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hooked-on-elvis · 3 months

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A filming day during the '68 Comeback Special production (June, 1968) 🎥⚡

— Recollections by ANN MOSES, editor of TIGER BEAT and NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS MAGAZINES, as published in her Facebook on January 8, 2024, Elvis' 89th birthday.

Happy Birthday in Heaven to ELVIS PRESLEY , born January 8, 1935. He would have been 89 today. I feel the best way to honor Elvis is to share some of my in-person memories from his incredible Comeback Special from 1968 — Ann Moses

THE CONTINUING STORY OF ELVIS AND ANN MOSES (EDITOR OF TIGER BEAT) FROM NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS:

ELVIS TAKES OFF TINY TIM AND RICHARD HARRIS

Last week I told you how I was chosen to sit on the steps of the stage when Elvis was performing before the tele-film camera in Burbank. They were recording the hour-long Spectacular to be seen in American on December 3. I promised to tell you about my further encounters with Elvis this week, so here goes: As Elvis left the stage, his face dripping with perspiration, his straight hair hanging over his eyes after such an energetic half-hour workout, everyone expected the end had – too soon – arrived. Wrong! After a few moments the executive producer appeared to inform us that this had been a dress rehearsal and Elvis would be back as soon as his leather suit dried out, and go through it all again.

Great News

It was great news because to have a small taste of greatness would have been cruel. The first set whet our appetites and the gathering was openly happy that the appetite might now be satisfied (if that’s possible)! During the half-hour break, Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ wife, descended from the seats where she was watching him and glided backstage to see her husband. She did not return. Meantime, the executive producer stayed on stage to entertain the audience by answering questions about El. I asked how much he had contributed to the creation of the TV Special. The producer said El had done about 75 per cent of the creating. He also said El was easy to work with and his professionalism had cut the time allowed for filming. To fill time and keep us occupied, as if we weren’t content to merely sit and wait for him to return, the producer called the Blossoms on stage to do a song. This Negro (remember this was 1968 and the correct way to describe the black girls) girl trio, who performed on the old “Shindig” show and have aided the Righteous Brothers on their tours, backed up Elvis vocally in the special. “We’d like to sing a gospel song for you,” one of the girls said. “You know, Elvis really loves gospel songs. Every time we’ve had a break in the past two weeks he drags us off to some corner to sing gospel tunes, isn’t that a groove?” she went on.

The Blossoms (American female group): Photo 1 from 1966 (left), clockwise from top: Fanita James, Jean King, and Darlene Love. The group's formation changed over the years but those are the female vocalists of the Blossoms that worked with Elvis.

On the '68 Comeback Special, the full group appear onscreen during the Gospel number (second picture from 1968 — from left to right, Jean King, Elvis, Fanita James and Darlene Love). Darlene Love also sings the female vocals for 'Let Yourself Go' song, used for the bordello scene.

The Blossoms also have uncredited roles on the film 'Change of Habit' (1969) on which they act as Elvis' character's neighbors performing as his backing vocals for the song "Rubberneckin'", right at the beginning of the movie, although the female backing vocals for the actual song was recorded by other female artists during the American Sound Studio sessions in January, 1969. I'm not sure if for the movie version they recorded the song again, with the Blossom's backing vocals, but probably no — if that's so, the girls participation on the "Rubberneckin'" scene is specifically with their acting, dubbing the original recorded song. The movie was filmed between March and April, 1969. Still for the "Change of Habit" movie, the Blossoms sing the female backing vocals for "Let Us Pray", song used during the closing scene in the church. The Blossoms recorded a few more songs with Elvis.

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Continuing Ann Moses' article:

Then they sang a gospel tune and it was a groove too. I would have loved to hear Elvis join with them, but anyway. . . A few more minutes, in which the executive producer introduced all of Elvis’ buddies and then HE was back. This time he was much more at ease in front of the audience. He began to joke with those of us close by, sitting on the platform. “I hope you don’t mind if we do a few of those numbers again,” he smiled, “I really goofed up some of them the last time.” The band was ready and it began again. But this time seemed even more exciting because it was likely we knew him better. That may seem hard to comprehend since we’d only been there a couple of hours, but that’s the way he makes you feel!

Some new twists

Some of the songs had been recorded previously and when he’d get to them in the medley he just cut up the original lyric. Like when “Love Me Tender” came around again he sang “. . .you have made my life a wreck and I hate you so. . .” then he’d laugh and go on to the next tune. Once through the whole medley and everything stopped for a prop change. A special set had to be set up for the finale. Instead of leaving this time, Elvis bent down to me (are you ready for that – me!) and said “What would you like to hear?” I blurted out, “Your Time Hasn’t Come yet, Baby.” * He gave me an inquisitive look and I said: “The new single.” “Right,” he said and started singing the song.

