When Johnnie Mae Matthews succumbed to cancer in 2002, one of the last links to Detroit’s  R 'n B roots was sadly lost. Known as the “Godmother of Detroit Soul,” or as George Clinton affectionately called her, “Mother Funker,” she was a pioneer of Soul music in the motor city.

 After founding her own recording company in the late ‘50s she went on to discover, manage and produce numerous artists, as well cut around thirty 45s that span rock n’ roll, blues, soul and funk.

 Her death went unreported in the local newspapers and it’s hoped that this tribute will direct an overdue spotlight on a remarkable lady who lived in the darkest of Motown’s shadows. 

 Image notes: Johnnie Mae’s home at 2900 Carter, Detroit. Joe Hunter’s band pictured c. 1959, clockwise – drummer Benny Benjamin, bassist James Jamerson, pianist Joe Hunter (top), Hank Cosby on tenor sax, Andrew “Mike” Terry on baritone sax and guitarist Larry Veeder.  

 Johnnie Mae was born on the last day of 1934 in Bessmer, Alabama, one of four children to Willie and Dr. Mary Flood. She was marinated in southern gospel, singing with her mother at Birmingham’s Gaston Funeral Home as well as performing at U.S air-force bases.

 The Floods moved to New Jersey when she was around 12, but like numerous people seeking a better life, Johnnie Mae migrated to Detroit when she a teenager and married her boyfriend, Artwell, soon after. Art got a job at Ford’s and the couple had two children, Artwell junior and a daughter they named Audrey.

interview with Johnnie Mae Matthews

[wait until lead song is complete before downloading]

 Johnnie Mae began playing piano and songwriting at home and eventually made her first 45 in 1958 as a member of The Five Dapps. The record was released on the Brax label, owned by local realtor George Braxton. Songwriter James Bennett sang lead on “Do Wop A Do” - a Chuck Berry styled Rock n’ Roll number complete with guitar breaks, while Johnnie Mae took over on the slower flip side, a jazzy blues song titled, “You’re So Unfaithful.”  The other three Dapps were probably George Wooden, Emery Franklin and Albert Williams, who had the soubriquet, “Fruit”. 

 Joe Hunter’s talented band played on these sessions and it was the start of a long professional relationship, with Joe playing on many of her subsequent recordings. His band was the nucleus of the famed Funk Brothers which became the very essence of the 60’s Detroit sound.

Image notes: Johnnie Mae performing at an unidentified nightclub. A group called The Four Frolics had one 45 on the Detroit based Chex label in 1962. “Dreamer” was the first release on her Northern label.

  In the Fifties there weren’t any sizeable recording companies in Michigan and Detroit’s musicians and singers usually traveled to New York or Chicago to find fame and fortune. At the same time small independents were beginning to mushroom across the States, satisfying the demand for black music. It was a booming market that the majors were largely neglecting.

"You're So Unfaithful" by Johnnie Mae Matthews

 Johnnie Mae was understandably frustrated at the scarcity of opportunities in her adopted city and was gutsy enough to start her own business. Around 1958 she opened an office-cum-rehearsal room at 2608 Blaine, just a few blocks from her home at 2900 Carter, and named it the Northern Recording Company.

 She told me, “I started my own company with eighty-five dollars from my husband’s paycheck from Ford’s. Every week I’d put so-much in the bank. At that time you didn’t have to pay but five and ten dollars an hour (to record). I didn’t really know anything about the recording business - Danny Dallas would do all our recording.”

 "Dreamer" by Johnnie Mae Matthews

 At that time Danny was a young engineer at the Special Studio, located at 138 Duffield, although Johnnie Mae would also use recording facilities at Inkster based radio station WCHB for these early Northern sessions.  Her lock up office on Blaine had a piano and was used for practicing and administration.

Image notes: Lee’s Club Sensation opened in 1941 and relocated from 1300 Owen to Grand River Avenue in 1967. This Michigan Chronicle clipping is from November, 1960. 

Continued

© David Meikle : All Rights Reserved