The Geo-Si-Mik triumvirate had drifted apart by the end of 1966, but Terry’s role as an arranger/ producer was about to dominate his career, at the expense of his baritone playing. “I put the sax. down in 1967, and haven’t picked it up since. It was difficult to write arrangements and do session work too, and there were no opportunities at Motown, so I focused on arranging and producing.”

One of his major assignments in 1967 was with Chicago songstress/singer Jo Armstead, who brought Garland Green to Detroit to record the ‘Jealous kind of fella’ album. She explained why the Motor City was chosen. “It was basically because the arranger, Mike Terry, was living there, and Mike was the hottest producer out.”

Many, not only in his hometown, but far further afield, shared this view. Local guitarist and former Rare Earth member Ray Monette was given his first session by Mike Terry (‘Cool jerk’) in 1965. He fondly remembers the effect of Terry’s presence. “Mike is a special person. He always had great ideas that would add something special to his arrangements. You knew it was going to be good if Mike was at the session.”

It didn’t take long for his work to come to the attention of several of the major US labels, and in December, 1967 Epic Records’ A&R vice president Dave Kapralnik announced that he had been signed to the label as a Staff Arranger and Producer.

Dave Kapralnik and Mike Terry

Kapralnik’s comments reflect the high esteem the company felt for his work. “We became aware of Mike Terry’s outstanding talents through his success with The Parliaments, The Fantastic Four, Kris Peterson, The Capitols, The Precisions and Ruby Andrews. He will be assigned to the Epic and Okeh labels to work with The Little Foxes, Mike and Ray, Sandra Phillips and Johnny Robinson.”

Terry is quite forthright when discussing his success during this period. “Not many arrangers were getting hits. I was getting hits, so I got so much more work. They came so quick. So many different projects. It was a very creative period for me.”

Although none of the artists working with him achieved significant national chart success, the quality of his arrangements could not be blamed. Inadequate promotion, advertising and distribution by the record company were frequently the causes of poor sales.

One of his first projects at Okeh Records was the single ‘Love made to order’ by The Little Foxes.  “I remember The Little Foxes. I wrote that song with Mikki Farrow and Phil Townsend. It was the first time I had ever arranged strings. I couldn’t hear them to start with, and them someone helped me, then it came.”

Other Okeh singles followed, including Johnny Robinson’s ‘Gone but not forgotten’ and Sandra Phillips’ ‘Wish I had known’- records that are now highly prized by collectors.

 

music: "A Stone Good Lover" - Jo Armstead (Giant 704a)

Continued