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Movie soundtrack: "Speedway" (1968)

"Your Time Isn't Come Yet Baby" was released a few weeks before the movie, as a single, on May 21, 1968, with "Let Yourself Go" on the opposite side (the second song, is part of the '68 Comeback Special setlist, used during the bordello scene where Elvis acts opposite to Susan Henning). "Speedway" movie was released only a few weeks before the filming for Elvis' NBC TV Special had begin, on June 12, 1968 (although the film was completed in the early summer of 1967), while the videotaping for the "'68 Comeback Special" was filmed from June 27-30, 1968.

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Continuing Ann Moses' article:

The microphone was turned off. He called to have someone turn it on. Another girl said, “Sing ‘U.S. Male,’” and he said in a deep voice “I’m a U.S. Male. . ." but still the mic was off. Others ere calling out songs now and while he waited for someone to turn on the mic he bent down to sign some autographs. He got back up and strummed the electric guitar and tried again, but still no sound. So he left. It’s really awful to complain in light of what we were all experiencing, but to think we would have had private little 15-minute concert except for that rotten dead-mic, well. . . it would have been great. The set was ready. It was a black box some 25 feet long and as high and wide as a room. At one end there were flashing colored lights darting in all directions. At the open end was our platform and the microphone. Elvis returned, casually, but things were not quite ready. The mic was on now. Someone asked “How’s your daughter?” Elvis answered, “Oh, about this long,” he held his hands out about a foot apart as he smiled broadly.

I found this moment on Youtube Shorts (Elvis talks about baby Lisa Marie and also sings one verse of a song we'll talk about soon, recorded by Tiny Tim):

As we know, Lisa Marie Presley was born in February 1, 1968. By the time the '68 Special was being filmed, little Yisa was close to reach 5-months-old. An infant, the King's little Princess. ♥

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Continuing Ann Moses' article:

“How long have I got?” he questions the director, “I’m getting embarrassed.” There was no answer, so he began singing “Tiptoe through the tulips” in Tiny Tim style. It was hilarious and even he couldn’t help breaking into laughter.

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“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim. Also known as "Tiptoe Thru’ the Tulips with Me", is a popular song published in 1929. Singer, Tiny Tim, release his version in April, 1968. It was a new tune when Elvis was singing it out of fun during the '68 Comeback Special filming, as Ann Moses remembered happening.

You can hear Elvis singing one verse of this song on the Youtube Shorts I shared previously when Ann Moses mentions Lisa Marie). What a funny guy, our Elvis. ♥

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Continuing Ann Moses' article:

“Well, how about. . .’someone left the cake out in the rain’. . .” He was now mimicking, in an extra-deep voice, Richard Harris’ hit record “MacArthur Park.” Again, he laughed.

You can listen to Richard Harris' song on Youtube, here.

Everything was ready now. He took that special stance and GLARED at the camera. The music started. . .”If you’re lookin’ for trouble. . .you’ve come to the right place.” Rough and tough, he was singing “Trouble,” twitching lip and all. But then he called, “wait, wait. . .” and the tape stopped. He looked at us and said: “Did you see that?” He was laughing again. “I got my lip caught on the microphone!”

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This above isn't the take Ann is referring to (I didn't found it [:(], but one of the takes he sings "Trouble" during one of the '68 Comeback Special's stand up concerts). You got the picture.

Continuing Ann Moses' article:

He goofed the famous lip twitch. Of course, it had to be right. It all started again and this time it was perfect. In the middle of “Trouble” the tape broke into “Guitar Man” with Elvis singing “well, I’ve come a long way from the car wash. . .” and he sings about heading back down the road with a guitar slung over his back. He picks up his guitar, slings it over his back and walks off down the black corridor into the flashing lights symbolizing the future. The audience was hysterical and that’s good because the reaction is all on tape too. It was so spontaneous and so beautiful. What I gather the special is all about is sort of a life story of Elvis through his music, ending of course, with him walking into the unknown future, that for him can only get better. All I can say is I didn’t sleep for two nights and I’m still having dreams. I guess that’s what can happen when you’re touched by magic! — Recollections by ANN MOSES, editor of TIGER BEAT and NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS MAGAZINES, as published in her Facebook page on January 8, 2024.

Pictures 1-2: Elvis '68 Comeback Special. Picture 3: Ann Moses on "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" (1970, theatrical version).

