By ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 12:20 am:

Just got a message from Sis in Detroit saying that Johnnie mae Matthews died (possibly on Sunday?) Have no more info as yet - nothing on the web so far :o(

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.7.94.231 - 62.7.94.231) on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 08:46 am:

i will post a tribute to Johnnie Mae this evening.

one of the pioneers of detroit soul.

R.I.P.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 09:39 pm:

graham was driving me through the north west side of detroit one sunny day in september, when he suddenly said why don't we drop in and see johnnie mae.

i was floored. just like that, and 2 minutes later i was embracing one of the legends of the detroit music scene.

in this weeks episode of the tera shirma story you will see a photograph from that visit.

i had told johnnie mae that i had heard virtually nothing from her early 'northern' days. hey presto, she pulled out a tape and played it at full volume. she then danced around the room and gave an astonishing performance via a number of tracks from that era.

johnnie mae's voice still sounded fantastic!

there is no doubt she was a rough diamond - but sometimes that makes for the most interesting people. her talent can certainly never be placed in doubt, and her contribution to the soul scene right up there with the best of them.

several weeks later, i was in the 100 club in London, when suddenly her epic 'i have no choice' hit the turntables, and most people hit the floor.

they don't make them like johnnie mae anymore.

R.I.P.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 12:55 am:

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Johnnie Mae. Even though I barely knew her I was hoping to talk with her as a result of the Tera Shirma story.She is very prominent in my early memories of building the studios.Definitely a Detroit legend.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 05:05 am:

Funeral services are scheduled for this Friday. Johnnie Mae leaves a son and a daughter and my thoughts are with them both.
Johnnie Mae had a wonderful spirit and was always full of energy. She'll be missed by many people around the world.
Graham

By Erik (64.228.108.160 - 64.228.108.160) on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 09:59 am:

Nice story, Dave. I don't know her music well but can obviously appreciate the loss.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.213.10 - 213.122.213.10) on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 10:55 am:

i couldn't find a tribute in the detroit media.

if that's true it's a scandal.

most of black detroit knew of johnnie mae.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 11:00 am:

David - too right. I can't believe how it's seemingly gone unnoticed. Before I made the posting here, I spent 1 1/2 hours searching every news source I could think of, including all the Detroit-based ones: but came up with nothing. It pains me to say this, but I suspect the best (only?) tributes will emanate from this side of the Atlantic.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 02:04 pm:

I'm sure The Michigan Chronicle will have something on Johnnie Mae. It's black Detroit's weekly newspaper. They don't have a website.
Graham

By Erik (64.228.108.38 - 64.228.108.38) on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 04:27 am:

I still haven't seen anything mentioned besides here unfortunately. By coincidence I was playing Black Nasty's "Talking To The People" (7500 pressed & few of those even sold according to Rob Bowmen's liner notes- which also reconnected me to Johnnie Mae Mathews because I knew the name but couldn't connect it to anything specific (crappy memory- I had read the booklet when I first bought the cd)... that's one of the funkiest albums I know of (not that I've the encyclopedic knowledge posessed by a few folks out there!)/Erik

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Sunday, January 13, 2002 - 09:33 pm:

johnnie mae's son chuck (real name artwell jr)was the group's drummer.

her daughter audrey was lead singer.

the picture of johnnie mae in the tera shirma story shows jm dancing in front of a colour picture of the group (which you can just see).

johnnie mae also called 2 of her record labels after her family ART and AUDREY.

you've got good taste erik.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.206.186 - 213.122.206.186) on Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 08:57 am:

for a report on johnnie mae's funeral, please visit ritchie's soulsvilleuk chat room.

http://uk.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/soulsvilleuk
post no. 593

the pete and arthur mentioned are pete crawford of the magnetics and arthur walton of the distants.

thanks to sis for the detail.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.206.186 - 213.122.206.186) on Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 09:01 am:

when you hit the screen, click on johnnie mae's name which is underlined.

it's actually post 592, sorry.

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 09:09 am:

David - thanks, you beat me to it! By the way, the "Pete" Sis refers to is James Crawford aka "Pee Wee" when he has a young 'un, also of the El Domingoes/Distants. (Just nit-picking!)

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.206.162 - 213.122.206.162) on Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 10:33 am:

thanks ritchie.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, January 25, 2002 - 05:23 pm:

Just received some additional material today from Sis in Detroit, via Karyl (aka LuvNRuffin).

This is the main text from Johnnie Mae's funeral service sheet:

Johnnie Mae Matthews was born December 31, 1934 in Bessmer, Alabama to Willie and Dr. Mary Flood. She was one of four siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents and her youngest sister, Louise Manuel.

She confessed Christ at the young age of 11. At the age of 12, Johnnie Mae relocated to Newark, New Jersey and attended school in New Jersey.

She relocated again, at the age of 18, to Detroit, Michigan where she met and later married Artwell Sr., who preceded her in death. To this union two children were born.

In 1958, Johnnie Mae was the first black woman to start her own recording company, which she named Northern Records. She began her musical career managing and promoting such groups as:

The Distants (better known as the Temptations), The Primettes (they became the Supremes), Mary Wells. Emmanuel Lasky, Timmy Shaw. TheADC Band, and many more that became big stars, but never forgot who got them started: Mama, Johnnie Mae Matthews.

She leaves to mourn but cherish her memory two children: Chuck Matthews (Candace) of Detroit, Ml.; Kaiya Johnson (Gregg) of Detroit, Ml.; one brother Willie Flood (Bay) of Detroit, Ml.; one sister: Florida Mae Johnson of Augusta, GA. five grandsons: Vernard, Sekou, Andre, Chaz and Irving all of Detroit, MI.; one granddaughter: Malika Thompson (Anthony) of Smyrna, (IA.; four great-grandchildren: Kai, Lil Vernard, Sekou, Jr., and Jade.

--Ritchie---

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Friday, January 25, 2002 - 05:31 pm:

very appropriate. thanks ritchie and sis in detroit.

By KeithC (195.93.48.187 - 195.93.48.187) on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 09:03 pm:

Can anyone tell me the origins of the first solo release of Eddie Kendricks in 1970 This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae?
When the single came out I didn't realise who Johnnie Mae was but of course since found out..but it's a fantastic song I guess as a Tribute.

By diamond8 (65.129.156.192 - 65.129.156.192) on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 02:08 am:

Wow, I can't believe Johnnie Mae is gone. So sad to hear that. Used to party with her and Timmy Shaw and other local performers at clubs like Phelp's Lounge, the Zombie, Twenty-Grand Gold Room, Webb-Wood Inn & Little Sams. She was a strong, determined and talented sister, who wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind, or follow her dreams. It was good to see the photo of her, after so many years. Rest in peace, J.M.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 02:52 am:

That's right Diamond 8.
Can you tell us a little about yourself - are you a musician or singer?
I think (Broads?) The Zombie closed around 1960. What was it like in there? Little Sam's was one of the longest running places - What do you remember about going there?
Best wishes, Graham

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.74 - 195.219.7.74) on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 06:04 pm:

I HAVE A FEW TRACKS BY JOHNNIE MAE, AND A MATE OF MINE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,WHICH TOTALLY BLEW HIM AWAY.R.I.P.JOHNNY MAE MATTHEWS.MEL(ANDTHENSOME)