By John Lester (213.122.197.61 - 213.122.197.61) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 08:31 am:

I am confused about exactly who is in this group after recent postings....did they change mid-way or what.

Can anyone clarify the position please?

Who sings lead on the great "I'm In Love Again" and "Loving You Takes All Of My Time" I am also told that the version of Rose Batiste's "Hit and Run" that was issued was really the Debonaires.

I better get Rixy to explain it to me again, unless you guys can put me right!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 12:34 pm:

i would think telma and joyce is the ansewr to your question.

yes, those tracks are fantasic!

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 12:43 pm:

Hang on a minute...

I thought that Dianne Hogan was the lead singer of the Debonaires.

I think we need Graham here ;o)

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 01:39 pm:

goldmine cd 'the solidhitbound story' says 'the group consisted of telma hopkins/joyce vincent/diane hogan and elsie'.

'telma/joyce went on to perform as as dawn. diane recorded for capitol. elsie became a gospel singer. joyce is performing in las vegas'

i was commenting on john's question of who was in the group rather than who sang lead.

i don't have a clue! but graham will know for certain.

btw is this is some holiday he's having!

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 02:27 pm:

When I used Telma and Joyce for the Stoney and Meatloaf sessions they came in with a girl named Bunny. This has stuck in my mind all these years because I remember Bunny being a REAL looker.( not that I ever paid any attention to that sort of thing )

By John Lester (213.122.194.200 - 213.122.194.200) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 09:48 pm:

With four wives to your name Ralph...I think I need a bit more convincing from you!!

I am teasing you...HAHAHAHA

Thanks for the little titbit to add to my album...on Stoney and Meatloaf..I have written it down!!

By John Lester (213.122.194.200 - 213.122.194.200) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 09:51 pm:

Is Diana Hogan the same as Diane Lewis.....I thought Pat Lewis was a Debonaire as well.

Graham....get on back here!!

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 10:18 pm:

John,
Bunny was a great background singer. How long she sang with Telma and Joyce I have no idea. That night however I was busy drooling on the console after she came in. Basically I'm a very weak man in areas concerning women.

By John Lester (213.122.194.200 - 213.122.194.200) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 10:22 pm:

....you said it Ralph....four wives later...and still drooling!!

Old habits never die!

HA HA!

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 10:23 pm:

Ralph

Ain't we all, bro?

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, February 17, 2002 - 11:15 pm:

John,
Except today the drooling might be age related.

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 01:37 am:

The Debonaires started as a trio - Elsie Baker, Dorothy Garland and Joyce Vincent. Thelma Hopkins never sang with the group. This trio recorded Golden World 17 and 26 - Please Don't Say We're Through - A Little Too Long - Eenie Meenie Gypsalinie.
Ed Wingate decided they needed a lead singer and the 15 year old Diane Hogan joined the group. The four, lead by Diane, then recorded GW38 and GW 44 - the suberb - How's Your New Love Treating You - Big Time Fun - C.O.D.
They went over to Solid Hit and recorded 102 and 104 - Headache In My Heart - Loving You Takes All Of My Time - I'm In Love Again.
Diane record a solo 45 after this, and she's not related to Diane Lewis. Pat Lewis is her sister and they were part of The Adorables (at Golden World) before having solo releases.
Joyce Vincent teamed up with Thelma and Tony at Dawn.
Cheers, Graham

By John Lester (213.1.128.65 - 213.1.128.65) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 07:16 am:

Graham........thank you..

I don't suppose you could explain to me the Adorables too..

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 08:38 am:

The Adorables were Diane and Pat Lewis and Jackie and Betty Winston. 2 pairs of sisters.
Cheers, Graham

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.1.185.126 - 213.1.185.126) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 08:50 am:

thanks for setting the record straight graham

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 02:11 pm:

Ed Wingate adored Telma. He would have given the world if Telma would have gotten interested in his son. But Ed's son was a little flaky. Kind of like a spoiled rich boy...which he was. And very inmature. Well Telma was way to smart for this kid and was having none of that, all to Ed's disappointment I think.

By recordboyusa (208.61.5.193 - 208.61.5.193) on Monday, February 18, 2002 - 07:55 pm:

Didn't Telma Hopkins also recorded as Telma Laverne... or is that just another collector rumor that's been accepted as fact?