ON ANN MOSES: Ann is one of the girls appearing on "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" (1970) documentary on the fan interviews portion of the film. In one of her interviews years later, Ann says that she was a fan of Elvis previous to the '68 Comeback Special but her love for him hibernated for a while during Elvis' Hollywood years (60s) due to all the new music for the youth that was happening at the time, but then ever since 1968 and Elvis' comeback to performing live in 1969, Ann was again a die hard fan, instantly — and that she is until today. Every now and then she talks about Elvis Presley on her Facebook page, sharing articles she wrote on him to the magazines she was an editor for back in the days, also about her experiences watching Elvis performing live, the time she visited him on a movie set in 1969, and so on. Ann Moses published a memoir book where she talks about her experiences as a young woman living among big stars in the 60s and 70s - obviously she mentions Elvis there. Her memoir book is entitled "Meow! My Groovy Life with Tiger Beat's Teen Idols", published in 2017.

Picture 1-2: Elvis and Ann Moses during and after his press conference at the International Hotel (August 1, 1969 - the press conference was held right after Elvis' opening night at the hotel's showroom). Pictures 3 and 5: Elvis performing at the International hotel on August 2, 1969, both photos by Ann Moses. Picture 4: Ann Moses.

#elvis presley #elvis #elvis the king #68 comeback special #elvis fans #elvis fandom #elvis history #60s elvis #1968 tv shows #60s tv #Youtube #tiger beat magazine #new musical express magazine #vintage magazines

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parkerbombshell · 4 months

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A Breath of Fresh Air Dec 19

A Breath of Fresh Air With Sandy Kaye bombshellradio.com Tuesdays 1pm EST and Fridays 8pm EST One of Phil Spector's hand-picked early '60's girl group singers, Darlene Love sang some lead vocals for the Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, and also had some hits under her own name. The oldest of five children born in LA, Darlene’s father was a minister and ran a church in Texas. Darlene began singing at his church to the delight of the congregation. While attending high school in San Antonio, Darlene began joining glee clubs and a group called the Wailers that sang at school assemblies. In 1956 the family moved back to Los Angeles. Shortly after her sixteenth birthday Darlene began singing in the church choir. It was during a choir practice that her voice caught the attention of the choir director. One day a girl that Darlene knew from church, asked her to sing at her wedding. What she didn't know was that the wedding was also an audition: Delores' bridal party included her friends Gloria Jones, Fanita Barrett, and Annette and Nanette Williams, who had a singing group called the Blossoms. They were looking to replace Annette who was pregnant. Darlene was asked to sing with the Blossoms. Her parents at first refused to let her, but after meeting the Blossoms they relented. She started singing with The Blossoms in 1958. They recorded as a quartet and then a trio. They also did backup singing supporting Bobby "Boris" Pickett ("Monster Mash"), James Darren ("Goodbye Cruel World), Bobby Day ("Rockin' Robin") and many others. Love was brought to Phil Spector's attention when he was looking for a lead singer for "He's a Rebel." which was to be released under the Crystal's name. When Darlene was asked if she knew about this she said "So What? The man just paid me triple scale." She figured that it was a cute song, but it was probably going nowhere. Love went on to record six Philles singles under her own name, including "Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home","(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Going To Marry", " and "A Fine Fine Bo”). She also appeared on Spector's Christmas Album. Love continued to sing with the Blossoms through the 60s. They were regulars on Shindig and toured with Elvis Presley in the early 70s. Love sang back-up for Dionne Warwick for ten years beginning in 1971 and later backing Aretha Franklin. In the ‘80s Darlene branched out into acting appearing in the Lethal Weapon films and appearing in the Tony nominated 1985 the Broadway musical Leader of the Pack based on the songs of Ellie Greenwich. She also recorded two solo albums. In 1997 a jury awarded her in excess of $263,000 for back royalties from Phil Spector. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Today Darlene Love is back on the charts with a new version of her Christmas song thanks to her friend Cher. This week she joins us to share the story of her incredible journey. Sandy Kaye [email protected] Read the full article

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classicgirlgroups · 3 years

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THE CRYSTALS MYSTERY!

Rumour Has It That The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans, And Darlene Love Are In Fact One Group. Here Are The Facts... Record Mirror June 29, 1963

"The CRYSTALS controversy settled at last?"

