The Johnnie Mae Matthews Story
Wheeling and Dealing

Although he isn't credited, this Atlantic 45 was produced by Robert Bateman and was cut on 12^th Street, either at the first Correc-tone studio or at Continental. Mike Hanks was one of Johnnie Mae's (pictured) early partners. 

Candid, unflinching, and with a penchant for getting things done, Johnnie Mae struck deals with some of the motor city's other movers and shakers, as well as players outside Michigan. This was at the beginning of the Sixties when Detroit was just starting to expand its own music arena, and before Motown had grown into the city's monopolizing powerhouse.

Robert West, the owner of Flick - Contour and Lupine records, dealt with the publishing of Johnnie Mae's early compositions and also helped negotiate Betty Lavett's contract with Atlantic Records. The result saw fifteen year old Betty's first 45, the tremendous, My Man - He's A Lovin' Man, deservedly make Billboard's chart in '62.

Another partner was the ubiquitous Mike Alonzo Hanks. Johnnie Mae is credited as co-writer on Mike's first MAH'S label release - a honking instrumental called Inkster Boogie recorded by The Egyptians. She also helped to pen the Billy Kent and The Andantes' 45 - Take All of Me - and the first pressings of this second MAH'S disc have her Blaine address on the label. It was subsequently picked up and distributed by Roulette.

Many national record distributors had offices located along Woodward Avenue, the city's main meridian, and a section was appropriately nicknamed Record Row. Strung along a couple of blocks were places such as Cosnat, which dealt with Atco, while Duke and Jubilee were nearby. Music Merchants Inc.' was at 3731, King Records was at 3720 and Cadet at 3766, which made wheeling and dealing comparatively easy. Johnnie Mae recalled that companies would actually contact her after they'd heard her latest disc being played on the radio.

Notes thanks to Graham Finch