In the Sixties when White American and British Invasion artists performed soulful R&B music like the sounds of Stax, Motown and Philly Soul, they were described as Blue-Eyed Soul or White Soul Artists. It may not be the politically correct term in the new millenium but it is what it is -- the Theme for OSML March posts. Hope you enjoy this marvelous music.
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#12 Billboard Top 100, #16 R&B Singles Chart
In 1961 a group of Detroit high school students formed a singing group called the Domingos who naturally patterned their sound after Motown. When another local group suggested they audition for RicTic Records (home of the Flaming Ember(s) and the Reflections and eventually purchased by Motown) they hung around the studio and stated singing with Edwin Starr who had a partially written song and the result was “Oh How Happy” recorded for The Golden World Label.
An independent producer liked what he heard and gave the soulful singers a new name and took them to Impact Records where “OHH” was recorded and became a hit in 1966! The group soon broke up in 1970.
More historical detail on the blue-eyed soul group can be found here at this well done web site.
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#92 Billboard Hot 100
“Just We Two” , a 1969 Motown LP of duets by Edwin Starr and Blinky (Sandra Williams) contains their cover version of the classic.
Composed by Charles Hatcher, this feel-good classic is another tune I have always loved both when the original came out in 1966, when Edwin & Blinky’s cover came out, and then later when the J5 cover came out, with my then love Jermaine singing lead. 
Of course MJJ’s background harmonizing and Tito’s bass is awesome too. Just listen and I bet you will agree. Here it is as it appears on the J5’s 1971 “Third Album.”
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Please vote and share your favorite version of this song. I know I went off the Theme a bit by sharing covers of the original by the Blue Eyed Soul Artist being recognized — but I just love the song in all incarnations and wanted to share my joy. Hope you don’t mind.
Trivia: Even thought the group helped to create this classic, often covered hit song, they never got the writing credit they deserved. The record was credited solely to Charles Hatcher — the birth name of Edwin Starr!
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: Blue Eyed Soul, Charles Hatcher aka Edwin Starr, Co-ed Vocal Groups, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Edwin & Blinky, Guy Groups, Impact, Motown, Oh How Happy, One Hit Wonder, Pop/R&B, Seventies, Shades of Blue, Sixties, The Jackson Five
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#1 Adult Contemporary, #2 Billboard Top 100, #45 R&B Singles
This song was very, very popular when I was in high school -- loved it then and now! Whenever I hear it it takes me back to those carefree days!
This song is from second LP released by the Al Kooper formed rock band ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’ that earned the group the 1969 Grammy for Album of the year. Entitled “Blood, Sweat and Tears” the group had added four new members since their debut LP and this no doubt pushed them to the next level since one of those four new members was the extraordinary soulful voice of new member and lead singer Canadian David Clayton Thomas!
Born David Henry Thomsett in the UK, Clayton-Thomas wrote the song “Spinning Wheel” which was one of three hit singles from this award winning, now classic IMHO, LP. The song also won the 1969 Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement for Fred Lipsius.
The LP charted #1 Billboard top 100 albums and #15 Billboard R&B albums.
According to WIKI:
In 2002, the album was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Clayton-Thomas left the band twice, but he was still touring with a reconstituted Blood, Sweat & Tears through 2004.
Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. In January, 2006, the song “Spinning Wheel” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Clayton- Thomas is still performing and touring today. His schedule can be found on his My Space Profile and his Official Website which also contains historical/biographical information for your review.
Trivia: The third single to chart from this LP was the cover of the 1967 hit for Motown’s Brenda Holloway — “You Made Me So Very Happy.” Composed by Berry Gordy, Jr., Patrice Holloway, Brenda Holloway and Frank Wilson, the David Clayton-Thomas led version is simply awesome. I loved it the first time I heard it.
I recall in an interview many years ago reading that Holloway was credited with saying that Clayton’s soulful version is how it was meant to be -- not the watered down version Gordy had her release : she loved it!
BTW — has anyone seen In Concert: A Musical Biography
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: Bands, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blue Eyed Soul, Columbia, David Clayton-Thomas, Grammy Gold, Pop/R&B, Sixties, Spinning Wheel
Just updated my Recommended Reading Page.
If you haven’t checked it out in a while please visit to see the new additions I have recently read.
If you are new to OSML, do stop by to see the list of great books related to Boomer music and the artists that made it, that I highly recommend you give a reading.
If you have some books you would like to suggest please, please let me hear from you.