This Record Mirror article from 1963 tries to cover the 'mystery of the Crystals'. The Crystals were a girl group signed to Phil Spector's label, Philles Records, in 1961. In 1962, Spector had heard a demo for a song written by Gene Pitney called "He's A Rebel" and wanted to record it at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles for the Crystals' next release. Learning that another artist, Vikki Carr, was to record it for Liberty Records, Spector rushed to get his own version out first. Whether the Crystals refused to fly to the studio due to previous frustrations with Spector or because they were on the road for shows is unclear. Regardless, Spector decided to use Los Angeles based girl group, the Blossoms with Darlene Love on lead, with the agreement that the record would still be credited to the Crystals, although without their knowledge. The Crystals heard the song for the first time on radio while on tour. "He's Sure the Boy I Love" was recorded by the Blossoms as well, but Spector credited it to the Crystals once again, much to the dismay of both groups.

Love was also a member of Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans with fellow Blossom, Fanita James, and singer Bobby Sheen. Love lead on Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans' 1963 release "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts". Love had some solo releases on Philles as well, such as "Today I Met the Boy I'm Gonna Marry" and "Wait ‘til My Bobby Gets Home". No Blossoms were ever members of the Crystals and vice versa.

#the crystals #darlene love #the blossoms #bob b. soxx and the blue jeans #record mirror #1963 #1960s #article #photo #barbara alston #mary thomas #patsy wright #dee dee kenniebrew #lala brooks #bobby sheen #fanita james

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thefabulousronettes · 5 years

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Harlem's own Ronettes - on this date (April 4, 1964) - had their third released record on the Philles Records label - The Best Part of Breakin' Up - enter both the Billboard and Cashbox magazine music charts.

That was 55 years ago.

The Wall of Sound recording, written by record producer Phil Spector along with Peter Andreoli- and Vincent Poncia Jr. - then spent the next eight weeks on the music charts in America and Great Britain.

Lead vocalist was Ronnie Bennett (the future Ronnie Spector), along with her fellow Ronettes (her sister Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley), along with background vocals by Cher, Darlene Love, Fanita James and Jean King.

Darlene Love's unique background vocals can be heard during three breaks of the 3:01 second-long recording: at 24 seconds, at the 1 minute mark, and finally at the 2:02 mark.

When Ronnie passionately contends, that "the best part of breakin' up is when you're making up," Darlene Love soulfully asks, "Tell Me Why?"

The tune , backed by the Phil Spector Wall of Sound Orchestra / the Wrecking Crew Los Angeles based musicians, was recorded inside the echo-laden chambers of Gold Star Recording Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles.

When the song was released on Philles Records, Billboard magazine, the bible of the music business, gave the Ronettes tune a "Pop Spotlight" rating (along with the Beatles then-just-released Can't Buy Me Love tune).

"The girls swing-in with a stompin' rock ballad that has that famous (Phil) Spector (Wall of) Sound-like brings full effect of strings, horns, etc. to bear."

In the spring of 1964, the Ronettes' Best Part of Breakin' Up hit song climbed to the No. 39 position on the Billboard charts, and No. 43 on the Cashbox magazine charts.

The Ronettes' Best Part of Breakin' Up followed on the musical heels of the singing trio's first hit record, Be My Baby, released in August 1963, and then Baby I Love You, released in December 1963.

The Best Part of Breakin' Up, written by Vincent Poncia Jr. Peter Andreoli and Phil Spector, was arranged by Jack Nitzsche, engineered by Larry Levine and produced by Spector.

The musicians on that Ronettes date included the late Hal Blaine playing drums on the record, Carol Kaye playing bass guitar, the late Tommy Tedesco playing guitar and the late Leon Russell on piano.

#The Ronettes #ronnie spector #estelle bennett #nedra talley ross #dalrene love #phil spector #wall of sound #cher #fanita james #jean king #Philles Records #The Best Part of Breakin' Up

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classicladiesofcolor · 6 years

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Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans — “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, 1962

The Blue Jeans consisted of Darlene Love and Fanita James singing background vocals.

#Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans #Darlene Love #Fanita James #Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah #1960s #Music

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bestfrozentreats2 · 4 years

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EVIE SANDS - TAKE ME FOR A LITTLE WHILE (SHINDIG SHOW)

EVIE SANDS - TAKE ME FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SHINDIG SHOW 7TH OCTOBER 1965. RECORD LABEL: BLUE CAT 118 YEAR 1965. WRITTEN BY TRADE MARTIN. PRODUCED BY AL GORGONI & CHIP TAYLOR. GIRL GROUP THE BLOSSOMS ON BACKING VOCALS, DARLENE LOVE, FANITA JAMES AND JEAN KING.

