RarePhillySax

Michael Pedicin Jr . is a second-generation saxophonist. He was born on July 29, 1947, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and raised in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. His dad was an alto saxophonist, singer, a popular entertainer and bandleader in the Philadelphia area for more than six decades. Pedicin Jr. started at an early age and joined a band at 15. He played all the saxes, alto, tenor, soprano and baritone. This made him a sought-after session musician at Sigma Sound Studios. In the late 70s Pedicin Jr played alto saxophone for the soul producers Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Thom Bell and Vincent Montana Jr.. At that time he played saxophone for great popular artists such as O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls and Spinners. In 1979, Gamble and Huff's International Philadelphia label released his first album entitled " Michael Pedicin Jr ". It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia. All the songs were produced by him self except the song " That...

Lulu Kennedy-Cairns was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie on 3 November 1948 in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Lulu grew up in Dennistoun, Glasgow. She attended Thomson Street Primary School and Onslow Drive Junior School. She started her career at an early age. She became known especially in the late 60s when she appeared in both films and several television series. She also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest.  In 1974 she performed the title song for the James Bond film " The Man with the Golden Gun ".  In 1981 she released an album on Alfa Records from Los Angeles. The musicians that participated were Lynton Naiff , Mike Moran on keyboards, Alan Jones and Alan Tarney on bass, Ronnie Caryl and Ray Russel on guitars, Graham Jarvis , Trevor Spencer and Peter Van Hooke on drums, Ray Cooper on percusion. Backing vocals by Carol Kenyon , Tony Rivers and Ronnie Carrol . String and horn arrangements by Lynton Naiff and...

Sal Forell was a great singer and entertainer. His voice reminds the voice of Tony Bennett . In the mid 70s Sal Forell released a private album entitled " So Lucky ". The album has been released with two different front covers. I think that between these releases, there is a difference. All the tracks are the same except one, the popular song " Teach me tonight ". This song was written by Sammy Cahn and Gene De Paul and was published in 1953. The album is a private Lp without mentioning anything on the back cover. It was released on Lisal Records. It was produced by Sal Forell. It was arranged by Bill Ramal . It is worthy to note that Sal Forell later re-recorded the song " Teach me tonight ". It is a little bit different than the song which was included on the album. In 1976 he released a single entitled " Teach me tonight / Anytime " on AIM (American International Music). Both of these songs were produced and arranged...

A year ago, my friend " Boogie " brought to my attention the song " Need you so much baby ". Gilles Pellegrini is a jazz trumpeter player from France. He did not become known especially in the soul and funk music scene. However he has been recording for over four decades. Gilles Pellegrini followed the current of music in the late 70s. So, he released a single entitled " Need you so much baby / We're gonna grove you " on Obio Disques. I have chosen the great song " Need you so much baby " which was written by Gilles Pellegrini and Fitzgerald Beckles. On vocals an unknown singer called Gerry Fitzgerald King . It was arranged by Gilles Pellegrini. It was produced by Gilles Pellegrini and Jean Bienvenu. Note: The above posted single is not played in full

Natalie Williams on vocals A week ago I had the opportunity along with some good friends to see live the famous group Incognito . It was a great night. I can say that it was a very professional night. The band with twelve members under the direction of Jean Paul Maunique gave a great jazzy dance feeling in all of us. I have chosen one of the best moments of this night. Vanessa Haynes performed the famous song " Don't you worry 'bout a thing ".

I'm thinking that many people know the group called The Dells . They have been singing for over five decades. They have also sold millions records. What else can I say ? I always wanted to present the album " The mighty mighty Dells ". As I remember many years ago, my friend Nicolas Drosos brought me the song " Bring back the love of yesterday ". So I bought this album. It was released on Cadet Records in 1974. It was recorded at United Sound Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. In my opinion " Bring back the love of yesterday " is one of the top songs that have been ever recorded by The Dells. This great song was written by Willie Schofield . Schofield is an original member of R&B vocal group The Falcons that was formed in the mid-1950s. It was produced by Don Davis . It was arranged by Paul Riser. It is worthy to note that  " Bring back the love of yesterday " was released as a single " Learning to love ...

--> As I told you a week ago, today I will present you a surprise about The Longo Brothers . This time The Longo Brothers will be as producers and composers. This article is a great discovery by me. I have been looking for it for about two months. I had the opportunity to hear the song " Don't change ", but I knew only the composers. This great song was written by Frank and Larry Longo . However I did not know the female singer. So I started to look for info about the singer. Finally I  found it a month ago. It was the singer from Canada called Patti Jannetta . She is a singer, actor, songwriter and humanitarian. She has recorded three albums in her career. Patti was discovered while attending school in Toronto, becoming a teen actor in the Canadian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1981 she released her debut album on Janta Records, under the direction of the Longo Brothers . She was also helped by Paul Zaza . This album was recorded at Paul Z...

I had the opportunity two times ago to present the group from Canada called  The Longo Brothers . The first time I presented the single " Looking for love / Sun side up " which was released in 1978 on People City Music and the second time the single " Manhattan / Nightwalk " which was released in 1983 on the same label. Last month, I discovered an article about The Longo Brothers which will be a surprise for all the fans of soul music. I have been looking for it for about two months, until I managed to find it. However, all my visitors must wait a week, because today I'm presenting another single by Longo Brothers entitled " The Nightlife / Coast to coast ". It was released on People City Music in 1984. " The Nightlife " is a beautiful AOR mid-tempo. This song was performed by Wayne St.John from Canada. Wayne St.John was known from the 70s, mainly when he sang for the disco group called THP Orchestra in 1976. " The Nightlife ...

Brothers by Choice was a soul/funk group who started in the early 70s. I want to note that some bloggers wrote that Brothers by Choice started under the name The Gliders . I'm not sure for that because The Gliders released a single entitled " No time / Lonely cities & one way streets " in 1974 on Alva Records, while Brothers by Choice released a deput single " You think that I'm a fool / Can't you see " on Calgar Records in 1973. Billboard also mentions at that time about The Gliders that they were four members, but it doesn't mention anything about Brothers by Choice. The only connection between the groups was the producer Eddie J.Gurren . E.J.Gurren was producer on the single " No time ". E.J.Gurren was also producer and songwriter on Brothers by Choice. It is very difficult for someone to find info about the members of the group. Probably there are two groups with the same name. However the members of the group which relea...

The day before yesterday, I had the opportunity to see Roy Ayers live, for the first time in my life. I think this event was the best moment in my life. Although Roy Ayers is 72 years old, he was fantastic and unbelievably very good. He made along with his band the whole club dance in every moment. It was a great night. The band was  Roy Ayers on vibraphone and vocals, Mark Adams on keyboards, John Pressley on vocals and percussion, Donald Nicks on bass and Troy Miller on drums. I believe the thing that was missing from this night was a saxophone player. However, I was impressed by the voice of John Pressley. He is a fantastic singer. His voice reminds me the voice of Philip Bailey. The following is a video that I shot at that night.