SIXTIES

The Kercheval address also housed the Hit Production label which had at least one 45 by Ruby Yates called "It's been a long time." It's difficult to say if this was West's label, but the music did come from Lupine - Correc-tone. Written by William Weatherspoon, the music was arranged and produced by Herman Griffin.

Sometime in 1963 West and Schofield discovered a young singer by the name of Bobby Williams.

Like most of Williams 45's "I'm depending on you" / "Tell it to my face" was an excellent double-sider written again by Willie Schofield. Both sides were ballads unlike his later material for Sure-Shot in Houston, Texas.

Don Robey, who owned Sure-Shot, Backbeat and Peacock issued a small number of Detroit45's by such as Carl Carlton, but it is a mystery how Robey came to have Detroit connections.

Sure-Shot, Correc-tone, Double-L and Atlantic are the only labels I have identified which issued Lupine material.

The Falcons had broken up in early '63, no doubt so many quality singers in the group didn't help.

Eddie Floyd, Mack Rice and Joe Stubbs would all be given their chance by West as solo artists. Pickett moved on to Lloyd Price's Double L set up before landing the big one with Atlantic in New York City where he had huge success and 5 #1 R&B hits.

Floyd was first to gain a release with Lu Pine and "Will I be the one"/"Set my soul on fire". A few months later, "I'll be home"/"A deed to your heart" was issued on Lu Pine120.

Neither record made much impact however and Floyd found himself heading for Washington to work with his friend Al Bell on the Safice label.

Their partnership bonded with Jim Stewart at Stax who sold them studio and musician time at his reputable Memphis facility.

Stewart had a lot of time for Eddie Floyd the songwriter and offered both himself and Bell employment once Safice folded.

Soon Eddie got his way as a solo artist and produced the stunning "Knock on wood" which stormed the R&B charts at #1.

Rice and Stubbs both recorded excellent double siders around the same time, with "Baby I'm coming home" and "What's my destiny" being pick of the bunch. Sadly these records faded into obscurity.

Joe would soon join the Contours and at the end of the decade, 100 Proof Aged In Soul. He would forever be in the shadow of his brother Levi however.

Mack joined Blue Rock where he wrote and recorded the original version of "Mustang Sally". After a brief foray at Atco he joined up again with Eddie Floyd at Stax where he became a prolific songwriter.

The Boston Boulevard address also issued a further three 45's which have caused confusion for collectors over the years.

The first was by the Primettes called "Tears of sorrow"/"Pretty baby".

The Primettes had been around the Detroit scene for a number of years, prior to being christened the Supremes by Berry Gordy at Motown in ????.

During their formative years they had been working with Robert West and recorded their Lu Pine 45 at Hitsville in 1960.

By 1962, they were providing backing vocals at Correc-tone on 12th Street. In particular for one Wilson Pickett.

Almost certainly West issued the "Tears of sorrow" 45 to cash in on their new found success as the Supremes. There was a disadvantage however in that Berry owned the rights to the Supremes name.

TJ Fowler's roots go way back to the forties when he led a jump blues band. He was a multi talented musician particularly on piano, trumpet and tenor saxophone.

He also owned the record label Puff, and a music publishing concern. In his spare time he also ran a landscaping business!

TJ Fowler Trio courtesy Jim Gallert and label scan courtesy Lars G Nilsson

In 1964 he was leasing Puff material, by River Rouge group the Rivals, to West's Lupine label.

TJ recorded a fair number of solo discs throughout the fifties for such as Paradise, Nat and Sensation, but his latter recordings were for New York labels.

Continued