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50thirdand3rd · 6 years

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Record of the Day: Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans ‎– Zip-A-Dee Doo Dah (1963)

Before all that murder business, Phil Spector was a hit maker, and in the early 60s he put together Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans, a vocal supergroup of sorts, comprised of Darlene Love, who you know from that Christmas song, Fanita James of the Blossoms, and Bobby Sheen of the Robins. The group released one record in 1963, Zip-A-Dee Doo Dah, which is pretty readily available on vinyl as a 2012…

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#1960s #bob b soxx and the blue jeans #bobby sheen #darlene love #fanita james #girl group #Phil Spector #philles records #r&b #soul #vocal group #vocals #wall of sound

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ghostie111 · 3 years

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youtube

Fanita James Gloria Jones and Darlene Love

#Youtube

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gregarnott · 4 years

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Marvin Gaye rehearses with The Blossoms: Darlene Love, Jean King, and Fanita James, with Piano Player Leon Russell, 1964

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olafsings · 3 years

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Music History Today: November 3, 2020 November 3, 1962: The Crystals' "He's A Rebel" hits number 1 for the first of two weeks. This was written by the Connecticut singer/songwriter Gene Pitney. The Crystals did not sing on this. While at Liberty Records as the company's West Coast A&R head in 1962, producer Phil Spector heard Pitney's demo of the song. Knowing it would be a hit, he promptly resigned and his boss, Snuff Garrett, produced a version by Vikki Carr to be released as her first single. Spector assembled his musicians to do HIS version, but the Crystals were 3000 miles away in New York City; so he recruited The Blossoms - Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Gracia Nitzsche - to sing "He's a Rebel." Read more: https://www.olafsings.com/2020/11/music-history-today-november-3-2020.html

#1960s music #music history #music #Today In Music History

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djstumppinz · 5 years

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[22/12, 11:10] Ashewama The Warrior: 📳||--<[[[ *👁THE LAWS1*🥊]]]>--||📳 *Ashewama* -------[ *The Lord Yahweh Warrior* ]------- ◀||||--------<[[ *GOD ENG* ]]>--------||||▶ ◀||||-----<[[ *YAHWEH HEB*]]>-----||||▶ ◀|||------<[[[ *HOLY TORAH*]]]>-----|||▶ ◀|||-------<[[[ *HOLY BIBLE*]]]>------|||▶ *The Law Commandments* *Luke 16:17 * And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. *Romans 7:12* Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. , *1Timothy 1:8-10* *BREAKDOWN PLEASE READ THE* *BIBLE AND FOLLOW* But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully. *Acts 5:29:* Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. *John 1:17* For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Yahshua Christ Jesus The Messiah. *Romans 13:1* Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. *Psalms 19:7-9* *BREAKDOWN PLEASE* *READ THE BIBLE AND FOLLOW* The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. *Romans 7:7* What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. *1 John 3:4* Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. *Isaiah 33:22* For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us. *James 2:10* For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. ----📜--|👉🏽 *ASHEWAMA* 👈🏽 |--📜----- *ADMIN:* *Janisi. Morrisi. Charilisi. Ashewama. Loreyini. Elder Ben. Viveen. Fanita. Bredda Paul. Chester Walker. Andrew. Mighty Name. Thunthu Banth https://www.instagram.com/p/BrsgYIOFNAO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p8xa8iah38y7

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topbeautifulwomens · 5 years

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#Darlene #Love #Biography #Photos #Wallpapers #bollywood #dancing #fashionblog #flight #fun #hiphopdance #illustration #makeupaddict #nyxcosmetics #photo

Born Darlene Wright in Los Angeles in 1938, she began her career as contribute singer with vocal trio The Blossoms. As soon as a spell as regulars on ABC TV’s variety show “Shindig” in the early 60s, the trio went on to sing backup on a variety of Elvis Presley listingings, and even backed him on his 1968 NBC TV special “Elvis”. For a while they backed Tom Jones during some of his Las Vegas shows. The Blossoms contain the rare distinction of recording a number one hit without ever receiving any credit. Years before the advent of Milli Vanilli, Darlene Love, Fanita James and Gracie Nitzsche sang vocals on the Gene Pitney-penned song “He’s a Rebel” that was championed as The Crystals’ very first (and only) no. 1 US hit. Because of confounding logistics, record producer Phil Spector had to use The Blossoms because The Crystals were on the wrong coast of the US at the time. And given that he was up against the clock in L.A. trying to get his production on the airwaves before the Vikki Carr version, he had no option. Love too sang vocals on the Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans top twenty hit “Zip-a-Dee Doo Dah”.

