By david, glasgow, scotland (217.32.129.198 - 217.32.129.198) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 02:52 pm:

i've seen very little in writing about duke browner, yet he's a bit of a legend over here.

especially 'crying over you' on impact plus production work.

he seemed to be soul a&r and john rhys pop a&r.

what do you remember of him ralph?

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 03:28 pm:

David,
I just spoke with Harry a couple of days ago and Duke's name came up in the conversation. Duke was kind of Harry's right hand man. It really wasn't a situation where he was Impacts R&B man and john Rhys was the pop producer. I think in that regard they were somewhat interchangeable. But Harry adored Duke. He once told me if he had to leave town and left $10,000.00 on a table, when he returned it would all be there unless Duke needed money for food or whatever. If that were the case, Duke would have left Harry a note telling him he took out $20.00.
Duke was a sweet guy.Kind of a humble sort that was pretty much with Harry wherever Harry might go. When Harry went to Motown he took Duke with him and had him put under contract as a producer. I remember walking in on a couple of sessions that Duke was producing, but I don't remember who the sessions were for.
Duke didn't seem to do so well at Motown and I always got the feeling he was kind of an outsider there. Harry mentioned the other day on the phone that Duke got caught up in some sort of black / white issues he was having ( not quite sure what Harry meant there) and it seemed Duke and Harry kind of drifted apart. I really don't know the whole story there, so that's about all I should comment on I suppose. Suffice it to say that Duke Browner defintely has his place in the history of the Detroit music scene and it was his talent that put him there.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 03:37 pm:

ralph, did harry mention if his daughter had shown him the site yet.

can anyone else elaborate on the duke browner 'story'?

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 06:52 pm:

David,
I didn't think to ask Harry if he had seen the site. I'm sure I'll be talking to him soon. My partner, Teddie and I have just completed another song and out of respect I always let Harry hear it first. He then calls me and gives me his comments about it. Kind of like the old days at Motown. Old habits run deep.
I'll keep you informed on his thoughts on the site. I'm sure he will like it.

By John Lester (213.122.200.150 - 213.122.200.150) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 08:54 pm:

Duke Browner worked with the Lollipops on the Northern favourite "Need Your Love".....backed with "Cheating Is Telling on You".

Can I mention his check letter........B1

By Andy Rix (195.93.32.169 - 195.93.32.169) on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 11:22 pm:

I tracked Duke a few years ago as I felt he had a story to tell and his contribution to the Detroit scene should be recorded. I'm saddened to say that Duke's response to my initial call and subsequent calls were less than gracious. The only reason I called back was because I assumed I had got the wrong number. For some reason he has no interest in talking about his past and is very forthright in making suggestions about where you should go.
It's sad really ... I wish everyone was like Dale Warren who used to want to talk for hours .. another sad loss
Andy

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 01:04 am:

I believe Duke converted to Islam quite a while ago, this prevents him from talking about his musical past.
Having said that, I've spoken to Edward Hamilton a few times; he's also a muslim, a wonderful story teller with a good memory, and a real gentleman. And what a great singer!
Graham

By John Lester (213.1.131.222 - 213.1.131.222) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 09:12 am:

What a shame about Duke..

You know the one thing I remember about being a 60's music fan was that my enthusiasm for music transcended religion in all forms..we were thus all united. It's more than sad Andy, really it is.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 02:33 pm:

Andy,
Did Dale Warren die? You mentioned his name and said something about his being a sad loss. Dale was a great guy. So very talented. During recording sessions he was always telling the musicians " You've got to be sharp to play in this band ".

By Clay (64.108.63.173 - 64.108.63.173) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 05:44 am:

Where is Harry Balk?
Where is Duke Browner?
If anyone knows tell them Clay McMurray would like to hear from them.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 03:04 pm:

Clay,
I can get you in touch with Harry.I talk to him often. I'm sure he would be thrilled to hear from you. I'll e-mail you his phone number.
Ralph
PS..I completely forgot you were Butch

By John Lester (213.1.164.198 - 213.1.164.198) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 08:34 pm:

and a PS to your PS....

So am I Ralph, so am I....Hahaha

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 10:03 am:

Is his real name Barney or Duke? I once met someone who refered to him as Bonnie.
Graham

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.7.56.157 - 62.7.56.157) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:10 pm:

who owned the bonnie label that the magnetics were on?

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 02:12 pm:

I guess it was Harry Balk, as it's Gomba music pub. But the singer refered to "Bonnie" Duke Browner.
Did I send you my scan of this 45 David?

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 06:42 pm:

no graham, it would be nice to put on display.

ref mr browners name, 'come and get these memories' fanzine printed a copy of his BMI publishers clearance form for 'crying over you'.

his name is shown as barney browner on the form.

