By phillysoulman (152.163.204.207 - 152.163.204.207) on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 09:59 pm:

GIL ASKEY, ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT UNSUNG MOTOWN ARRANGERS AND CONDUCTERS AND A GREAT FRIEND, FOR A TIME STAYED IN PHILLY IN A FLAT RIGHT NEAR MINE, WITH A LADY FRIEND THAT HE HAD MET.
WELDON MCDOUGAL HAD FORMALLY INTRODUCED US. AT ONE TIME HE HAD ACTUALLY HIRED ME TO BE DIANA ROSS' GUITARIST. SO I BOUGHT A NEW GUITAR AND AMP FOR THE GIG , BUT GAMBLE AND HUFF WERE JUST STARTING TO GET BUSY SO I OPTED TO STAY IN PHILLY.
FLASH FORWARD TO THE LATE SEVENTIES.
WHAT MOST DON'T KNOW IS THAT GIL HAS SOMEWHAT OF A STUTTERRING PROBLEM. SO ONE DAY THE PHONE RANG AND THE VOICE SAID"HEY BOBBY ELI HE WOULD ALWAYS USE BOTH NAMES, THIS IS GGGIL ASSSKEY!! HOW THE FFFF**K THIS IS GGGGILLL ASSSSKEY, HOW TTHE FFFF***KK ARE YOU!! YA WWWANNA CCCOME TTTO CHCHICAGO TTTO CCCCURTOM? IM WWWORKKING FFFFORFF***INCCCURTIS MMMAYFFIELD DDOING A LLLOTTA .. IM WWORKKINGG FFFOR CCURTIS DDOINNG ALLLOTTA SH* SH*T!!! SO OFF I WENT TO CHICAGO, MANY TIMES I MUST ADD.
ON A SESSION WITH LINDA CLIFFORD , HE WAS DOING A LONG 15 MINUTE EXTENDED PIECE WITH VARIOUS DISTINCT SECTIONS. HE GOT SO FLUSTERED THAT HE ACTUALLY STUTTERED WHILE COUNTING IN THE SONG GOING, ONE TTTTWO, OONE TTTT...FFFF**KN OOONE TTTTWOFFFF*KN ONE TWO TTHREE FFOUR!!
HIS SCORE CHARTS WERE FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE MORE FLUSTERED HE BECAME, SO HE THEN TOOK OUT A PINT OF GIN FROM HIS BACK POCKET AND TOOK A SWIG. THE SESSION CAME OUT GREAT AFTER ALL. THERE ARE MANY GIL ASKEY STORIES. I WILL ADD ANOTHER LATER.

CHEERS.

B. ELI

By John Lester (213.122.201.226 - 213.122.201.226) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 12:41 am:

Bobby........was that Linda Clifford on "Runaway Love"....fab song that was!

Gil Askey..that's him in that promotional Motown Hitsville USA studio film with the Supremes in the studio and Gil directing the girls singing Mother You Smother You......

He toured with Diana Ross for years and it is usually his name that can be heard on her live albums...its nice to think that in this day and age, you can still get on in life despite having a stutter. (Brits will be aware of Pop Idol on TV at the moment!)

By phillysoulman (64.12.102.159 - 64.12.102.159) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 03:21 am:

John,

Yes it was the runaway love album and two more after that. It was myself and Ross Trout on guitars Kenny Burke on bass, Chester Thompson on drums, and Dean Gant and the second one escapes me . Master Henry Gibson was on percussion. we also did some Curtis Mayfield and Leroy Hutson projects as well. During this time I produced Gavin Christopher and Ava Cherry for Curtom. Gil moved to Melbourne Australia where he married
a local woman. I stillhear ffffrom hhhim fffrom ttttime to ttime!!

Cheers,

B. Eli

By John Lester (213.122.191.111 - 213.122.191.111) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 08:36 am:

B-B-B-B-Bobby....!!!

You are VERY naughty!

Tee hee!

By Poly Esther (64.12.101.169 - 64.12.101.169) on Friday, February 08, 2002 - 11:37 pm:

I was justwondering that because of his speach impediment,how was he ever able to make his point in the studio. I reviewed my copy of Lady sings the blues to once again see the talented Mr. Askey on stage in the film. He is some trumpet player!!
I was told that he in fact was Miss Ross musical director for quite some time. I wonder what he is up to now that he is in Australia.

By phillysoulman (64.12.107.42 - 64.12.107.42) on Saturday, February 09, 2002 - 08:18 am:

Poly,

Gil actually hired me to go on the road with Diana Ross in 1971. I went out and bought a new guitar and amp but just around this time Gamble and Huff were starting to really get busy in the studio so I opted to stay in Philly.
I'm glad that I did!! The Curtom sessions were in 1978 and 1979. And yes, he is one hell of a trumpet player!!

By Vnnie Barrett (64.12.105.164 - 64.12.105.164) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 04:47 pm:

When I think of Gil Askey, I think of love, talent, drive, moves, great sounds and arrangements, good personality, sharing gigs, working with the greatest of people and doing some of the best musical work in the whole world. I never, ever would think of him stuttering. It would never enter my mind. GIL ASKEY, GREAT MAN!!!!