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Home , Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Harvey Fuqua, Jimmy Ruffin, Johnny Bristol, Junior Walker

20 Reconi 6/6rp, ApA23 1977

THE by ROBIN KA7Z

MOTOWN '77 Is like The part in the series of ...L. almost any other final record company. No longer confined to one wound, boasts MOTOWN a country label with artists like Pat Boone and STORY Ronnie Dove, plus the based Prodigal label with Delaney o 196A with 'I Bramiett and Michael their last single 'Down To a grand flop In Quatro This week, in the Can't Give Rack The Love Love Town', You'. She last of the Tarnia Motown 1 Feel For Story, we present an A -Z SMOKEY AND the married , of the sad artists on and the two together, with TO Miracles gave Motown of Motown. their first gold record Lee Garrett. did much 'The latest addition to and the writing on Syreeta's with 'Shop Around', Sealed and the company V the Ju- since then no one's gone 'Signed, Par label which houses hungry. Smokey is Delivered' Stevie the Ju-Par Orchestra, President produced two for Motown's Vice second of Flavor, Esquires and and married to his Syreeta, the Slick Sly and Wicked. them giving her a British childhood sweetheart, Is Other recent Tamla Both sang on hit with 'Your Kiss Claudette. She's Just re- signings include Jamal hits, though Sweet'. Trice, Frank Ka'rhl, leased a new album and Claudette didn't tour. with Mandre and ex-7empta- Smokey went solo five lives in Los Angeles tion . years ago and has ttad a her 14 month old eon, LUTHER .ALLISON known TEMPTATIONS few hits, the best first hit. being 'Baby That's THEY HAD their HIS NICKNAME L 'The OF His songs 'The Way You Do The Backatcha'. smack in Iceman', though the have been covered coun- Things You Do', honey warm voice he tless times. The latest the middle of the British possesses didn't Inspire being Linda Ronstadt's Invasion of America In the nickname. He started Of My 1964. Using songs by version of 'Tracks then life as the original lead Tears', and Dolly Par - Smokey Robinson, singer of ton's version of 'My Love . the and enjoyed many hit (My Glrl)'. Tempt were the defini- with the tion of what a well group. As a solo, he é BORN ONE of 12 kids in dressed, hlghstepping recorded the classic Detroit, Diane Ross vocal team was to be. '', wanted to be a superstar After Whitfleld's pyache- and had a string of ballad and her dream came delic albums, changing hits afterwards like OTOWN true. Ross started as the attitudes and personnel row to Bottom Ross. 'Moon River. There was Í op (kit right): Diam lead singer of the affects the group. Dennis a gap in the Sixties until SmokeyRobinson Supremes. In 1970 she Edwards has departed, Butler signed with Mercu- albums like 'I Feel 's Moong- material or leftovers, side of the record went solo, complete with a and they still haven't ry and went Into the lows, signed with often losing her own songs business. night 'club found a replacement for Sanctified' while produc- Gaye six studio with a very young ing a string of hits. The Motown and married to other singers. Still, she routine, a marriage and him after nearly Kenny Gamble and Leon latest, 'Just To Be Close 's sister liked the Harold Melvin EDDIE KENDRICKS lots of financial backing months. The current line Huff- From there came a To You' Is a heart tugging Anna, The hits began album track 'Don't Leave wanted to be a solo singer, from Motown. She con- up consists of two original terrific chain of hits, ballad which Is about as with 'Stubborn King Of Me This Way; and has but ended up as one of the tinued to have hits, members, Melvin Frank- among them 'Only The far away from 'Machine Fellow'- Others are 'Can finally scored a big hit. Temptations. Not a bad though her recent mate- lin and , Strong Survive', and 'Hey Gun' as can be Imagined. I Get A Witness'%, 'You're She's set to star In move, for darling Eddie rial has lacked most of the plus and Western Union Man'. The Commodores are A Wonderful Ode', 'I Motown's film biography sang on the never ending urgency that made her . G.C. CAMERON aiming for "international Heard It Through The of later in string of the Tempts early earlier songs so memo. TATA VEGA HE WAS the original lead domination" and musical Grapevine', plus duets the year. hits. He finally achieved rable. She won an Oscar ONE OF Motown's new singer of the 'Motown diversity Their latest with , Mary his ambition of being a nomination for her per- faces, Vega is white, Spinners' as they were album is called 'Zoom'. Wells, the late Tarnmi THE BASS player of the solo singer in this decade. formance as Billie Holi- raunchy, raspy and paid known, and sang on the DVNAMICSUPERIORS Terrell and Diana Ross. Jackson Five, Jermalne He had a -string of day In 'Lady Sings 'The her dues i.n the ILA cast of Stevie Wonder produced TONY AND Maurice Gaye's chart entries in started a fan Club when adequate hits, topped by Blues', and has recently Hair. hit, 'It's A Shame'- Washington, George, Pe- the seventies have been he stayed behind with a number one called released a double album terbank, George Spann sporadic, but his British Motown when the rest of 'Keep On Truckin' '. The based on her stage show. HIS SEXY OOMMODORES of years have FRESH OUT of Tuskegee and Michael McCalpin tour late last year proved his family moved on to last couple DAVID RUJFFIN fired out 'Shotgun' many Institute, Alabama. the are the