Johnnie
Mae was one of the first black women to actively own a
recording company and by '59 had made a few recordings
that were released on her fledgling Northern label.
They incorporate her - to quote from the above Michigan
Chronicle article - "rock-house blues style
delivery" and the reporter enthusiastically
informed the newspaper's readers, "This
sensational blues stylist is a real show stopper, who had
last Friday night's capacity crowd at Lee's Club
Sensation dancing in the aisles." Adding that she
".broke up the crowd with her recorded hits of 'Ooh
Wee Baby' and her new release titled - So Lonely."
LISTEN
TO
Johnnie Mae Matthews
sing
"Ooh Wee"
|
Popcorn
Wylie put it more succinctly, telling me she was,
"Very exciting, kinda like Tina Turner."
Despite
the label's name being taken from a well advertised brand
of toilet tissue her recording company soon became a magnet
for Detroit's talented hopefuls. The Northern
discography incorporates many local luminaries, such as
future music-biz playmaker Don Davis who recorded with a
band appropriately named The Groovers. The members were
session maestros Joe Hunter, James Jamerson, Eli Fontaine,
Uriel Jones and Eddie Willis, and Johnnie Mae nonchalantly
recalled how the recording came about.
"Don
used to live across the street from me. He was round about
17 years old. He would come over with his guitar and we
decided to go into the studio and record."
Other
talented young songwriters and producers at Northern
included, Richard Street and Richard Morris - who recorded
Pink Cadillac using the alias of Richard Kateo. And
Popcorn Wylie's Mohawks had a tambourine-shaking Norman
Whitfield, as well as great musicians such as James Jamerson.
The Mohawks cut their debut 45 You're the One for Northern
in 1960, before joining Motown.
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
|
|