THE FALCONS!
Billy Vera just popped "You're So Fine" up on his Facebook page today, which, of course, sent me down the rabbit hole. I know about The Falcons and was already a big fan of "I Found a Love." But I didn't have "You're So Fine" in the library yet. I do now! And I'm reminded to send it out to you along with "I Found a Love" and just a brief note about the lightning that these young men captured in a bottle.
"You're So Fine" listen HERE.
THE FALCONS were founded in DETROIT in 1955 by EDDIE ("Knock on Wood") FLOYD. Yes, that Eddie Floyd, along with:
Eddie Floyd (lead tenor, 1955-63), Bob Manardo (lead tenor, 1955-56), Tom Shetler (baritone vocals, 1955-56), Arnett Robinson (second tenor, 1955-56), Willie Schofield (bass vocals, 1955-63), Joe Stubbs (lead tenor, 1956-60, 1963), Lance Finnie (guitar, 1956-63), Mack Rice (baritone vocals, 1956-63), Wilson Pickett (lead tenor, 1960-63), Ben Knight (bass vocals, 1962), Gene "Earl" Martin (lead tenor, 1962).
SIR MACK RICE joined in 1956 and later went on to write a popular ditty called "Mustang Sally."
JOE STUBBS sings lead on "You're So Fine," which is considered by people who consider such things as being the first ever pure "SOUL" record in 1959. Joe's brother, LEVI STUBBS had a popular combo called THE FOUR TOPS. The musical direction for this particular side is credited to: SAX KARI, a fascinating character who was one of the actual founders of the African-American concert marketplace known affectionately as "The Chitlin' Circuit." Here's a blurb about him from Preston Lauterbach's excellent book (which I highly recommend) on that very subject: CLICK HERE.
In 1960 The Falcons picked up a wicked new lead singer named WILSON PICKETT who screams lead on "I Found a Love." Yes, that Wilson Pickett. Additionally, the backing band on this side are THE OHIO UNTOUCHABLES featuring Robert Ward (vocals/guitar), Marshall "Rock" Jones (bass), Clarence "Satch" Satchell (saxophone/guitar), Cornelius Johnson (drums), and Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks (trumpet/trombone). After the Untouchables broke up in 1963, Satchell, Middlebrooks, and Jones went on to form a fun combo called the OHIO PLAYERS. Yes, that Ohio Players.
"I Found a Love" listen HERE.
So these gentlemen basically invented "soul" in DETROIT, but not for Motown! Ironically, or perhaps precipitously, three of them (Pickett, Floyd, Rice) went on to huge prominence in MEMPHIS as part of the Stax family.
Enjoy!
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