Dynamic Superi- he was still as vocally Epic. At the moment, the been difficult for him years ago and Jr. Walker signed ors. They hail from unique and foxy as ever. family haven national hit personally, and it is asked Jimmy Ruffin to be has been going steadily six Commodores rumoured he's shopping their lead singer, but with Motown in 1971 and Washington but were THELMA HOUSTON and a TV show of their ever since. His real name back discovered at a talent fell in love own and are winning. for a new label. Jimmy declined the offer Is Autrey de Walt. He haven't looked STEPHANIE MILLS They paid their show In Atlanta. They with Thelma's rich, Jermaine released a few and suggested his brother hails from Arkansas and since. A CHILD actress at a was a dues by travelling around sing sweet , poignant voice and solo albums while still David. It came to Motown via and Asia with and have had a few hits virtually composed an with the J5, but his first very young age, Step- significant proposal for and America the hanie Mills broke big in 's raspy. the Jackson Five. On over the last few years. album for her 'Sunsho- effort without family Harvey Fuqua Is still a soul classic, wasn't the stuff that stars America playing Dorothy powerful volée would be return to the US their MARVIN GAYE wer' Broadway version synthesizer instrumental, ONE OF Motown's but it never made the are made of. He lives with In the the driving force behind floun- his wife, Hazel Gordy, on Of The Wizard Of Oz, the Temptations early LIKE WILLIE Hutch, 'Machine Gun' blasted original hitmakers, Mar- charts. Thelma Ware is as much a a ranch near Barry called 'The Wiz'. For her and most memorable hits, writer into the charts via the vin Gaye started his dered for a while and and producer as an with Motown a few White, and eventually debut Motown album, the among them 'Ain't Too - Since then, career singing with the signed artist. It's too soon to tell out classic late Billy Stewart and years back. For years want' to move into the company miraculously Proud To Beg' and 'My they've turned got Bacharach and if he'll be able to get Into on their Don Coney, and later with she was given second rate business and production Burt Girl'. Ruffin went solo in soul tracks re -united. The the late sixties with 'My the public eye, because result was the kind of Whole World Ended (The his first album has Just sophisticated soul for Moment You Left Me), landed in the record which Stephanie was a and it was seven lean stores. Ware's hit com- shade too young years before Van McCoy positions include 'It I SPECIALS brought Ruffin back to Ever Lose This Heaven', MOTOWN RONNIE McNEIR the, charts with 'Walk I Wanna Be Where You BARNEY ALES left Away From Love'. Are', and 'Body Heat'. Motown and formed his STEVIE 10 sets of 7 albums to be won own Detroit label, Prodig- SUPREMES WONDER THE HITS haven't been MOTOWN'S SHINING al, for the purpose of recent star was developing new Detroit coming In years, born blind in All you have to do is give the Theseven albums you can win are: but the line ups change 1950 in Detroit as yen} and title of the three talent. When Ales re- from album to album, Steveland signed with Motown, he Judkins, and artiste' first British hits. Long time Supremes fans was brought to Motown brought this young man whether by with him. Ronnie had wonder The the Miracles' Pete 1. Steak: Wonder been making Supremea still exist, or Moore. His first hit was a DIANA ROSS AND already whether the name scorching records at 1-t, and even has instrumental outlived the group. The called 'Fingertips Pt 2'. AND THE TEMPTATIONS made an album co - 2. Four Tops original Supremes con - Through the sixties, produced with of the Four stated of Diana Ross, the Wonder had as much Tops. show THE TEMPTATIONS He has released two late , biz in his hits as he did as he 3. Supremas albums here in which he Mary Wilson and Bar- soul. Gradually, bara came he took Jr WALKER has taken a leaf from Martin. Only Mary of age, more Wilson remains DIANA AND THE SUPREMES Stevie Wonder's book and and the responsibility for his NAME ROSS latest line up consists of material and eventually done all his own writing, Wilson, and a compilation producing and playing. Scherrie Payne broke out of the and Susaye Green. This limitations of the soul MOTOWN EXTRA,SPECIAL album ORIGINALS line up has produced one spectrum Into universal ADDRESS THEY COVERED the old album, 'Mary, Scherrie popularity. A ear acci- hit 'The Bells', and it and Susaye'. Once more dent in 1973 put him out of looked like their smooth The Supremes have gone the spotlight for a while. harmonies were going into the studios with the Interestingly enough, his places. But alas, no. The Holland brothers, who first concerts after that Originals stayed back In wrote all their big hits. were performed in Lon- Send your entries to: Motown tempetithm,Po Detroit When the com- There are rumours that don at the Rainbow. His Boa le, Harlow, Esees CM 17 OJ A The le correct pany moved to Los Mary Wilson may leave last album, 'Songs In The stone* watt receive the seven albums. The Angeles and only moved the group. If she does, the Key of Life' marked the Editor's decision In this and all other reapers is west last year. They're name goes with her. beginning of the most noel. trying a new image now SYREETA expensive contract in the and a new sound. as In AS RITA Wright she bad company's history.