|
»»» Contact Unca Marvy |
My latest article, in the
June 2008
issue of Blues & Rhythm:
The Dominoes.
Check it out!
|
|
The greatest problem in communication is
the illusion that it has been accomplished.
George Bernard Shaw
|
R&B And Me:
An Author Remembers
I am a part of all that I have met.
Ulysses - Alfred, Lord Tennyson
I don't sing. I don't play an instrument. I don't write songs. I don't arrange music. I don't have a
reputation as an influential DJ. I don't own a record label. I don't produce recording sessions. I don't
even have much of a record collection.
I'm not sure if this list is exhaustive, but it certainly gives you a pretty clear idea of what my
involvement with Rhythm & Blues is not.
Why then have I called this section "R&B And Me"? Well, I have been involved, in my way. For the past
40 years or so, I've been a researcher and music historian in the field. I've interviewed more than 300 people,
mostly members of vocal groups, who created R&B music in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. These interviews were
then turned into magazine articles (and, in one case, a book), usually written by me (at times with one or
more collaborators), sometimes handed over to others, if my workload was particularly heavy.
My resulting body of work is therefore a survey of R&B music, from the mid-30s to the mid-60s. My
articles have appeared in many publications over the years (including some original writing done for album
liner notes), and below you'll find a list of all I've done.
I'm proud to have been a part of R&B. I wish the music itself had found greater acceptance, but at least
I did my part to see that the artists got the recognition they deserved. There are so many more stories to be
told; that's why I keep digging.
|
|
|
Alphabetical listing of my online articles
|
|
Most of my R&B articles are online. They're alphabetized in this drop-down list
(with a chronological listing further down). Just make a selection:
|
Recently-added online articles
|
|
|
Recently-updated online articles
|
|
|
Constantly-updated online articles (the supergroups)
|
|
| |
|
|
In many cases, I wrote articles with others (sometimes only doing the interviewing).
Since then, I have thoroughly rewritten most of those articles myself, but these are the people
with whom I co-authored the originals, in the publications listed below.
Blanket credit is extended to Ferdie Gonzalez of Disco-File, for his help over the years with the
discographies used in most of my articles.
|
| |
|
|
| *DF |
= |
written with Donn Fileti |
| *DH |
= |
written with Dave Hinckley |
| *GM |
= |
written with George Moonoogian |
| *JN |
= |
written with John Nielson |
| *KK |
= |
written with Kitty Karp |
| *MR |
= |
written with Mike Redmond |
| *MV |
= |
written with Marcia Vance |
| *PG |
= |
written with Pete Grendysa |
| *RF |
= |
written with Ray Funk |
| *RW |
= |
written with Rick Whitesell |
| *TB |
= |
written with Todd Baptista |
| |
|
|
|
|
Chronological listing of my articles
|
|
- Clovers - KBBA, Vol 1, #6 - 8/64 (read how it all began for Unca Marvy)
- Dells - KBBA, Vol 1, #7 - 11/64
- Orioles - Orioles Fan Club Bulletin - Vol 1, #4 - 12/64
- Ravens - Orioles Fan Club Bulletin - Special - 1/65
- Orioles - Record Exchanger #8 -1971