Name Darlene Love Height Naionality American Day of Birth 26 July 1938 Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, USA Famous for

The post Darlene Love Biography Photos Wallpapers appeared first on Beautiful Women.

source http://topbeautifulwomen.com/darlene-love-biography-photos-wallpapers/

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moosterrecords · 6 years

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DOO-WOP DOCUMENTARY STREETLIGHT HARMONIES TO DEBUT AT DOC NYC NOVEMBER 14

BRIAN WILSON, LA LA BROOKS (THE CRYSTALS), CHARLIE THOMAS (THE DRIFTERS), BRIAN MCKNIGHT, ANTHONY GOURDINE (LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS), AL JARDINE (THE BEACH BOYS), LANCE BASS AND MORE ICONIC MUSICIANS FEATURED

Doo-Wop documentary Streetlight Harmonies will debut at the DOC NYC festival on Tuesday, November 14, with a second screening on Wednesday November 15th. Streetlight Harmonies shines a long overdue spotlight on the artists and celebrates the music that defined the musical generation of Doo-Wop. Utilizing all-new interviews along with HD restored archival footage the film will explore the history and social impact of this timeless era. Rolling Stone has an exclusive first look of the doc and fans can view the clip here. View the extended trailer now online.

Streetlight Harmonies DOC NYC Screening Info:

Tuesday November 14

7:30PM

Chelsea Cinépolis

260 W 23rd Street

New York, NY 10011

Wednesday November 15

10:30AM

IFC Center

323 6th Avenue

New York, NY 10014

About Streetlight Harmonies:

It’s the unmistakable falsetto leads, lilting harmonies and deep backing vocals set to a bluesy street corner rhythm that created those unmistakable sounds “Up On The Roof” (The Drifters), Tears On My Pillow (Little Anthony & The Imperials), Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (The Platters), and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (The Teenagers) all an endless jukebox of melodies and memories. No other genre of music can conjure up the innocence of a nation, or the pangs of love quite like the timeless sounds of Doo-Wop. An entertaining journey through bands, songs and harmonies that evoke both days gone by as well as current hits, Streetlight Harmonies uncovers a definitive period of music and the artists that defined it. Millions know the music but few know the artists and their history that laid the foundation for rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and built a bridge to the civil rights movement.

Iconic musicians featured in the documentary include Jimmy Merchant (The Teenagers), Anthony Gourdine (Little Anthony and the Imperials), Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Brian Wilson (Beach Boys and Brian Wilson Band), Charlie Thomas (Drifters), Sammy Strain (Imperials, O'Jays), Terry Johnson (The Flamingos), Diz Russell (Orioles),Fred Parris (5 Satins), Billy Brown (Ray Goodman and Brown, Moments), Ron Coleman (The Broadways), Lois Powell (The Chantels), Fanita James (The Blossoms), La La Brooks (The Crystals), Janis Ian (Manhattan Transfer), Vito Picone (The Elegants), Eddie Rich (Swallows), Leon Hughes (Coasters), Jeff Barry, Brooks Arthur, Wally Roker (Heartbeats), Freda Payne, Sherrie Payne (Supremes), Florence La Rue (Fifth Dimension), Claude McKnight (Take 6), Brian McKnight, Lance Bass (NSYNC), Barbara Jean English (The Clickettes), Ron Dante (The Archies), Jon Bauman, Lenny Welch, Lamont Dozier, and many more.

Streetlight Harmonies is produced by Tango Entertainment’s Tim Headington (Argo, Hugo, World War Z), Footnote Films’ Theresa Steele (Britney Spears Live from Las Vegas, Justin Timberlake: Down Home in Memphis), and directed by Hatcreek Films’ award-winning producer/director Brent Wilson. Submarine Entertainment (20 Feet From Stardom, Searching for Sugarman, Miss Sharon Jones!) will represent worldwide rights for the new documentary feature.

About DOC NYC:

DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, takes place over 8 days in November; the eighth edition will be held November 9-16, 2017 at New York’s IFC Center, Cinepolis Chelsea and the SVA Theatre. The 2017 festival showcases over 250 films and events with more than 350 filmmakers and special guests appearing in person. In addition to premiering feature-length and short documentaries, the festival’s highlights also include DOC NYC PRO—a series of in-depth panels and master classes—and the Visionaries Tribute awards ceremony that honors major figures in the field of nonfiction film. DOC NYC is produced by the IFC Center. www.docnyc.net

Streetlight Harmonies Online:

Official Website: http://ift.tt/2yO777E

#IFTTT #Blogger #Moosterrecords #punkrock #punk

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mbcali-blog · 7 years

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Musicians remember ‘Papa Bear,’ the driving force behind the Righteous Brothers – Orange County Register

http://mbcali.com/?p=79580 Musicians remember ‘Papa Bear,’ the driving force behind the Righteous Brothers – Orange County Register

Singer Bill Medley credits Mike Patterson with encouraging him and his singing partner Bobby Hatfield to keep trying to make it as the Righteous Brothers in the early ’60s. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson found local success in Southern California with the group the Rhythm Rockers, which played often at venues such as the Rendezvous Ballroom on the Balboa peninsula in Newport Beach. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson played music with the Righteous Brothers, later managed the band as it headed out on the road in the ’60s, and with his partner Jim West managed Bill Medley’s solo career as well as that of the girl group the Blossoms for a number of years. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson was a popular performer throughout his life, starting around 1960 or so with his group the Rhythm Rockers. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson performed for years in restaurants and bars around Orange County, where everyone knew him by his nickname Papa Bear. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson’s Rhythm Rockers were a popular act around Orange County in the early ’60s. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson and Bill Medley remained lifelong friends, from meeting as teenagers with musical dreams in the early ’60s right up until Patterson’s death on July 1, 2017. Courtesy of the Patterson family

The Blossoms included singer Darlene Love and after working with the Righteous Brothers on the TV show “Shindig” and on tour they later ended up being managed by Mike Patterson and his partner Jim West. Courtesy of the Patterson family

After Bill Medley left the Righteous Brothers to go solo he was managed for a time by his old friends Mike Patterson and Jim West. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson worked as an actor at times later in life. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson and Bill Medley were lifelong friends. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Later in life Mike Patterson occasionally worked as an actor. Courtesy of the Patterson family

Mike Patterson isn’t a familiar name to the casual music fan, but without his confidence and conviction, his piano and his passion, the Righteous Brothers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo formed in Orange County by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, might never have happened.

How do we know? Medley said so recently in remembering Patterson, his lifelong friend and colleague, who died on July 1 – his 75th birthday – in Denver, his home after leaving Orange County, and his long career as a popular rock ‘n’ roll pianist and singer everyone called Papa Bear, for a new life in the ministry.

“Bobby and I were working at John’s Black Derby in Santa Ana,” he said by phone from Philadelphia earlier this week. “We were the Paramours then, but we had recorded ‘Little Latin Lupe Lu’ while we were there, but it wasn’t selling much at all.”

The Black Derby, of course, is where Medley and Hatfield, two young white kids from Orange County, had scored a residency as the Paramours, singing the rhythm and blues music that traditionally came out of the black community. A Marine in the crowd one night shouted out, “That’s righteous, brothers!’ and – well, but now we’re getting ahead of Medley’s story.

“Our contract was up at John’s Black Derby and were literally walking out the back door, and we might have never worked together anymore,” Medley said. “And Mike Patterson met us at the back door and said, ‘I want you to come down to the Rendezvous Ballroom every weekend as the Righteous Brothers.’

“And we said, ‘Nah, we don’t want to do that,'” he said.

The Rendezvous on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach was where Patterson’s own band, the Rhythm Rockers, played regularly, and where surf guitar legend Dick Dale also found early fame, and to Medley and Hatfield it seemed an unlikely – and probably unwelcoming – place for their definitely-not-surf brand of music. But Patterson persisted, and finally they agreed to give it a try.

“We were singing ‘Little Latin Lupe Lu’ in our show and it was really good for this dance they do, the surfer stomp,” Medley said. “The kids started asking, ‘Where can we get this record?’

Patterson and Hatfield grabbed boxes of the single and took them to record stores around Orange County.

“I think Mike took them down to Gracie’s Music in Santa Ana and said, ‘Here, if you sell them, you sell them, and if you don’t you can use them as Frisbees,'” Medley said. “Fifteen hundred kids went out and bought them and that was the beginning of the Righteous Brothers.

“The truth is, and I mean this flat out, without Mike Patterson there would have never been the Righteous Brothers,” he said. “Mike Patterson is 100 percent responsible.”

Patterson, who had played the piano in public performances since he was a young boy, went to Santa Ana High School, a year or two behind Medley and Jim West, Patterson’s partner later in life as managers of Medley as a solo artist, as well singer Darlene Love and the Blossoms.

“I just knew Mike because he was a piano player,” Medley says. “I was just getting into music and I had written a song, I think it was called ‘Bandstand Rock,’ or something. We went into the studio and recorded it and I just became friends with Mike and stayed friends.”