By Davie Gordon (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 07:30 pm:

He has two ASCAP accounts, one as Duke Browner
the other as Barney Duke Browner. I've always
assumed that his real name is BArney and that
Duke is a nickname.

Here's a start of a list of his credits based
on the listing of his songs on the BMI database.

1964

The ROYALTONES ( Mala 473, 2/64 )
OUR FADED LOVE (Browner, Coffey, Katsakos, Sandy)

MICKEY DENTON ( Amy 902, 5/64 )
TOP TEN (Browner)

BOBBIE SMITH ( American Arts 2, / 64)
WALK ON INTO MY HEART (Browner)

THE VOLUMES (American Arts 6, 8/64)
GOTTA GIVE HER LOVE (Browner)
I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU (Browner)

PATTI JEROME ( American Arts 10, / 64)
NO MORE TEARS (Browner)

1965

MICKEY DENTON (World Artists 1043, 2/65)
ONE MORE TIME (Browner)

THE VOLUMES (American Arts 18, /65)
I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF (Browner)
ONE WAY LOVER (Browner)

THE VOLUMES (Twirl 2016, 11/65)
MAINTAIN YOUR COOL (Browner - Balk)
I GOT LOVE (Browner, Newsome)

THE MAGNETICS (Bonnie no #, c. 11/65)
LADY IN GREEN (Browner)
HEART, YOU'RE MADE OF STONE (Browner)

1966

THE KADDO STRINGS (Impact 1005)
CRYING OVER YOU (Browner, Balk)

DUKE BROWNER (Impact 1008, 4/66)
CRYING OVER YOU (Browner, Balk)

THE VOLUMES (Impact 1017, 9/66)
TROUBLES I'VE SEEN (Browner)

1967

THE LOLLIPOPS (Impact 1021, 1/67)
LOVING GOOD FEELING (Browner)

JOCK MITCHELL (Impact 1023, 3/67)
NOT A CHANCE IN A MILLION (Browner)

THE VOLUMES (Inferno 2001, 4/67)
A WAY TO LOVE YOU (Browner)

DENA BARNES (Inferno 2002, 5/67)
IF YOU EVER WALK OUT OF MY LIFE (Browner, Barnes)

THE SHADES OF BLUE (Impact 1026, 6/67)
ALL I WANT IS LOVE (Browner)

THE VOLUMES (Inferno 2004, /67)
MY KIND OF GIRL (Browner, Charles Adkins)
MY ROAD IS THE RIGHT ROAD (Browner)

1968

THE VOLUMES (Inferno 5001, 5/68)
AIN'T THAT LOVIN' YOU (Browner)
I LOVE YOU BABY (Browner)

1969

THE LOLLIPOPS (VIP 25051, 10/69)
CHEATING IS TELLING ON YOU (Browner, Arenita Walker)

1970

KIKI DEE "GREAT EXPECTATIONS" LP ( Tamla TS... )
I'm pretty certain he worked on some of the tracks on this lp - John Lester will probably know
for definite. (Hi xtown !)


Songs written or co-written by Browner that I
either haven't been able to trace or am unsure
about follow

ALL THAT'S MISSING IS YOU (Browner, Maron McKenzie)

ELEVATOR (Browner, Fred Gilbert)

FIRE IN MY HEART (Browner)

GIRL, GIRL COME ON HOME (Browner, A Walker)
- this is probably an unissued Lollipops track

HONEY LOVE (Browner, Gilbert)

HUSH YOUR MOUTH (Browner)

I GOT TO HANDLE IT (Browner) the Capitols ???

IF YOU DON'T (Browner)

LET'S GET TOGETHER (Browner - T J Fowler)

LOOK WHAT YOU DONE BOY (Browner, A Walker)
- probably an unissued Lollipops track

LOVER, WHERE ARE YOU (Browner)

MAKE YOUR MIND UP (Browner - T J Fowler)

MONKEY HOP (Browner)

NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE (Browner - Sheens DeMell, Marilyn McLeod)

SWEET SWEET LOVE (Browner, A Walker)
- probably an unissued Lollipops tracxk

TRY IT ONE MORE TIME (Browner)

Hopefully I haven't forgotten anytHing glaringly obvious - over to the rest of you now

As I said at the beginning this is a listing of
songs written/cowritten by Barney. I don't have accurate producer credits for him - if anybody
has the actual discs it would help if you'd
go over the list and add the production credits
to the list. Alternatively you can e-mail me offlist and I'll edit the list again when more info. is in.

Time for a coffee break, i think

Davie Gordon

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 07:42 pm:

his contribution to northern soul is amazing!

graham sent me this scan of the magnetics wonderful double sider.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, December 18, 2001 - 07:56 am:

Hi Davie - wasn't "Monkey Hop" recorded by The Volumes?
Graham