- Jayhawks/Vibrations - Bim Bam Boom #5 - 1972
- Monotones - Big Town Review #1 - 2/72
- 5 Crowns - Big Town Review #2 - 4/72
- Midnighters - Big Town Review #3 - 7/72
- Penguins - Record Exchanger #11 - 1972 (*MR)
- Delcos - Record Exchanger #11 - 1972
- 4 Buddies - Record Exchanger #12 - 1972 (*MR)
- Flairs - Record Exchanger #13 - 1973 (*MR)
- Aladdins - Record Exchanger #14 - 1973 (*MR)
- Clovers - Record Exchanger #15 - 1973 (*MR)
- Jets/Bachelors - Record Exchanger#15 - 1973 (*MR)
- Showtime At The Apollo - Record Exchanger #15 - 1973(*MR)
- Solitaires - Record Exchanger #16 - 1973 (*MR)
- Concords - Record Exchanger #16 - 1973 (*MR)
- Mello Moods - Record Exchanger #16 - 1973 (*MR)
- Schubert Swanston - RecordExchanger #16 - 1973 (*MR)
- Du Droppers - Bim Bam Boom #13 - 1974 (*MR)
- Carols - Bim Bam Boom #13 - 1974(*MR)
- American Graffiti (movie review)- Record Exchanger #17 - 1974
- Drifters - Record Exchanger #18 - 1974 (*MR)
- Brown Dots/4 Tunes - Yesterday's Memories #1 - 3/75 (*MR)
- Jacks/Cadets - Yesterday's Memories #2 - 6/75 (*DF)
- Crickets - Yesterday's Memories #2 - 6/75
- Blenders - Yesterday's Memories #2 - 6/75 (*MR)
- Beavers - Yesterday's Memories #2- 6/75
- Vibranaires - Yesterday's Memories #3 - 9/75 (*MR)
- Strangers - Yesterday's Memories #3 - 9/75 (*MR)
- Cues - Yesterday's Memories #3 - 9/75 (*MR)
- Swallows - Yesterday's Memories #4 - 12/75 (*MR)
- 5 Blue Notes - Yesterday's Memories #4 - 12/75(*MR)
- Clefs/Masters - Yesterday's Memories #4 - 12/75
- Dean Barlow - Yesterday's Memories #5 - 3/76
- David Ford (Hollywood Flames) - Yesterday's Memories #5 - 3/76
- Gems - Yesterday's Memories #6 - 6/76 (*BS)
- Cats And The Fiddle - Yesterday's Memories #6 - 6/76 (*PG *GM*RW)
- 5 Pennies - Yesterday's Memories #6 - 6/76
- Jesters - Yesterday's Memories #6 - 6/76 (*DH)
- Teddy Harper (Aladdins) -Yesterday's Memories #6 - 6/76 (*MR)
- Chords - Yesterday's Memories #7 - 9/76 (*MR)
- 4 Vagabonds - Yesterday's Memories #7 - 9/76 (*RW *PG*GM)
- Bobbettes - Yesterday's Memories #7 - 9/76
- Velours - Yesterday's Memories #7 - 9/76 (*DH)
- Jets/Bachelors - Yesterday's Memories #8 - 12/76
- Plants - Yesterday's Memories #8 - 12/76
- Cap-Tans - Yesterday's Memories#8 - 12/76 (*DH)
- Marvels - Yesterday's Memories #8 - 12/76 (*DH)
- Chateaus - Yesterday's Memories #8 - 12/76 (*MR)
- Ink Spots - Yesterday's Memories #9 - 3/77 (*PG *GM *RW)
- Baton Records - Yesterday's Memories #9 - 3/77 (*MV)
- How Many Boots Do You Have? - Yesterday's Memories #9 - 3/77
- Demens/Emersons - Yesterday's Memories #9 - 3/77 (*DH)
- Shields - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*DH)
- Squires/Don & Dewey -Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77(*DH)
- Flairs - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*RW)
- Meadowlarks - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77(*MR)
- Turks - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*DH)
- Jewels - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*RW)
- Olympics - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*DH)
- Titans - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77
- Jaguars - Yesterday's Memories#10 - 6/77 (*RW)
- Youngsters - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77 (*DH)
- Souvenirs - Yesterday's Memories #10 - 6/77
