By woodsman (67.25.204.197) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 08:08 pm:

The Detroit Rhythm and Blues Pioneers are going to play the Detroit Blues Heritage Series on February 15, 2003. The show features Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell, Kenny Martin with special guest Gino Parks. The show takes place fron 2PN to 4:30 PN at the Scarab Club ( right behind the DIA) in Detroit. There is no admission charge and children as well as adults are encouraged to attend.

By RJ Spangler (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 11:59 pm:

Thats right folks -- I am bringing Geno Parks up for this event! Some of you might remember Geno from his days with Fortune, Motown & Goldenworld. He did some duets with Andre Williams as well as some sides under his own name for Fortune. Geno has been living in the Atanta area for many years now so this is a rare chance to check out one the true old school Detroit guys. He is coming up for this one show only! We will do a taping for the Willy Wilson show on WDET while he is here also. Geno is very excited to be on a bill with Joe, Kenny and Stanley!

The Scarab Club is an interesting venue with a history all its own, plus its all ages and no cover (Ed will pass the hat!).
-RJ

By RJ Spangler (64.12.107.39) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 05:52 pm:

I just got back Monday from a little three day tour with the Motor City R&B Pioneers. We had a good show in Monroe at the Community College; in fact I got a great review from the Monroe newspaper in the mail today -- front page with lots of pics! Marilyn & SR talked about their book and it was good to see them too. We then drove through the night and played the next day at a blues club in Atlanta. I have to say we did put on a strong show. Atlanta was wild with people in town for the basketball game on Sunday. What a night! The following day we made it to Charleston, SC for a blues fest, where the guys really delived the goods. The crowd (again) went nuts for Kenny Martin's dance steps!

Joe was part of a blues reveiw we had at the Motorcity Casino on last Tuesday (we never really get a break!).

Yesterday we rehearsed with Geno Parks, who is in from Atlanta. We learned a few songs from his days at Motown. My God this man can sing! He came to our jam last night at the Eastowne and he sat in on some cool blues tunes (he does a great version of "the Night Time is the Right Time")!
Tomorrow (Friday 2/14/03), we head to WDET's studio to tape some songs to be played on the Willy Wilson Show later that night.

Saturday at the Scarab we will have all the Pioneers (Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell & Kenny Martin) along with Geno Parks. This will be from 2pm to 4:30pm and should NOT be missed! I have been told Andre Williams is in town and he is going to be at the show as will Jay Johnson (the Diablos), Nathaniel Mayer (we hope), AND Charles Evens & Lonnie Hurd from the 5 Dollars/Don Juans!

If you dig the Fortune sound, this IS the place to be! You may never see that many guys from the Fortune era together in the same room again. No cover (but they do pass the hat).

By the way, that night Joe, my band (the Rhythm Rockers) and Thornetta Davis & Alberta Adams will play a set at the Fogular Furlan Club in Windsor for the Canada South Blues Society. Like I said, we never really get a break -thank the lord.

Joe's next gig is at the Magic Bag on Feb 23. Joe will do a set with my group around 7pm. This is a benefit gig for saxaphonist Larry Lamb who has cancer. Larry has played with the Temps, Martha & the Vandellas and more.