| Author | Message | ||
  isaiah imani (isaiah) 2-Debutant Username: isaiah Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.139 |
Bobby Eli, you would be best qualified to answer these questions, but others in the know can chime in... Due to the large numbers of musicians in the MFSB and SALSOUL Orchestras, I am wondering if there were road setups as Motown had??? Clearly, both of these camps had so much going on, with so many artists churning out hit songs, that it would have been well nigh impossible NOT to have had a touring band(s)... Additionally, did any of the groups or individuals actually have their own bands to back them on the road??? Lastly, can you name the musicians who were part of the touring band(s)??? Thanks in advance... Peace! Isaiah | ||
Ralph Terrana (ralph) Moderator Username: ralph Post Number: 488 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 209.240.205.63 |
Hi Isaiah, Nice to see you. Yeah, this is definitely a question for Bobby. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1258 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.57.185 |
Hi Isaiah! Believe or not, MFSB and the Salsoul Orchestra(one and the same) did very little live shows. As MFSB, the first one was at the Hotel Fairmont in San Francisco in 1973. On that one we had the full complement of 28 musicians , all from Philly. Next we did a gig at the Academy of Music in Philly. I would say that all in all we did about six MFSB gigs all with the real players. Regarding Salsoul, our first gig was a Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall in MYC, the next one was in Montreal Canada,for the NARM convention, the next one was in the Phillipine Islands for a crown of over 100,000 people including all of the government officials. On this gig, Loleatta Holloway also appeared. The next gig was at Roseland in NYC. We had the pleasure of having the great Tito Puente do an impromptu guest spot with us! All of those gig featured all of the Philly cats. As a matter of fact, we never had a gig using outside musicians. Thats about the extent of our live gig history. every now and then there is talk of taking the band out for some special gigs but it hasn't happened yet. | ||
isaiah imani (isaiah) 2-Debutant Username: isaiah Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.139 |
Ralph, what's up, how you doin', man?(smile!) So Bobby, are you saying that when the Blue Notes, O'Jays, Lou Rawls, Patti, and Teddy did a gig they sang to the accompaniement of music tracks??? I am not understanding this... Was there not some live music in the house when these groups went out on the road???(smile!) Peace! Isaiah | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1260 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.57.185 |
Hey Isaiah, All of the aforementioned acts had their own rhythm sections, and some were augmented with horns. If and when they needed supplemental musicians ie extra horns and or strings,, the contractor for the venues at which they were scheduled to appear, would be responsible for hiring said musicians according to the contractual riders associated with each act. MFSB/Salsoul never went on the road to back anyone, as we were much too busy right at home and any time off would be spent relaxing or going on a SHORT vacation. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1263 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.57.185 |
At the gig in San Francisco, in 1973. In front is Earl Young, and from left right are arranger Jack Faith, Sigma engineer Dirk Devlin and Bobby Eli.  | ||
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s Post Number: 121 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Say Bobby - you are looking a bit like Norman Whitfield with that hair style! The Funks have been doing great on the road...maybe it's time for MFSB to hit the road now! And please take Loleatta with you as well. What a voice... | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1293 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.63.77 |
Hey Mike, Its funny you mention Norman W. I think I posted this before, but back in '84, i produced an album on Rose Royce in L.A. and when I went to meet the group, some of them did a double take and I thought that they had seen a ghost cause from out of the corner of their eyes they thought Norman had re entered their lives. Regarding MFSB hiting the road, there have been much talk but no action. It would be a wonderful thing if that happened, if only to play Love is the message again (long version) with a full orchestra! Heaven!! | ||
DyvaNaye (westside314) 6-Zenith Username: westside314 Post Number: 740 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.212.74.198 |
Bobby, We gon' talk about that hair bruh! LOL! | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1295 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.63.77 |
I used to have a pet parakeet and..... well... umm..you know... | ||
fayette (msshonuff4u) 3-Pundit Username: msshonuff4u Post Number: 31 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200 |
bobby eli when did you cut all that hair? lol | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1300 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.130.56 |
Hi Fayette,, I shaved it all off about a year and a half ago. It was time for a change(smile) I guest now Im qualified asbeing "gangsta"(smile) at least, thats what they tell me! (Message edited by phillysoulman on August 14, 2004) | ||
isaiah imani (isaiah) 2-Debutant Username: isaiah Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Bobby Eli, thanks for the insights! I have seen several Philly acts back in the day, and it never crossed my mind that the orchestra was not there - though I knew it wasn't(smile!) It did cross my mind recently that Earl Young could not be performing with the Trammps, and cutting records in the studios all at the same time... And though it's possible he could've been doing the drumming and singing with them, I thought that not likely... Nice to have these things cleared up... Peace! Isaiah | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1317 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.134.166 |
Isaiah, For a time in '72- '73 , when Zing went the strings of my heart, Hold back the night , and Pray all you sinners hit, the Trammps did go out on the road. Believe it or not I was a charter member of the group and appear on the very first publicity photo. We did a tour opening for James Brown, and one of the show was in Norfolk VA, on New Years Eve going into '73. All of the significant others came down on the bus to join us and it was a blast. The gigs were timed as not to interfere with our session work and the "powers that were" usually waited for us to return and used the time for mixing and other things. |
