Blast From The Past

Teddy Pendergrass

(CNN) — R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass died Wednesday evening, his former publicist said. He was 59.
Pendergrass, known for smash love ballads such as “Turn Off the Lights” and “Love TKO,” died after a long illness, according to Lisa Barbaris, who described herself as a close friend and his last publicist.
He died at a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was born.
His family did not reveal details about his illness, but said it was related to complications from a 1982 car accident, Barbaris said.
“His beloved family surrounded him. The world has lost one of its greatest voices and performers,” a statement from Barbaris said.
“His family is devastated. He has three children and, even though it was expected, it still hurts,” she said.
The crooner, who many affectionately knew as just “Teddy,” started in music with a group called the Cadillacs in the late 1960s and was still with the group when it merged with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, according to his official Web site.
He started as a drummer, but soon began to sing lead after the group heard his powerful voice.
In 1972, Pendergrass’s baritone could be heard on the classic Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”
The song became a No. 1 hit across the country and led Pendergrass to many other hits and accolades.
After going solo, Pendergrass received several Grammy nominations, Billboard’s 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award and an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, Barbaris said.
In 1982, Pendergrass was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed. But Pendergrass returned to the studio in 1984 in his wheelchair to record an album.
Before his death, Pendergrass was working on a musical documenting his life, called “I Am Who I Am.”

Isley Brothers

Old School Beef

Wilson Pickett and The Isley Brothers were enjoying a hunting trip in the Catskills Mountains when all hell broke loose. The Isleys abandoned Wilson Pickett in the motel parking lot. Pickett became so angry that he shot thru the motel door of which The Isleys were housed. Luckily no one was injured. Pickett was arrested and indicted on felony charges of recklessness endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon.
Source:Jet

Melba Moore...Pervis Staples...Janet Langhart

In May 1973, Jet magazine reported Pervis Staples and Melba Moore were a couple. Wow! I never knew that. Learn something new everyday!

Kim Weston

Kim Weston grew up singing and dancing in Detroit. After a friend heard her singing in her church choir, he insisted she go to Motown and audition. Motown liked what they heard and immediately signed her. She was paired with Marvin Gaye for several duets. While at Motown she met and married Mickey Stevenson, a songwriter/producer. Mr Stevenson encouraged Kim to go to New York to study acting. She learned stage presence and body movement. Bursting with enthusiasm, Kim returned with dreams of doing a musical. She approached Berry Gordy with the idea of doing a musical and he turned her down, saying that Motown was in the business of producing and selling records…not making musicals. Yet, a few years later, Berry Gordy did produce musicals for Diana Ross. Shortly thereafter, Kim left Motown, yearning to try something different. Miss Weston later signed with MGM and recorded This Is America album, of which theblack national anthem, Lift Every Voice was included.

Who Am I?

My parents were THE power couple of the 70’s and 80’s. Before Will and Jada, it was my parents. They were both actors, often appearing along side each other and apart. My dad co starred in a primetime show for 8 years. I have taken up where they left off. My mom, a former beauty queen, appeared in several tv shows and movies. I most recently played Jan in the movie NOTORIOUS. Who are my parents? Who Am I?

Ward Brothers and Max Julien

Frank Ward was the largest drug dealer and pimp in Oakland CA at the time the movie, The Mack was made. Carol Speed, who was dating Ward at the time also starred with Max Julien and Vonetta McGee. The movie was based on the life of Frank Ward who also paid protection fees for the cast and crew of the movie. On the first day of filming, The Black Panthers rained bottles down on the crew. Max Julien then had a meeting with Newton to ease the tensions.
Before the movie’s completion, Frank Ward was murdered. One of Frank’s ‘prostitutes’ found out there was a contract on his life. She rushed to warn him and found him sitting in his Rolls Royce. While telling him what she had found out, a gunman came by and shot up the car. Both Frank and the woman were shot in the head and killed instantly. Rumor had it that Panther, Huey Newton ordered the hit. After Frank was killed, the movie set packed up and finished filming in LA because they no longer had Frank’s protection. When Carol Speed heard the news, she lost it and had a nervous breakdown. It took her years to recover. The movie The Mack is dedicated to Frank Ward.
Carol Speed’s Myspace page
Carol Speed’s Twitter Page

The Real Life Pimps…The Ward Brothers in The Mack

Skipping Work Today

This is one of my favorite Temptations stories.  It is quite funny when author, Tony Turner tells it himself.  Here is a passage excerpted from Tony’s book…Deliver Us From Temptation:

“During an Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin performance, almost right smack in the middle, an older woman barged up to me and demanded, “I must speak to Eddie Kendricks at once,” to which I replied, “Miss, can’t you see Eddie is still on stage.”   The woman threw back her shoulders haughtily and said, “I must be taken backstage. Immediately.”  She was in the company of another female, somewhat quieter but just as old. They were both dolled up with tons of blatantly synthetic hair weaved on in the wrong way, and the uppity one had taken it upon herself not to be just an Eddie Kendricks groupie but Eddie Kendrick’s sister.  I stared at her and knew decisively that this crass and vulgar woman was probably no sister to anybody, and especially not to Eddie Kendricks.  “I won’t be kept waiting!” she screamed. “You will be sorry. Do you understand who I am?”   Smiling, I replied, “I’m trying.”  She made an attempt to force her way through security while lunging at me, all the while swearing that she was going to get backstage, no matter what .  “Fine, I told her. But let me tell you something. You’re going to wait here until we say you can go up, if and when.”   ”I’ll have your job for this!”   she screamed.  After many vulgar displays of screaming and pushing, the women finally did get into Eddie and David’s dressing room. How, I never found out. The uppity one approached Eddie and said, “Eddie, I don’t know who this motherfucking boy is  you have working for you but you need to fire him because I’m sick of his shit and I want you, Eddie Kendricks, to fire him.”  Eddie, very elegantly tall and trim, just turned to her and said, “Who are you talking about?”   “The one over there,” she said, pointing at me. I was talking to David at the time.   A few hours later, back at the hotel, I had an urgent call from Eddie. “Tony, he whispered, “would you please come up here and throw these women out of my room.”  Excusing myself from the crowd in David’s suite, I immediately changed into my throwing-her-ass out outfit.–a dramatic raw silk suit and high, fringed suede boots–and dashed into Eddie’s suite, where I found both women ensconced.  Miss Fake Fur and Hair had taken off her shoes, she had her stockingless feet up on the glass and chrome coffee table, and she was looking over the room service menu, fixing to order for everyone like she was paying the bills.  The other woman had already unbuttoned her blouse.  They were in there for the kill.  I informed Eddie that we were due in a staff meeting in Dennis’ suite in five minutes.   The women begged to stay but I politely stated that our meetings could go on for hours on end and I didn’t think they were the type of ladies, as lovely as they may be, to let harsh morning light find you in a gentleman’s suite.    I told them to please leave!   This time Thundermouth didn’t try me, nor did her partner. They just got up on their too small high heels and left in a hurry.

Niecy

STOP spreading rumors! Niecy is not the mother of hip-hop and R&B producer Phalon “Jazze Pha” Alexander. Alexander’s mother is a different woman (also a singer) named Denise Williams. His father is a bass player for the BarKays.

Rene and Angela

Angela Winbush and Rene Moore, at first glance, appeared to be a most compatible duet. For nine years they worked together and for nine years it was assumed they were the best of friends, many suspected they were also lovers. After nine years they could no longer hide the fact that they did not get along. They reportedly disagreed about everything. Angela claimed that she wrote most of the material and did all of the singing on the records. Rene claimed equal contributions. Angela claimed that Rene had gotten violent with her on more than one occasion…Rene claimed he never did. They have battled each other in court over money and rights to songs. They have even disagreed over their relationship…Angela claimed they dated in the beginning…Rene claimed they’d always been strictly business.

MDLT Willis

The Jackson Five produced a girl group in 1974. They were a family of four sisters from Ohio called MDLT (Maxine, Diane, Laverne, Tina) Willis. They had one release on Joe Jackson’s Ivory Tower International Records label called “What’s Your Game.” It’s rumored that they were blackballed from the industry because one of the girls tried to seduce Michael.

It was around this time that I remember Joeseph Jackson managed a band called MDLT Willis. It was a girl group and it seemed that Joseph and the Jackson brothers were hell bent on getting Michael to lose his virginity. So it was arranged for one of the girls to go into Michael’s hotel room and seduce him. But Michael had no interest in the girl or, it seems sex. The girl was so angry that she pushed him out on the balcony, according to Rose Fine, who tutored Michael at the time. She had to stop the concert tour because of this…Michael was frazzled and everyone else seemed puzzled.
*from Michael Jackson: The Man Behind The Mask by Bob Jones with Stacy Brown.*

Soul Train Performance