Wille and Teddy: Remembering Willie Mitchell and Teddy Pendergrass

The Man Behind The Hits! The Willie Mitchell Story     

Willie Mitchell (March 23, 1928 – January 5, 2010)

Musician, band leader, producer, arranger and song writer Willie Mitchell (March 23, 1928 – January 5, 2010) ran Royal Recording in Memphis Tennessee. During the 1960's and 1970's he recorded and produced many classic R&B hits for HI Records with The Willie Mitchell Combo, The Bill Black Combo, Al Green, Syl Johnson, and many others.  On many of his records he used the Hi Rhythm Section including the Holmes Brothers and drummer Al Jackson from Booker T & the MG's. Some of the titles made popular by The Willie Mitchell Combo were 20-75, Mercy Mercy Mercy, Up Hard, Soul Serenade and Sunrise Serenade. He also produced Ann Peebles who probably was his second most popular artist that he was associated with. Her signature recording is I Can't Stand The Rain from 1974. He is responsible for producing the 1970’s classic hits for Al Green. Several of the Al Green hits went gold and were "I Can't Get Next to You" "Tired of Being Alone" "Let's Stay Together", "Look What You Done for Me", "La-La For You", "I'm Still in Love with You" , "You Ought to Be with Me”, "Call Me (Come Back Home)" ,"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" , "Livin' for You" , "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" , "L-O-V-E (Love)" and "Full of Fire".

Life Is A Song Worth Singing: Remembering Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010) grew up in Philadelphia. His career began as the drummer for the Doo-wop group The Cadillacs in the late 1960’s. In 1970 Teddy Pendergrass was hired as a drummer for a Philadelphia spin off Doo-Wop group called the Blue Notes. The group had previously morphed into two groups, who became Bernard Williams & the Original Blue Notes and also Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. The Cadillacs merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Soon drummer Teddy Pendergrass was promoted to lead singer, replacing John Atkins in the group. The result was classic hits with Teddy as lead singer plus Gamble & Huff writing and producing the material. The record company Philadelphia International used MFSB as the backing band. Some of the hits from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass included "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "I Miss You", "The Love I Lost" and "Don't Leave Me This Way", "Wake Up Everybody" and "Bad Luck".

Teddy Pendergrass left Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1977 staying with the Gamble & Huff Record Company Philadelphia International. His solo career included hits:  "I Don't Love You Anymore", "The Whole Town's Laughing at Me", “Close The Door”, "Only You", "Turn Off the Lights", "Come Go with Me", "Shout and Scream”, "It's You I Love", "Can't We Try" , “Love TKO”,  "Two Hearts" (duet with Stephanie Mills), "I Can't Live Without Your Love" and "You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration".

            He was one of the greatest male singers in Soul music history – Teddy Pendergrass!      

 Bail Out For Fun: The Story of Maxayn!

          The story of the band Maxayn originated in Boston and Miami. The core members of the group came from Nebraska and Oklahoma. The Buddy Miles Express contained some of the core members of Maxayn as well. The 1970 albums "A Message To The People" and "Them Changes" contained both Andre Lewis and Marlo Henderson. Hank Redd saxphonist who played on The Buddy Miles Express album "A Message To The People" and "The Buddy Miles Express Live" also was present on the first Maxayn album and Mandre I. The first Maxayn self titled album was recorded in 1971. The original members of Maxayn were Andre Lewis, Maxayn Lewis, Marlo Henderson, Emiry Thomas. Andre & Marlo were still with The Buddy Miles Express. Some of the highlights from this album were the Rolling Stones classics Gimme Shelter, and You Can't Always Get What You Want. Gimme Shelter was released as their first single in 1972. It was produced by Andre Lewis. The band was unique at the time. They were a solid funk band with a female lead singer and pre dated Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Their second album release was entitled Mindful in 1973. It contained the single Check Out Your Mind which was written by Curtis Mayfield and first done by The Impressions. The single from the album was produced by Andre Lewis. That same year the band appeared on Soul Train performing Check Out Your Mind. The album opened up with a funky track that features Andre Lewis keyboard riffs on Moan To The Music. The final album was released in 1974 entitled Bail Out For Fun! 

            Maxayn Lewis (Paulette Parker) is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and was the lead singer of Maxayn which was named after her. She joined the Ike & Tina Turner Review as an Ikette about 1967. Early in her career she sang with Bobby Blue Bland. In 1969 she recorded a 45 on Bobby Bland’s label Duke Records entitled (Gimmie Back) My Love / Should I Let Him Go. A second Duke release occurred in 1970 named Driving Wheel / I Pity The Fool. Maxayn and Andre first met through Ernie Fields, Jr. who was Bobby Blue Bland's Band Leader. Ernie Fields, Jr. was the son of bandleader Ernie Fields Sr. who had an international hit in 1959 which was an R&B version of Glen Miller's "In The Mood". Ernie Fields, Sr. and Andre Lewis's father had played together in a band many years prior to this. Maxayn (Paulette Parker) was in a recording contract with Don Robbie the owner of Duke – Peacock Records. Andre approached Robbie to release Maxayn from his contract, but he refused. Eventually, Don Robbie let her go and he put out a rumor that Andre was with Miles Davis. He was actually with Buddy Miles at the time. The couple moved to Boston and that is where song writer and producer Luther Dixon introduced them to Sam Moore of Sam and Dave. During this period Andre Lewis was still a member of The Buddy Miles Express and he let Luther Dixon know that he was trying to market a demo tape of his personal band. Luther Dixon sponsored the production of the project resulting in the first Maxayn album. Mario Medious then made the arrangements for Andre to meet with the Capricorn Records. With only $10 in his wallet and a $5 parking ticket in his pocket, he was able to get a recording contract awarded to him immediately that day. The new act Maxayn were now in contract with Capricorn Records.     

