Two of Berry’s sisters, Anna and Gwen, were working
at one of Paradise Valley’s biggest clubs, the Flame Show Bar on John R. This
provided an ideal introduction to the club’s manager Al Green, who was also a
local businessman and somewhat of a heavy weight in the Detroit music scene.
Green managed stars like Lavern Baker and Johnnie Ray and his connections in New
York City and Chicago could prove invaluable if Gordy played his cards right.
Another opportunity lay in the local Pearl Music
Publishing Company which was operated by Gene and Harry Goodman in Midtown
Detroit. While on the premises one day in early 1957, Berry met another
song writer called Roquel Davis who already had some small business dealings
with Chess Records in Chicago. They seemed to click right away and began working
together. Pearl showed some interest in their music and invested in a number of
songs, a dozen or so which eventually made their way onto the streets.
The earliest Gordy/Davis recording that I can find
is called “The Magic Song”. It eventually appeared on a Decca album by country
singer Bobby Helms, who that same year became famous with “Jingle Bell Rock”.
The entrance to Pythian
Temple, New York City, April 2003
During that same time zone, July 1957, Green and
his partner-cum assistant Nat Tarnopol took Jackie Wilson into Pythian Temple
Studios in Manhattan to record another catchy number called “Reet Petite” for
Decca’s new subsidiary Brunswick. The song was put together by Dick Jacobs who
was one of the city’s top arrangers; backing vocals were by The Festivals
with production overseen by Nat Tarnopol. Mysteriously the song flopped in the
R&B Charts but did reasonably well in the Pop field peaking at #60.
Al Green had been trying to place Jackie with
Atlantic since his departure from The Dominoes but it didn’t work out. Tarnopol
had connections at Decca however and managed to convince them to give Jackie a
contract on the back of “Reet Petite”. The day before Jackie’s signature was due
to go on paper however Green died suddenly leaving Tarnopol holding the
contract.
Nat Tarnopol
The quality of “Reet Petite” may well have led
George Goldner, of End/Gone Records, to Detroit’s United Sound Studios in the
fall of ’57. The End label was still in it’s infancy but Goldner had proved
himself previously having reasonable success in the black music field with the
Ram and Gee labels, the latter of which released Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love”.
He certainly turned up there one day expressing an
interest in the duo’s work with Jackie and in time, Realgone Music Publishers
would buy a number of Gordy/Davis songs.
One of those songs was “Got A Job” which was
released by The Miracles on the top side of End1016.The flip was "Mama Done Told
Me".
Gordy had met The Miracles lead singer Smokey
Robinson at an audition held by Tarnopol and Alonzo Tucker. Gordy was sitting in
a corner and was surprised when Tucker declared that he wasn’t interested in
the group. But Berry caught up with them outside where he got a glimpse of
Robinson’s book of lyrics and poems.
“Got A Job” caught his eye and after a little
persuasion Goldner decided to record it in United Sound Studios. Recorded on 30th
November 1957, with the Joe Hunter Band providing the backing track, it was to be
the first of many Berry Gordy productions. Sadly, nothing came of the song.
When
one door seemed to close, another one opened when Atlantic decided to
record one of their songs on Lavern Baker. Baker had a string
of R&B successes from January 1955 through to May 1959, so this must have been a
major boost to see "It's So Fine" recorded by her on a top side. Released on
Atlantic2001a, it achieved a creditable #24 in the R&B charts.
As the names of Gordy and Davis spread around town,
a steady flow of artists came their way looking for a break. One of the most
promising groups to audition for them were The Five Stars, who would get a release on
the End subsidiary label Mark-X, in December 1957. The Five Stars comprised
Walter Gaines, Crathman Spencer, Hank Dixon and two others and the songs were
“Dead Wrong”/”Oooh Shucks.
Mercury Records also dabbled in some Gordy/Davis
songs during 1957-8. Two 45’s emerged by Detroit group The Gaylords; Bobby Darin
recorded an album track called “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” (later recorded
by David Ruffin on Checkmate); and Berry Gordy protégé Eddie Holland recorded
“Little Miss Ruby”/”You, You, You” at Mercury Sound Studios. The latter was
produced by Berry and leased to Mercury whose interest seemed to cool after
that.
Ronnie
White of The Miracles with Eddie Holland
Other compositions recorded during that first year
were by The Solitaires on Aladdin and by a youthful Al Kent on Checker.
Music : "Mama Done Told Me" - The
Miracles (End 1016b)
Continued
