.

Paging Bobby Eli !

By thecount (166.90.237.59 - 166.90.237.59) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 09:36 pm:

HEY MARK,I SEEN THESE KATS AT THE WHITE ELEPHANT IN PITTSBURG.I HAVE THE FOLLOWING 45's.
FRANKIE AND THE SPINDLES
1.MY LETTER TO YOU/COUNT TO TEN
2.HANDWRITING ON THE WALL/COUNT TO TEN
3.FOR YOUR YOUR LOVE(ACCETATE)
4.TOMORROW/THERE IS A BEAUTY
Hope this is some help.Steve "THE COUNT"

By Nish (128.239.202.115 - 128.239.202.115) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 10:35 pm:

Wow, Steve, the White Elephant! Taking me back to memories I'm too young to have! My mom told me all about that place! It was an institution in the 'burgh back when the music was beautiful! Glad to see Pittsburgh in the mix!!!

By Mark Speck (65.56.62.202 - 65.56.62.202) on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 12:15 am:

I'll add another one to your list, Steve:

"(My Girl is Made of)Candy"/"My Letter to You"

The A-Side is a nice sweet soul dancer, have yet to flip and hear the "B".

This 45 was distributed through Jamie/Guyden. Supposedly, some of their singles were distributed through Amy/Mala/Bell. Are any of yours distributed by A/M/B?

A curious Amy/Mala/Bell collector wants to know!

Best,

Mark

By thecount (64.53.165.90 - 64.53.165.90) on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 03:27 pm:

Hey "NISH" ask your mother if she remembers "DANCELAND" at west view park.That was another hot spot we once performed at .We liked doing that place only when "PORKY CHEDWICK" was DJing. because he always played the kool group harmony rythem and blues and love the kick ass insturmentals.
MARK SPECK,I will check on those and let you know,but nothing is for sale,okay?
"COUNT"

By Mark Speck (65.56.7.181 - 65.56.7.181) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 12:30 am:

Thanks for checking, Count.

Best,

Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 07:45 am:

Here's what info. I have on the group's records

Roc-Ker 100 (5/68)
(MY GIRL IS MADE OF) CANDY
(Ray Evans-Alphonso Jones-Randall Stewart)
MY LETTER TO YOU
Prod : George Kerr

note - Evans and Stewart had worked at Old Town
where they wrote and produced for the Gypsies
among others. They later ended up at Stax working
on Inez Foxx' "Inez Foxx in Memphis" album. Evans
also worked with the Carstairs.

Roc-Ker 101 (9/68)
COUNT TO TEN (George Kerr)
HANDWRITING ON THE WALL (Sammy Turner)
Prod. George Kerr

NOTE - above two distributed through Jamie/Guyden

Roc-Ker 575 (1969)
THERE IS A BEAUTY
TOMORROW

NOTE - this is probably the release that was
distributed by Bell

Canyon 48 (1970)
WAR
MEMPHIS UNDERGROUND

Funny A 2000 (9/71)
HAVE YOU SEEN HER
MAYBE TOMORROW - inst.

Roc-Ker 13314 (7/72)
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN
FOR YOUR LOVE

Gamble 2510 (1973)
MAKIN' UP TIME (Sigler - Hurtt- Sigler)
MAKIN' UP TIME - INST.

T.S.O.P. 4755 (5/74)
AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME (Bunny Sigler-Morris Bailey)
WANDA (Kenny Gamble - Bunny Sigler)

Strawberry 105 (1975)
CRAZY ABOUT YOUR LOVE (Gamble-Huff- Cecil Womack)
unknown -( inst.version ?)

based on the listing in "Soul Harmony Singles),
checked against my own database and writer credits added from BMI's database

Please post the missing writer and producer credits if you know them.

"Soul Harmony Singles" gives the line-up as
FRANKY KENNEDY (lead), ROBERT KENNEDY, CHARLES
GRAVES, JOSEPH SHIELDS and RAYMOND SHIELDS

By Flynny (213.1.130.120 - 213.1.130.120) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 12:59 pm:

Who were in The Spindles of "Ten shades of blue", and, "And the band played on" both on ABC, then?

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 01:37 pm:

Flynny, don't know their line-up but they're
not the same group.

Jeff Lemlich might know as the Spindles on ABC
were from Florida

By Mark Speck (65.56.218.236 - 65.56.218.236) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 11:58 pm:

Fantastic, Davie! Thank you!!

According to Ruben Molina's site, Franky & the Spindles were from Nutley, N.J. So they're clearly not the ABC act (who did make a couple of great records--would like to know a little about them as well).

Best,

Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 08:39 am:

Mark,

Glad you liked it !


Ruebn Molina's website ? - haven't come across that yet - what's it about and can you post the URL ?

I think there's a photo of Franky and the Spindles in Tony Cumming's book about Philadelphia. I'll try to dig out my copy to check.

I'll post what info I have on the ABC Spindles
tomorrow.

By Mark Speck (65.58.51.241 - 65.58.51.241) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 01:12 am:

Ruben posts on Soul Talk. He's an expert on the Low Rider-type sounds of L.A., and he's written a book about that. Check out his site at http://www.mictlan.com

Best,

Mark

By David Meikle (213.122.56.135 - 213.122.56.135) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 03:55 am:

What an interesting site.

Thanks Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 12:51 pm:

Mark,

I had a look at Reuben's website - some interesting stuff there.

I love that Romancers' "My Heart Cries" disc - I've got it on an old Rhino album "The History of East L.A. Rock" which has tracks by them and other
Chicano groups.

Nice also to see a scan for the legendary Frog
Death label ( home of the El Paso Premiers )