    After the third Maxayn LP, Andre would record under his new name Mandre which included some of the Maxayn core members like Marlo Henderson and Maxayn Lewis. Other important highlights in Andre’s career was time with Frank Zappa’s band and also with Johnnie Guitar Watson. He also was a band member with The Ike & Tina Turner Review. In 1972 a self titled album was recorded called "High Voltage" on the CBS label. This project included Maxayn Lewis on background vocals, Andre Lewis on the organ, Marlo Henderson on guitar, Fred Allen from The Buddy Miles Express on drums, The bassist was Bobby Watson and other guitarist and vocalist was Tony Maiden. The two of them would leave High Voltage and joining Rufus featuring Chaka Khan making history. Lalomie Washburn was the vocalist for the group.

             Andre Lewis and Marlo Henderson not only played together in Maxayn and Mandre but also with Labelle. They can both be heard on the song Moonshadow which is taken from a album of the same name. After Maxayn, Marlo Henderson would play and record with Syretta, The Emotions, Minnie Ripperton, DJ Rogers, Bloodstone, Tata Vega, Patrice Rushen, Michael Jackson (Off The Wall album), Earth Wind & Fire, The Gap Band, The Pointer Sisters, Norman Conners, Billy Preston and others. The veterans of The Buddy Miles Express regrouped as The Mighty Rhythm Tribe in 1993. They were Buddy Miles; André Lewis; Billy Rich; Marlo Henderson; and Harold Hunter.

            Maxayn Lewis was also present on the Labelle Moonshadow album playing the piano. Her vocal tracks can also be heard on recordings by Mary McCreary, High Voltage, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bonnie Raitt, Tata Vega, Billy Preston, Rufus, plus others. 

Maxayn: (L- R) Emry Thomas, Maxayn Lewis, Marlo Henderson, Andre Lewis

           Andre Lewis, Maxayn Lewis and Marlo Henderson have been guests of Howard Burchette on the Funk Show more than once.

Why Can't We Be Friends?: The Story of The LowRider Band 

      The story of the Lowrider Band begins with Howard Scott and Harold Brown who grew up together with B. B. Dickerson in California. They formed a band in their teenage days called The Creators. The band eventually would record a 45 on Dore Records in 1962 entitled Too Far To Turn Around / Hello There, Mister Grave Digger. They would again record another 45 in 1966 with Little Johnny Hamilton entitled Oh How I Love / You Go and Keep On Movin' / Mudpie. The Creators would eventually include B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, and Charles Miller. By 1968 they changed their name to the Night Shift and had recruited a new member Pappa De Allen. That same year they backed up Football player Deacon Jones, who also had a night club act. One night they were playing in a club when Eric Burton (of Eric Burton & The Animals) and Lee Oscar were in the audience. The Night Shift became Eric Burton's backup band in 1969, changing their name to WAR and added new member Lee Oscar.

      Eric Burton and War released two albums from 1969 to 1970 entitled "Eric Burton Declares War" and "The Black Man's Burton". The tune "Spill The Wine" became their first charted hit in 1970 reaching #3. In 1971 Eric Burton left to go solo and WAR also became a solo act. A third Eric Burton & War album was released in 1976 from unreleased tracks. The first solo album of WAR was released in 1971 entitled WAR. The favorites from the album was "Sun O Sun" and "Lonely Feeling", but were not chart favorites. The sophomore album was "All Day Music", which included the title track, "Slippin Into Darkness", "Get Down" and "Baby Brother".  War was now on a roll and had a strong presence as a solo act. From 1972 until about 1982 they were responsible for hits like" The World Is A Ghetto", "Gypsy Man", "The Cisco Kid", "Why Can't We Be Friends", "Low Rider", "Galaxy", "Outlaw" plus others.

The classic line-up of WAR included; Lonnie Jordan keyboards, bass, & vocals, Harold Brown drums & vocals, B.B. Dickerson bass & vocals, Charles Miller saxophone, flute, & vocals, Lee Oskar harmonica & vocals, Papa Dee Allen percussion & vocals, and Howard E. Scott guitar & vocals.  