Thanks,
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By Mike Theodore (68.39.44.92 - 68.39.44.92) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 01:09 am:

To add a little more to the fire. After the original Debonair group broke up.(Marriages Etc)
Joyce and her sister teamed with Telma and they became the main rent a backgorund girls group for sessions for awhile.I used them on many sessions.

By Rich (64.12.97.13 - 64.12.97.13) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 02:03 am:

The Debonaires "Headache in My Heart" was co-written by G Clinton and was re-done under the title "Some More" on Funkadelic's Free Your Mind LP. JJ Barnes "So-Called Friends" was also re-done by Funkadelic as "Friday Night August the 14th" from the same album. In a slightly related matter, GC did "Baby Thats a Groove" on Roy Handy (who may have been a fellow barber ... finger-waver) that came out on the Stephayne label around '66 and was re-cut by Funkadelic under the title "Fish Chips & Sweat" and came out on Westbound in '70 on the flip-side of "I Got a Thing (You Got a Thing)".

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 04:11 am:

The Roy Handy disc is such a rip-off of "Can't Help Myself" that George had the decency to give HDH a slice of the writers credit.
One of The Debonaires married one of the Holidays back inthe 60s - they're stll married and living in Detroit.
Isn't Betty Winston - "Betty Boo" - who recorded for Motown and also Popcorn?
Cheers, Graham

By John Lester (213.122.196.145 - 213.122.196.145) on Friday, February 22, 2002 - 11:00 pm:

You know that song by the Marvelettes which has been played up North....Grass Seems Greener on The Other Side....that is Betty Winston's demo!!

I am off to Manchester next week...can someone tell me where Goldmine Records moved to

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Friday, February 22, 2002 - 11:10 pm:

it is now beatin' rhythm in tib street.

you'll find it behind the left hand side of picadilly square as you head there from deansgate
or from victoria station (whichever you know).

go a few hundreds further and find the twisted wheel building at no.6 whitworth street off picadilly station entrance.

go on get a piece of northern soul history.

manchester means a lot to me.

By John Lester (213.122.204.212 - 213.122.204.212) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 08:43 am:

Ta David.....I shall remember you in my will......(yeah, you can pay for the flowers!!!! LOL)

Now you guys...dont get mad at me for not coming on the Forum from Thursday until Tuesday.

All emails to Tib Street please...LOL

By John Rhys (63.198.70.120 - 63.198.70.120) on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 01:16 am:

Leon Ware and I made a record with the Debonnaires called "Big Time Fun" for Golden World.
Does anyone out there have a copy of this record? I can't remember the "B" side.

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 03:45 am:

Going from memory, it's "How's Your New Love Treating You" - which was also issued on the flip of another Golden World 45.
Graham

By Ian W (213.122.9.56 - 213.122.9.56) on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 10:51 pm:

John, Leon and Graham

I have the record in front of me! It's written by Joanne Bratton & produced by Ed Wingate. How dare they not give John and Leon any credits!

Talking of Ed Wingate, Ronnie McNeir was in the Studio with Richard Searling last Sunday. He mentioned Ed Wingate is about 80 now and in fine fettle. De ya think we could possible get Mr. Wingate on the forum? You know you want to!

Ian

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 04:31 am:

The Deb's "How's Your New Love Treating You" was writen by Staunton and Walker. John Rhys might know who wrote "Big Time Fun."
Graham

By ed.wolfrum (165.121.215.144 - 165.121.215.144) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 01:54 am:

Hello John,

I remember the "Big Time Fun" session. I think we did that session late at night?? As I remember it that was when we made the changes in the live chamber at GW.

Do you remember the Disc Lathe room in the REAR of GW and the AC power panel next to it which made all the noise??

Best,
Ed

By John Lester (213.122.191.39 - 213.122.191.39) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 09:37 pm:

Graham

HOw's YOur New Love Traeting You....you say Staunton Walker wrote it but my 45 says

J Bratton and L Bunten.

Do I need new spectacles?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 09:40 pm:

John

I thought you were making personal enquiries about Graham's post-nuptial progress when I saw your new posting!

