Buddy Lamp [[Willie Lampkin) enjoyed a long recording career though his commercial successes were few. He started out singing gospel [[on record) in the late 50's with the likes of the Lampkin Sisters and the Violinaires. By 1961, he had hit the floor running on the secular side of the tracks. He cut for some small labels [[Peanut, Top Hat, D Town, Wee, MSC,etc) and some big ones [[Gone, ABC, Duke, etc) and cut down in his native south and up in his new home base of Detroit.
He went on major tours from Day 1, playing gigs in locations such as Carr's Beach [[Maryland) with Sam Cooke & Lloyd Price, in Boston with the Impressions & Marvelettes and in Chicago with the Spaniels, Erma Franklin, the Sheppards & Mitty Collier [[all by Xmas 1961).
His initial 45 outing escaped on the Gone label though Lloyd Price helped out on production. He jumped labels on a regular basis, with many of his outings finding favour on the NS scene [[his Wheelsville 45 cuts in particular).
It has been said that he also cut in the early 60's under the names of Johnny Wess & Johnny West and although the song cut by Johnny West [["Tears Baby" for Soul) was written by Buddy in conjunction with Mike Hanks, it seems more likely that this actually featured one of Buddy's gospel friends under a false name.
Buddy passed away some years back and sadly it seems left little details of his life / long career behind him.
Is there any site on the net [[apart from the Sirshambling page) .... ...
http://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/L/buddy_lamp/
.... that celebrates the man's vocal achievements ?
Here's an example of his work, an ABC track from 1963 ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sFlHf0tK7E
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