RarePhillySax

The Skyliners were formed in the late 50s from two other groups from Pittsburgh. Jimmy Beaumont , Wally Lester and Jackie Taylor had sung with the Crescents , while Janet Vogel and Joe VerScharen were formerly of the El Rios . The Skyliners were best known for their 1959 hit " Since I Don't Have You ". Over the years they have changed some members. Since 1958 they have released several singles and a few albums. In 1978 they released a self-titled album on Tortoise International Records, subsidiary of the RCA Records. At that time the members of the group were Jimmy Beaumont , Janet Vogel Rapp , Jimmie Ross and Bobby Sholes . They collaborated with the producer Don Davis from Detroit who had previously produced Marilynn McCoo & Billy Davis , Jr ., Johnny Taylor , the Dramatics , and the Dells . The album was recorded at United Sound Systems, Detroit, Michigan. I have chosen a great song entitled " The Love Bug (Done bit me again) ". All the songs o...

I have recently renewed my article about Charisma . You can see here. http://souldennis.blogspot.com/2010/12/charisma-let-love-in-your-life-1983.html

Ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure to announce that Borka Records and Harold re-released " In The Cool Of The Night / Shortage of love " in December 2011. This single was originally released in late 1982 on Je-Har Records and soon became pick hit of the week in Billboard Magazine in early ‘83. Two years ago I presented  Harold on my blog. I was fortunate to speak with him. Harold is a singer, musician, composer and co-owner of Je-Har Records from Milwaukee. Harold's career as a crossover balladeer has spanned over 30 years. A popularly featured artist in Milwaukee's leading entertainment venues, including the famous Cotton Club , from the late '70s to '90s. Harold in the summer 1982 recorded the songs " In The Cool Of The Night " and " Shortage of love " at Cornerstone Recording Studio, Milwaukee. The musicians were Johnnie Mills on guitar, Tommy Ford on bass, Wareen (Vito) Wiegartz on sax, Michael Ress...

Gary Wilson was born in 1951 and was raised in Denver Colorado. He grew up with 3 members of Earth, Wind and Fire: Phillip Bailey, Andrew Woolfolk, and Larry Dunn. He has been singer in the Mid-West for most of his life. He began singing as a child in church and school choirs. His first band was called the Citations and they performed at talent shows and school dances. In 1973 he joined the group called " Energy ". This group was formed by guitarist Tommy Bolin. In the mid 70’s Gary moved to L.A. under the guidance of music management of Alan Goda and Debbie Burnett to pursue his music career. He returned to Boulder in order to write and record with Gerard McMahon at Caribou Ranch. He joined the latin funk band called " Santiago " as lead singer. This band was formed by the drummer Nefty Santiago  who was the original member of the group Mandrill . In the continued Gary Wilson along with Billy Bass Nelson and Charles Watson formed the group Majique in Canada. T...

Friends Of Jesus (F.O.J) was an obscure group of Christian Contemporary Music from Ohio which probably has released three albums. The debut self-titled album was released in 1976 on Pinebrook Records. The second album entitled " For the children " was released in 1978 on F.O.J Records. The third album entitled " Refiner's Fire " was released on F.O.J. Records in 1979. The last album was recorded at Hedden West Studios, Schamberg, Illinois. At that time the members of the group were Phil Wallace on lead vocals and production, Don Rogers on lead vocals, Chuck Fry on lead vocals, Kelly Wallace on lead vocals, Rick Eberst on lead vocals, piano, percussion, Kurt Smith on guitar and percussion, Kevin Lindberg on bass, guitar, percussion and trombone, Mike Wallace on drums, Paul Thompson on trumpet and flugel horn, Spence Rowland on trumpet and flugel horn, Billy Schultz and Dan Hone on vocals.  Steve Shafer  also participated on drums, piano, percussion...