      The four original members of WAR; Howard Scott, Harold Brown, B. B. Dickerson and Lee Oscar formed The Lowrider Band following a lawsuit restricting them from using the name WAR. The only original member of WAR, touring as WAR today is Lonnie Jordan. Both groups tour and perform the WAR discography. Lonnie Jordan released a CD in 2007 entitled "Lonnie Jordan War Stories". Some of the tracks were re-recordings of classic WAR hits, like "Don't Let No One Get You Down", "Baby Brother", " The World Is A Ghetto", "Get Down", "Deliver The Word"  plus a re-recording of an Eric Burton & WAR / Rolling Stones classic "Paint It Black". The Lowrider Band continues to record and has posted three of their recordings, including "Ordinary Man" on their official WEB page http://www.thelowriderband.com/

       Harold Brown and Howard Scott were guests of Howard Burchette on The Funk Show in 2009. Howard Scott told the stories of how Pappa Dee Allen died on stage performing his composition, "Gypsy Man" and also the story of how Howard came up with the "Slippin Into Darkness" idea. The World Is a Ghetto!

This month we will feature the mighty mighty Dells and the Newbirth. Recently, Chuck Barksdale of the Dells plus Leslie and Melvin Wilson of the Newbith were guests of Howard Burchette on the Funk show.  

The Dells have been singing together for more than 58 years. For the most part, the current line up is made up of the original members. The group is made up of five members who are Marvin Junior (lead baritone), John Carter (lead tenor), Charles Barksdale (bass), Michael McGill (baritone) and Verne Allison (second tenor). They began singing in High School in 1952 cutting their first single as the E-Rays. Their first hit came when they moved to Vee Jay Records entitled "Oh What a Night". During this early period, they worked for Dinah Washington and then Ray Charles. At this time the group became respected Jazz singers. According to interviews on their DVD "The Dells: Oh What a Night", the group had said that Dinah Washington was a hard person to work for. She fired and rehired them more than once.

Their first album on Chess was in 1968 entitled "There Is". The title track is an up tempo soul classic. This also included their first million seller of "Stay in My Corner". In 1969 they released the "Love Is Blue" album which included a re-recording of "Oh What a Night". That same year the "Musical Menu / Always Together" album included the title track "Always Together" which was a hit. The year 1971 gave them a hit "The Love We had (Stays On My Mind)" and is included on the "Freedom Means" album. In 1973 "My Pretending Days Are Over" became a popular hit for the Dells and it was included on an album that year simply called "The Dells". The same year "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation" was a hit and gave the Dells a lot of success. An album of the same name followed. The Dells made some recordings with the Dramatics resulting with a popular hit "Love Is Missing From Our Lives". The Dramatics a one time Stax group were without a record label at that time and latter went to MCA. The Dells continued to record and tour throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s, and into the 21st century.

Chuck Barksdale was a special guest of Howard Burchette in an interview on the history of The Dells on the Funkshow.

     The story of The Newbirth began prior to 1970 when Vernon Bullock and Harvey Fuqua configured a package of groups that recorded separately, but would perform together as a review then called The Newbirth. Fuqua was the founder of The Moonglows and a former song writer and producer at Motown. One group under The Newbirth umbrella were The Nite-liters who were the back up band. They would record classics like "K-Gee" and "Afro Strut". The debut self titled "Newbirth" album was released in 1970, included The Nite-liters, a male quartet called The Now Sound, a female quartet called The Mint Juleps and a lead solo singer named Alan Frey. In 1971 under the name The Newbirth, the configuration released the album "Aint No Big Thing But It's Growing". It produced a hit called "It's Impossible". The lead singer on the hit was Londee Wiggins-Loren. By 1972 "Love Peace & Happiness" were formed with Ann Bogan a former Marvelette and Motown recording artist plus brothers Melvin and Leslie Wilson. They recorded two albums under Harvey Fuqua, resulting in a charted hit "I Don't Want To Do Wrong". Love Peace & Happiness soon were incorporated into The Newbirth review and they can be heard on the third Newbirth album "Coming together". In 1972 Ann Bogan left The Newbirth and was replaced by Alan Frey who had been the lead vocalist for The Nite-liters. The group's new line up and the new Newbirth were Melvin and Leslie Wilson, Alan Frey, Londee Wiggins-Loren plus The Nite-liters. The fourth album was "Birthday" which produced the hit "I Can Understand It" featuring Leslie Wilson on lead vocals. The next album was "It’s Been A Long Time" again featuring Leslie on lead vocals and another big hit "Wildflower". The next album was "Coming From All Ends" that included the funk hit "Washed My Hands of the Whole Deal". The 1975 album was released on Buddah Records called "Blind Baby". It contained a #1 hit "Dream Merchant", again with Leslie on lead vocals. The Newbirth organization continued to record until the early 1980’s. In 2004 Melvin and Leslie Wilson released a new CD under the name "Newbirth featuring Leslie and Melvin Wilson" called "Lifetime".

Both Leslie and Melvin Wilson have been guests on The Funk Show twice. Once during a live fund raising show and one during a exclusive interview. The Newbirth are real icons of the Funk.