- Kings - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*DH)
- Sha-Weez - Yesterday's Memories#11 - 9/77 (*DH)
- Marylanders - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77(*RW)
- Spiders - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77
- Calvanes - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*DH)
- Hollywood Saxons - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*RW)
- Hawks - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*RW)
- 4 Bars - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*RW)
- Dootones - Yesterday's Memories #11 - 9/77 (*RW)
- Arthur Crier - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77(*MV)
- Do Ray Me Trio - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77 (*RW)
- Valentines - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77 (*RW)
- Bobby Hendricks (see Drifters, Original Drifters, Swallows) - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77 (*MR)
- Pastels (Argo) - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77
- Billy Dawn Quartet - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77(*RW)
- Ospreys - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77
- Empires - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77 (*DH)
- Dappers (Groove/Rainbow) - Yesterday's Memories #12 - 12/77 (*MR)
- Danleers - Record Exchanger #24 - 1977
- Rip-Chords - Goldmine #35 - 4/79
- Pastels (United) - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*RW)
- Magnificents - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*RW)
- Pipes - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*RW)
- El Dorados - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*DH)
- 4 Buddies (Club 51) - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*DH)
- Capitols - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*DH)
- King Toppers - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*DH)
- Kool Gents - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*DH)
- Sandmen - Goldmine #35 - 4/79 (*RW)
- Chanters - Goldmine #35 - 4/79
- Syncopators - Goldmine #49 - 6/80
- Love Notes (Riviera) - Whiskey, Women And ... #9 - 7/82
- Shadows - Whiskey, Women And ... #10 - 12/82
- Falcons - Whiskey, Women And ... #11 - 6/83
- Orioles - Whiskey, Women And ... #12 - 12/83
- Limelighters - Whiskey, Women And ... #14 - 8/84
- G-Clefs - Whiskey, Women And ... #15 - 2/86
- Sophomores (Dawn) - Whiskey, Women And ... #15 - 2/86
- Chargers - Goldmine - 7/87
- Jimmy Jones - Whiskey, Women And ... #16 - 4/87
- Twilighters (Specialty) - Whiskey, Women And ... #17 - 4/88
- Arthur Lee Maye (& Crowns) - Whiskey, Women And ... #17 - 4/88
- Medallions - Record Collectors' Monthly #42 - 11/88
- Brown Dots/4 Tunes - Discoveries #9 - 2/89
- Hurricanes - Record Collectors' Monthly #43 - 3/89
- Crickets - Discoveries #10 - 3/89
- Jacks/Cadets - Discoveries #11 - 4/89
- Blenders - Discoveries #12 - 5/89
- Delroys - Record Collectors' Monthly #44 - 7/89
- David Bowers (King Odom Quartet/Larks) - Whiskey, Women And ... #18 - 10/89
- Coronets - Record Collectors' Monthly #45 - 12/89
- Beavers - Discoveries #20 - 1/90
- Platters - Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Booklet For 1990 - 90
- Mello-Harps - Record Collectors' Monthly #46 - 4/90
- Rhythm Aces - Goldmine #275 - 2/91