For the next few years the Righteous Brothers played all the time in clubs around Southern California, scoring a few local hits. “Just two young dumb dudes from Orange County out there just having a ball,” Medley says of himself and Hatfield. In the fall of 1964, though, things took off for them. The ABC musical variety show “Shindig” brought them on as regulars. Around the same time star producer Phil Spector decided to work with them and the resulting single, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” became their first No. 1 hit, and eventually one of the most-played songs of all time.

“Now it was big business,” Medley said. “It was serious. And at that point we went to Mike and said, ‘Listen, man, we want you to come and be our musical director, road manager, everything for us,'” Medley said.

He thought about it a little — Medley thinks he had to track him down in San Francisco where his band was playing at the time – and then agreed to take the gig, or actually, gigs.

“Mike conducted the orchestra, he was the manager, he was the road manager,” Webb said. “When they were doing pretty big concerts he was directing the lights.”

Medley said he was invaluable in those roles.

“He was a great piano player, but more important than that was his energy level was remarkable. On stage and off. He literally had a million jobs and they were really important. If we were smart we’d have said, ‘No, Mike, this is way too much.’

Patterson also helped shepherd the early life and career of the Blossoms, the girl group made up of Darlene Love, Fanita James and Jean King, and best known for such songs as “He’s a Rebel” – though it was released under the name of the Crystals – as well their backing vocal contributions to such hits as the Righteous Brothers’ “Lovin’ Feelin’,” Betty Everett’s “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss),” and the Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron.”

“After the show was over they asked the Blossoms would we want to go out on the road with them,” Love said. “So we went out on the road with the Righteous Brothers, and to make a long story short, (Patterson) became the Righteous Brothers’ manager and the Blossoms’ manager.”

And just as he’d done for Medley and Hatfield as they were walking dejectedly out of John’s Black Derby a few years earlier, so too did Patterson become the Blossoms’ biggest advocate.

“He was always for us,” Love said. “He went to bat for the Blossoms. When we got a job working for Tom Jones, Michael was right in the middle of those contracts. And he didn’t take no crap no matter who it was, Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra, it didn’t matter.”

In the way he cared for the three young women in the group, out on the road and away from Los Angeles for practically the first time ever, Patterson got a nickname, too.

“We quit calling him Michael and started calling him Papa,” Love said. “The nickname Papa Bear came from the Blossoms.”

It’s name that stuck so much that his daughter Shannon Becker, who eventually moved with her family to Denver, too, used it often as she talked about growing up with Patterson as her father.

“Everybody loved him and he was just always the center of attention,” said Becker, who launched a Gofundme.com page to help defray expenses related to his death. “The life of the party was Papa Bear.”

Her brother Sloan Patterson said that one of the reasons their father eventually left the road and management of bands in favor of playing in classic rock ‘n’ roll in restaurants and bars such as Villa Nova and Music City Hall was because having split up with their mother Velda Brooks when the kids were young he wanted to be there for them as much as he could.

“I would help him set up, kind of like his little roadie,” Sloan Patterson said. “He stayed a family man but never left the piano. Took care of me, took care of my sister, but that was his job, playing the piano.”‘

Patterson had grown up in and around the church but renewed his commitment at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa at some point, Becker said. And as he’d done with music, he poured himself into his faith with equal commitment.

“Mike found the Lord, and as with everything he did, he did it with passion,” said Webb, his business partner and friend. “If he saw a movie and he liked it he’d become the best advertising for that movie. He’d go see it seven times.

“And when he found the Lord, it was the same thing,” he said. “He kind of devoted the rest of his life to that. And whatever he did he left a mark, because I guarantee he would do it with passion.”

While living in Orange County, Patterson had volunteered in a prison ministry. In Denver, he played music in church, worked with youth groups, and lent his talents where ever he felt he was needed, his children say.

He was hospitalized for treatment related to diabetes last month and while in the hospital had heart failure, recovered and seemed on his way to going home before his heart stopped again, leaving him on life support for six days before he died.

Though he couldn’t speak at the end, friends and family called and spoke to him, hoping he could hear their final farewells.

“All I know is the love that he had for me and the belief he had in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Medley said. “Obviously as a performer I owe him the world. As a friend I owe him the world.

“I just want people to know that Mike Patterson went a helluva lot deeper than being Papa Bear. He was a really great Mike Patterson.”

Memorial service

What: A memorial open to the public for Mike “Papa Bear” Patterson

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5

Where: The Tee Room at the Newport Beach Golf Course, 3100 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

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