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Filed under: Administration
Just read this news at the “Treasure Island Oldies Blogspot”. First Ron Banks now the lead singer of another favorite groups of mine – Redbone! Now I fear for the proverbial third round of bad news. ;-(
Lolly Vegas, 70, the lead singer and guitarist for Redbone, a Native American rock band that had a million-selling hit in 1974 with the bouncy”Come and Get Your Love,”died in his sleep Thursday at his home in Reseda.
He had lung cancer and had been in poor health since suffering a stroke 15 years ago, said the band’s manager, Michael Stone.
This article continues at the “All About Jazz” website.
Check out the group’s classic hit “Come and Get Y0ur Love” on YouTube while it lasts.
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Filed under: Transitions
Ronald Dean Banks 1951-2010
By BRIAN McCOLLUM
Free Press Pop Music Writer
Ron Banks, whose silky falsetto helped give the Dramatics one of the most enduring careers in R&B, has died at home in Detroit. He was 58.
Banks died at about noon today, possibly of a massive heart attack, said Billy Wilson, president of the Motown Alumni Association.
The Obituary continues here at FREEP.COM
—
This afternoon while at work I checked my email only to find this distressing news in the form of an email with the subject line “R.I.P. -- Ron Banks of the Dramatics” from the Publisher of the “Soul Tracks” website. I read the post and could barely get it back together to continue working.
As with the loss of MJJ, the loss of Ron Banks is another blow that shook me to the core as if he were a family member.
Although I never met him personally, we were two years apart in age and grew up musically together. Mr. Banks was a great admirer of the late great Eddie Kendricks as was I. But Ron had a sound all his own.
Just listen to this to hear for yourself. I blogged about this song here on OSML before: but since it is my favorite Dramatics song of all here it is again!
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I can always pick the sweet tenor stylings of Eddie, Ron Banks and Ronald Isley out of a sea of voices. It doesn’t matter if they are singing lead or are in the background I can always pick them out. These three gentleman are at the top of the heap in terms of tenor vocals in the entire history of modern pop music IMHO.
My condolences go out the the Banks family, friends and all the the fans that loved him as I did for bringing so much joy and pleasure into my life.
Ron’s tenor is superb in this song — isn’t it?
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: Now You Got Me Loving You, The Dramatics, Transitions
Photo Source: www.okaysions.com
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This has got to be one of my all time favorite songs from the Sixites period. It was also one of my Dad’s favorites. I have no clue what it is about it that just clicked for us both, but it did then and still does for me.
As much as I loved the tune I never knew it was a Blue Eyed Soul cut until just a few years ago thanks to the Internet. 
Check out the official site of the Original O’Kaysions for a short biography.
Written by Ronald Killette and band member Wayne Pittman, this single by the North Carolina group, charted #6 R&B and #5 Pop in 1968 for ABC Records.
Trivia: The group, known as The Kays in 1967, has previously recorded this song for a local label in North Carolina before joining ABC Records and changing their name to The O’Kaysions.
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: ABC Records, Bands, Blue Eyed Soul, Girl Watcher, Pop/R&B, Ronald Killette & Wayne Pittman, Sixties, The O'Kaysions
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24 Pop 15 R&B
This blast from my high school past was (and still is) the perfect song to do the “Temptation Walk” to. Can you dig it?
Composed by Daphne Dumas, Ronald Dunbar and Edith Wayne, the tune “Westbound #9″ was recorded on the band’s Hot Wax label which was owned by Holland, Dozier and Holland formerly of Motown.
The band had first recorded for the Ric Tic label (distributed by Buddah) as the Flaming Embers, before dropping the “s” and joining Hot Wax.
The band members included Jerry Plunk on drums and lead vocals; Joe Sladich on guitar; Bill Ellis on keyboards; Jim Bugnel on bass guitar (replaced Mike Jackson in 1966); and Larry Gregg on drums.
The group, hailing from Detroit, later changed its name to ” Mind, Body and Soul” and continued to play in and around Detroit during the Seventies.
Trivia: When Ric Tic was purchased by Berry Gordy, he did not want the Embers as part of the package — so it just goes to show you that Mr. Gordy did not always make the correct decision now did he?
Here is the group performing their biggest hit for as long as it lasts on YouTube. Enjoy!
Musically Yours,
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Filed under: Bands, Blue Eyed Soul, Daphne Dumas/Ronald Dunbar/Edith Wayne, Flaming Ember, Hot Wax, Pop/R&B, R&B/Soul, Seventies, Westbound #9
