music : "Show Time" - The Detroit Emeralds (Ric Tic 135a)

The Detroit Emeralds consisted of Abe Tilmon, Ivy (Ivory) Tilmon and James Mitchell, and came to prominence via "Show Time" which was released in March 1968 and achieved Pop #89, R&B #22.

The song was recorded at United Sound Systems, and was written and produced by Hamilton/Weems/Garrett, and arranged by Sonny Sanders.

The follow-up, "Shades Down", was released in April and was written by Hamilton/Toney.

The Emeralds final Ric-Tic release came in July with "Take Me The Way I Am" and they moved to Westbound in 1969.

Apparently they went on to own a bar in Detroit called the Emerald Lounge which showcased themselves and other artists such as Cody Black.

Willie  Garrett’s name crops up on a lot of Detroit discs.

Prior to Ric-Tic, he was particularly busy working with Mike Hanks.

Davie Gordon comments "I was surprised to see Willie's name credited on a Ruth Brown song back in the fifties. Another of his early songs was LaVern Baker's "Bop Ting A Ling" which he co-wrote with Clarence Paul.

I think he is also the K Barker or Kay Barker who co-wrote "It's Amazing" for Ben E King and "Jody's Got Your Girl" for Johnnie Taylor.

He also co-wrote and co-produced for Buddy Lamp on the Duke label using the alias J Corley.

Willie also worked with the Magictones, Emanuel Lasky, Carla Thomas, Don Hart, The Dells, Lee Rogers, Geraldine Hunt, the Paragons, JJ Barnes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Fabulous Peps and the Lamp Sisters."

As an artist he can be traced to one 45, "Meet Me Halfway", on Ric-Tic125. For this he would use another pseudonym, Willie G.

Willie went on to work with Don Davis in the seventies and sadly died a few years ago.

Two months after the Emeralds final release, the curtain came down on Ric-Tic when Berry bought out the remaining assets.

The Flaming Embers "Just Like Children" was the last throw of the dice in September 1968. Ric-Tic145.

Five years later the Golden World label would make a dramatic re-appearance with a 45 by the Modern Times but like most revivals the magic was gone.

Continued