By Lonnie Cook (198.81.26.170) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 02:59 pm:

He has worked as primary drummer for the likes of Tommy Hunt, Rotary Connection, The Dells, The Chi Lites, and Patti La Belle but the public knows him not. In recent years his focus has been on Jazz gigs and assisting Lionel Faison, Preston, Epps, and many other folks in this business, Fou Fou seems to know everyone that was anyone from the fifties thru the mideighties and has worked with most of them at one time or another. He is my friend but I have little of his history (50's -80's) and would like to have pictures also.

Clifton once lived next door to Earl Nelson (Earl of Bob and Earl, lead of the Hollywood Flames, and Jackie Lee are all the same person) and I met Earl that way . Fou is on the Board of the Doo Wop Hall of Fame. Since I've known him I have many interesting stories to tell but I would like to hear what he did way back , mostly in his hometown of Chicago.

By PhillyGroove (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 05:54 pm:

Lonnie,

Fill us in a little on some of Fou Fou's work. I'd particularly like to know about The Dells and the Chi-Lites. Thanks.

By Eli (151.197.27.222) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 10:26 pm:

Lonnie,
I somehow remember him from playing at the Regal in 1968 with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers.
Could that be so???

By Lonnie Cook (198.81.26.170) on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 04:53 am:

Eli
I talk to him everyday so I will ask him about the Chicago gig, tomorow. I seem to remember his mentioning working with Bobby Taylor.

Next time you are in L.A. you can meet him.

I am going to need some older pictures of him so I hope some of your other musical associates know him and have some. The only picture I have ever seen him in was after the 1995 R&B Foundation awards. Since he is always dressed sharp CBS's 60 Minutes chose him to be interviewed, so I saw him on tv (saw my arm). He wore a tux and hat.

Chicago is his hometown and he has as many bad as good memories of it. He talks a lot about Minnie, Sidney Barnes, Charles Stepney, Marvin Junior and many others. He listens to a Dells cassette everytime he gets in his car.

I'll try to get him on the forum one day soon.