- Red Caps - Discoveries #33 - 11/91
- Charts - Record Collectors' Monthly - 2/93
- Mello-Tones - Discoveries #80 (& #82) - 1/95
- Starlings/Twilighters - Discoveries #80 - 1/95
- Valiants - Discoveries #81 - 2/95
- Waldo Champen (the Supremes [Old Town] & 5 Delights) - Discoveries #82 - 3/95
- Bobby Thomas (Vibranaires/V-Eights/Orioles) - Discoveries #83 - 4/95
- Orioles (Johnny Reed interview) - Discoveries #84 - 5/95
- Teenagers - Discoveries #85 - 6/95
- Feathers - Discoveries #86 - 7/95
- El Capris - Discoveries #87 - 8/95
- Penguins - Discoveries #88 - 9/95
- Dominoes - Discoveries #89 - 10/95
- Shadows - Discoveries #90 - 11/95
- Counts - Discoveries #91 - 12/95
- Turbans - Discoveries #92 - 1/96
- Ravens - Discoveries #93 - 2/96
- Let The Show Begin - Discoveries #94 - 3/96
- Leaders - Discoveries #95 - 4/96
- Teardrops (Sampson) - Discoveries #96 - 5/96
- Royals - Discoveries #97 - 6/96
- Serenaders/Royal Jokers - Discoveries #98 - 7/96
- Thrillers/5 Jets - Discoveries #99 - 8/96
- Native Boys - Discoveries #100 - 9/96
- Rivileers - Discoveries #101 - 10/96
- Vocaleers - Discoveries #102 - 11/96
- Castelles - Discoveries #104 - 1/97
- 5 Dukes (Atlas) - Discoveries #105 (& #108) - 2/97
- Inspirators - Discoveries #106 - 3/97
- Sunbeams - Discoveries #107 - 4/97
- 5 Keys - Discoveries #108 - 5/97
- El Pollos - Discoveries #109 - 6/97
- Pyramids (Jay Dee) - Discoveries #110 - 7/97
- Sparrows - Discoveries #111 - 8/97
- Frankie Ervin (Shields) - Discoveries #112 - 9/97 (*KK)
- Clovers - Discoveries #113 - 10/97
- Metrotones - Discoveries #114 - 11/97
- Dreams - Discoveries #115 - 12/97
- Enchanters/Delltones - Discoveries #116 - 1/98
- Quinns - Discoveries #117 - 2/98
- Monitors/Mellow Drops/Senors/Moonbeems - Discoveries #118 - 3/98
- Chandeliers - Discoveries #119 - 4/98
- 4 Shades Of Rhythm - Discoveries #120 - 5/98
- El Torros - Discoveries #121 - 6/98
- Dukes (Specialty) - Discoveries #122 - 7/98
- Jumping Jacks/Romeos - Discoveries #123 - 8/98
- Checkers - Discoveries #124 - 9/98
- 4 Aces (Trilon) - Discoveries #125 - 10/98
- Suburbans - Discoveries #126 - 11/98
- Carpets - Discoveries #127 - 12/98
- Mello-Moods - Discoveries #128 - 1/99
- Equadors - Discoveries #129 - 2/99
- Spartans - Discoveries #130 - 3/99
- Legends - Discoveries #131 - 4/99
- Medallions - Discoveries #132 - 5/99
- Dozier Boys - Discoveries #133 - 6/99
- Ivories/Love Notes - Discoveries #134 - 7/99
- The Sly Fox - Discoveries #135 - 8/99
- Roamers - Discoveries #136 - 9/99
- 4 Dots - Discoveries #137 - 10/99
- Angels (Gee) - Discoveries #138 - 11/99
- Larks - Discoveries #139 - 12/99
- Luther Bond & Emeralds - Discoveries #141 - 2/00
- Wrens - Discoveries #142 - 3/00
- Six Teens - Discoveries #143 - 4/00 (*KK)
- Students - Discoveries #145 - 6/00
- 5 Crowns - Discoveries #146 - 7/00
- Marquees (Okeh) - Discoveries #147 - 8/00
- Imperials (Great Lakes) - Discoveries #149 - 10/00
- Regals - Discoveries #150 - 11/00
- Beltones (Hull) - Discoveries #151 - 12/00
- Lavern Baker - Oldies Forever - Winter/Spring 2001
- Olympics - Oldies Forever - Winter/Spring 2001
- Chanters - Oldies Forever - Winter/Spring 2001
- Deltairs - Discoveries #152 - 1/01
- Supremes (Ace) - Discoveries #153 - 2/01
- 5 Sharps - Discoveries #154 - 03/01
- Early Drifters - Discoveries #155 - 04/01
