SIXTIES

Within a couple of years, the label and it's subsidiaries were beginning to attract attention on the other side of the Atlantic, in the working class towns of Northern England.

Some clubs were clinging to the sound of sixties Soul Music and a search for unknown 45's was developing which would have done Sherlock Holmes proud.

The Ric-Tic label in particular seemed to cast a spell over people on this underground scene which was soon to be dubbed Northern Soul.

Indeed, most Ric-Tic artists would eventually travel to the U.K. to play Northern clubs in front of thousands of fans.

Edwin Starr even made a good living from hundreds of performances, after moving to England in the seventies.

Rose Battiste and Little Ann made their debuts in recent years and both were overwhelmed by their reception.

It is amazing that these two artists, unknown in their own country, receive such adulation in a foreign land.

Dougie Ward from Glasgow with part of his Golden World collection, many of which have been scanned on to this webisode

Over 120 45's, 3 albums, 65 artists/groups, dozens of songwriter/arrangers/producers, all made Golden World the cult it is today.

But most of all, two people were prepared to take the risks, Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton.

I'll leave you with a fitting tribute from one who was there, Ms DeAnne James......

"Mr Wingate came to my house to sign contracts and meet my family in late 1964.

I lived in the heart of Detroit, on Lycaste street near Mack Avenue (near St. Jean). I remember that he laughed when he got there because he said that my neighbourhood was scarier than anything he had seen in a long time. I guess it really was the ghetto by that time.

He was a classy man, and was always so nice to me. He said that he thought I was pretty. That always stayed with me.

Ed Wingate will always have a special place in my heart because he believed in me and my talent."

Home

Special thanks To JoAnne Bratton and Ed Wingate for interview in May 2002.

Also to Ed Wolfrum, Dougie Ward (for his GW record collection), Graham Finch, Davie Gordon, SisDetroit and Graham Anthony's much-missed English fanzine, "Detroit City Limits."