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The
Johnnie Mae Matthews
Story
The Early Years
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Joe
Hunter's band pictured c. 1959, clockwise - drummer
Benny Benjamin, bassist James Jamerson, pianist Joe Hunter
(top), Hank Cosby on tenor sax, Andrew "Mike"
Terry on baritone sax and guitarist Larry Veeder. Johnnie
Mae's home at 2900 Carter, Detroit.
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Johnnie
Mae was born on the very last day of 1922 in Bessemer,
Alabama, one of four children to Willie and Dr. Mary Flood.
Her childhood was marinated in southern gospel and she sang
with her mother at Birmingham's Gaston Funeral Home as
well as U.S. military bases.
The
Floods moved to New Jersey when she was around 12, but like
numerous others seeking a better life, Johnnie Mae migrated
to Detroit around 1947. She married her
boyfriend, Art, who had a job at Ford's
and the couple had two children, Artwell junior and a
daughter they named Audrey.
LISTEN
TO
Johnnie Mae Matthews
talk about
Getting Started
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Johnnie
Mae began playing piano and songwriting at home, and
eventually recorded her first 45 in 1958 as a member of The
Five Dapps. It was released on the Brax label, a short lived
enterprise funded by local realtor George Braxton.
Songwriter James Bennett sang lead on Do Wop A Do - a
Chuck Berry styled Rock n' Roll number complete with
guitar breaks. Johnnie Mae took over on the slower flip
side, a jazzy-blues song titled You're So Unfaithful.
The other three Dapps were probably George Wooden, guitarist
Emry Franklin and Albert Williams, who had the soubriquet,
"Fruit".
LISTEN
TO
Johnnie Mae Matthews
sing
"You're So Unfaithful"
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Joe
Hunter's talented band played on these sessions and this
was the start of a long professional relationship, with Joe
"Mr. Record Session" involved in many of her
subsequent recordings. He and the band were the nucleus of
the now famed Funk Brothers - the very essence of the
revered 1960's Detroit Sound.
Notes thanks to Graham
Finch
image must not be
reproduced, used or copied photograph
credits at end of webisode
DESIGN AND
GRAPHICS BY
LOWELL BOILEAU
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This website is dedicated to Detroit, Soul Music, 45 RPM, Northern
Soul and the great Motown era of Detroit Musics. It covers Golden
World, Tamla, Wheelsville, Robert West, Darrell Banks, Johnnie
Mae Matthews, Rose Battiste, Tera Shirma, Fred Bridges, Supremes,
Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Funk Brothers, Dennis Coffey, Bob
Babbitt, James Jamerson, Twisted Wheel, Wiggan Casino and many
more Detroit Souls topics. |
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