- Robins - Discoveries #157 - 06/01 (*TB)
- Romeos (Fox) - Discoveries #158 - 07/01
- Buckeyes/Stereos - Discoveries #159 - 08/01
- 5 Dollars/Don Juans - Discoveries #160 - 09/01
- Majors - Discoveries #161 - 10/01
- Jivers - Discoveries #162 - 11/01
- Cabineers - Discoveries #163 - 12/01 (*GM)
- Wanderers - Discoveries #165 - 2/02
- Avalons - Discoveries #166 - 3/02
- Heartbeats - Discoveries #167 - 4/02
- 4 Palms - Discoveries #168 - 5/02
- Scamps - Discoveries #169 - 6/02
- 4 Kings (Stomper Time) - Discoveries #170 - 7/02
- Charts - Oldies Forever - Spring/Summer 2002
- Empires - Discoveries #171 - 8/02
- Chords - Discoveries #172 - 9/02
- Otis Williams & Charms - Discoveries #173 - 10/02
- Del-Knights - Discoveries #174 - 11/02
- Clefs - Discoveries #175 - 12/02
- El Venos - Discoveries #176 - 1/03
- 4 Buddies - Discoveries #177 - 2/03
- Fi-Tones - Discoveries #179 - 4/03
- King Odom Quartet - Discoveries #181 - 6/03
- Swallows - Discoveries #183 - 8/03
- Strangers - Discoveries #185 - 10/03
- Striders - Discoveries #187 - 12/03
- Master-Tones - Discoveries #189 - 2/04
- Flairs - Discoveries #191 - 4/04
- Silhouettes - website - 5/04
- Goldenrods - website - 8/04
- Continentals - website - 8/04
- Marvin & Chirps - website - 8/04
- Hornets - website - 8/04
- Cashmeres - Blues & Rhythm #192 - 9/04
- Velvetones - website - 9/04
- Rovers - Blues & Rhythm #195 - 12/04
- Big John & Buzzards - website - 12/04
- Bill Johnson & Musical Notes - website - 2/05
- Hepsters - website - 2/05
- 5 C's - website - 4/05
- Orbits - website - 5/05
- Monograms - Blues & Rhythm #198 - 4/05
- 4 Fellows (Tri-Boro) - Blues & Rhythm #200 - 6/05
- Mondellos - Blues & Rhythm #202 - 9/05
- Whispers - website - 9/05
- Youngsters - Blues & Rhythm #204 - 11/05
- Cuff Links (Cufflinx and Kuf-Links) - website - 11/05
- Paragons - website - 12/05
- Orlandos - Blues & Rhythm #206 - 1/06
- 5 Blue Notes - Blues & Rhythm #208 - 4/06
- Fidelitys - website - 5/06
- Larks (Sheryl) - website - 7/06
- Whispers - Blues & Rhythm #212 - 9/06
- Royaltones - website - 10/06
- Marcels - website - 10/06
- Mellows - website - 10/06
- Spaniels - website - 10/06
- Piccadilly Pipers - website - 10/06
- 5 C's - Blues & Rhythm #214 - 11/06
- Hepsters - Blues & Rhythm #216 - 2/07
- Magic-Tones - website - 2/07
- Flamingos - website - 4/07
- 4 Bel-Aires - website - 4/07
- Four Most - website - 7/07
- Flamingos, part 1 - Blues & Rhythm #221 - 7/07
- Flamingos, part 2 - Blues & Rhythm #222 - 8/07
- Moonglows - website - 9/07
- Continentals - Blues & Rhythm #225 - 12/07
- Packards - website - 11/07
- Harlem Highlanders - website - 2/08
- King Odom Quartet - Blues & Rhythm #227 - 3/08
- Ruby & Romantics - website - 4/08
- Dominoes, part 1 - Blues & Rhythm #230 - 6/08
- Teenchords - website - 6/08
|
|
|
Note: every once in a while I come across a CD that has something I've written used as liner notes. It's rare that
I'm asked (or even told) about this, although sometimes I volunteer an article if I find out about a project in time. If
you ever run across something I've written that isn't on this list, please let me know, so that I can add it here (I'm
actually proud that someone thinks enough of my scribblings to use them; however, it would be nice to
get a copy of the CD).
|
|
|
|
|