By John Lester (213.122.191.39 - 213.122.191.39) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 09:46 pm:

Ritchie

I am too old for all that these days...give me a 45 and a pair of headphones and I'm happy

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 09:48 pm:

John

I find that a turntable helps too.

By John Lester (213.122.191.39 - 213.122.191.39) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 10:04 pm:

HIT HIM FOR ME SOMEBODY!!!


LOLOLOL

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 05:30 am:

Hi John,
J Bratton is Joanne Jackson - she was married to the boxer Johnny Bratton. As you know - she was one of the bosses at Golden World and is now married to Ed Wingate. I don't know who Bunten is/was though. Diane Hogan, the lead singer, told me that Staunton and Walker wrote the song.
Cheers, Graham

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 05:42 am:

Graham,
I just spent the day with John Rhys and he told me JoAnn was no longer with Ed Wingate.
Also her former husband went under the name, Sonny Bratton. I think he died due to injuries sustained in the boxing ring.

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 05:54 am:

Hi Ralph,
Thanks for the news, I didn't know they'd split up - they were together for a long time.
Graham

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 06:01 am:

Graham,
I'm not sure if they were ever really married, but they were inseperable at one time. JoAnn was a wonderful and very beautiful woman.

By John Lester (213.122.200.54 - 213.122.200.54) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 07:45 am:

Ta lads...

I wonder if it is worth raising Staunton and Walker again........

Those guys were prolific in 1964 and 1965 at Motown...some titles

Our Own Private World/ She's A Living Doll/Talk About A Good Feeling/All For Someone - Tommy Good
The Love Line - Brenda Holloway
Show Me You Can Dance-Sammy Turner
We Call It Fun/Never Leave Your Baby's Side - Hit Pack
How Many Times Did You Mean It - Marvelettes

and some more well known ones,
Never Say To You Baby-Hit Pack
Say You - Temps
How Many Times Did You mean It - Brenda Holloway
Never Leave Your Baby's Side-Vandellas (why wasn't this on Martha's Wathcout! album when the song starts off with WATCHOUT!!!!)

There needs to be a Staunton Walker compilation, don't you think?

I wish I could find out more about them...Brenda Holloway (bless her..) doesn't remember them at all and neither does Kim Weston

Bobby - you're normally the man for these things...Robert Dobyne, Staunton and Walker - have you got any info on these guys?

By John Lester (213.122.200.54 - 213.122.200.54) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 07:51 am:

It seems like boxing is a big part of the Detroit scene..

Berry Gordy, Tammi Montgomery, Jean Terrell and now JoAnn Bratton....

By onewhowasthere (63.210.122.82 - 63.210.122.82) on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 01:29 am:

JoAnne Bratton was married to Johnny Bratton. I saw Joanne in Las Vegas a couple of years ago. She is still a beautiful woman. I didn't see who she was with , but she got into a brand new Cadillac. I couldn't see the drivers face. It was probably Wingate. I don't think he would ever let JoAnne go. They were together for too many years. How can you think Wingate and not JoAnne. Also the song "Hit and Run" that everyone seems to think Gwen Owens cut, might have been the Debonaires. Gwen was once being considered for the lead singer of the group before Diane.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 03:32 am:

Gwen, is that you?
Graham

By John Lester (213.1.132.206 - 213.1.132.206) on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 07:37 am:

Is there a cd of the Debonaires...I need it to contain that slick version of "You Better Wake Up" not that watered down version I have heard. I suppose a cd might be difficult since Motown own their Golden World tracks.

By John Lester (213.1.132.206 - 213.1.132.206) on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 07:39 am:

Is there a cd of the Debonaires...I need it to contain that slick version of "You Better Wake Up" not that watered down version I have heard. I suppose a cd might be difficult since Motown own their Golden World tracks.

Ritchie...can you look in your archives for a picture of the Debonaires.....I don't think I have ever seen a picture...come to think of it, I dont think I have seen the Adorables either

By brianday@cwcom.net (212.137.136.151 - 212.137.136.151) on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 02:04 pm:

john lester can you send me your email address as you have contacts at sanctury, its to do with ,the back cat on the silver blue label,ask bobby on the phone what i have been trying to do for the last six months ,all will be revelved