I decided to present a special mix samples show. First of all, I want to thank Nicolas Drosos who brought to my attention the album of  Ahmad Jamal  several years ago. I also want to thank " BoogiE " from France who brought to my attention the album of  Bobby Curtis . I wish all my visitors a Happy New Year. Enjoy !!!  1. Ahmad Jamal - Bad times (theme from defiance) 1980 ( Motown Lp ) 2. Joe Casey and Fresh Heir - Let me hold you  ( GMI 45" ) 3. Jesse Davis - Never could have made it 1979 (  Essence Lp ) 4. Ronnie LaShannon - Where has our love gone 1976 (Long Version) ( Brunswick 45" ) 5. Bobby Curtis - Bitter with the better 1986 ( B&P Ep ) 6. Sir James Randolph - Pure Love 1981 ( AllGem Lp ) 7. The Ray Camacho Band - New York ( California Artists Lp ) 8. Ron Holmes - You are the girl 1978 ( Unissued Test Press 45" ) 9. Ernie Fields - Can't we try ( Crush Music Co Lp ) 10. Vicki Lawrence - Never gonna let you go 1979 ( WindMill...

I have wanted to present this album since I started to operate my blog. As I remember it was about in 1996 when I found this album in Athens on Ipokratous Street. I noticed immediately that producers on the album were James Mtume and Reggie Lucas . I said : " Oh my god ! ". I had already another album entitled " Love affair " by Gary Bartz which was released in 1978 on Capitol Records. I was very curious to go to my home, so as to hear this album. I could not hear it in the shop. Two hours later I said : " This album is not only one of the best soul/jazz/funk albums but also the best album !!! ". I was really amazed. What can I say about Gary Bartz ? I need many days to describe everything about him. I have recently read an article describing Gary Bartz when someone saw him in a club in Baltimore. He said that " Gary Bartz play two solos on every song, one at the begining and one at the end ". Gary Bartz is an alto and soprano saxophonist...

Big George Collier is an unknown singer with a great voice. He was lead singer of the group called Columbians , from Columbia, South Carolina in the late 60s. The most known song from the group was entitled " Forever More " in 1968. The short-lived group (1966-1969) consisted of 10 members. After the Columbians , he worked as an actor and as a "hired voice". He has performed in films including “ The Ride ” and several others. He also appeared as Ludacris’ father in one of his music videos and participated in numerous local and national radio and TV commercials. He did appearances in various night clubs, hotels and festivals with his band. One of them was the club " Scarlett O'Hara " in which he appeared in the mid 70s. He sings at church, he has appeared with the Savannah Symphony and did guest appearances around GA, NC and SC. In 1984 he released a single entitled " Free at last " on Imagery Records. '' Free At Last '...

Last year many people learnt about the great singer Sir James Randolph. Almost all the people are looking for his album which was released in 1981. I had the pleasure to present this album on my blog . However some real collectors know and the singer Jimmy Randolph who became known from the late 50s to mid 70s. Recently I bought the record " You have to lose love " by Jimmy Randolph which was released on Honey Bee Records in 1978. I want to mention that I heard this song for the first time by  Paul Collins Radio Show some years ago. In fact when I learnt about Jimmy Randolph, I did not know anything about Sir James Randolph. When I bought the album " The Sophisticated Funk Of Sir James Randolph " in 2009 by Sir James Randolph, immediatelly I started to looking everywhere about Sir James Randolph and Jimmy Randolph, so as to get more info about them. I understood that he was the same artist but I needed confirmation. I managed to come in conta...

Montage was an obscure jazz group from Wisconsin which was formed about in 1975. The group started to play at the local jazz nightclubs. In 1977 they had a prestigious collaboration with The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra . They played in  Jimmy Sardino's jazz club in the late 1977. It was then that they decided to record an album. For this reason, they came in contact with David Dillon who was a local investor, so as to back them financially. David Dillon wanted to help the group release an album but he also wanted to promote the group through jazz festivals. To prepare for the forthcoming album and tour, Montage strengthened with the guitarist John Zaffiro . Zafiro was an excellent addition. He played more into straight ahead jazz than jazz-rock. He joins keyboard player Tom Sandquist , sax player Bob Rebholz , drummer Paul Reedman , percussionist John   Seydewitz, bassist Tom McGurr and vocalist  Marcia Cunningham.   The album is already...