What Were They Really Like?

[TomatoTom123]

I am convinced that I was born in the wrong era, and in the wrong place, with and me being from southeast suburban England and it being 2016 and all!! :)

As I am so disconnected from the Detroit soul music scene I was hoping that I could get some first-person experience from you guys. I often forget that the Motown artists I listen to are people too, and I was wondering, quite simply, what they were like, as people. I am just fascinated, so fascinated! I would be so very grateful if people would be willing to share their experiences with me.

[[Of course keep it respectful ;))

[Roberta75]

Talented. Real talented. mr Gordy had the most talented people on his label.

[TomatoTom123]

Talented. Real talented. mr Gordy had the most talented people on his label.

Yeah, they sure were, Roberta! :) So much talent under one roof, it's just amazing!!

[soulster]

No disrespect to the artists, but, unlike most of this forum, I am more interested in the recordings, and how they were created from a technical standpoint. I was born here in the U.S. in the early 60s, and grew up with the music, but, just don't really care much about the personal interactions between the people.

[jobeterob]

Makes sense-it all might be a little interesting but what difference does it make - and various opinions differ, memories are different and they fade

[robb_k]

11896
I could say X guy or lady was nice or a decent sort, as was this one and that one, but that wouldn't tell you a lot. And, if I don't have anything positive to say about someone, I won't say anything. Singing artists are just like the general public. They come in all personality types.

[TomatoTom123]

Yea, you're all right
It's just that I have literally no memories, no experience of what any of them were like [[even though it doesn't, or shouldn't, matter)

Did Levi Stubbs like cracking jokes? Was Melvin Franklin always excitable or something? :)
[[for example, LOL)

[soulster]

The more I know about my favorite artists, the less I like them and their music if I find distasteful things about them. That's why I really don't like the gossip. It's bad enough I already know what I know about many of them, and some whose music i've had to remove from my home because of their beliefs and actions.

It's case by case. I take each artist's words and activities into account. It's why I got rid of Ray Stevens but keep Eric Clapton.

[TomatoTom123]

The more I know about my favorite artists, the less I like them and their music if I find distasteful things about them. That's why I really don't like the gossip. It's bad enough I already know what I know about many of them, and some whose music i've had to remove from my home because of their beliefs and actions.

It's case by case. I take each artist's words and activities into account. It's why I got rid of Ray Stevens but keep Eric Clapton.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I didn't think about it so negatively, I was just wondering what Marvin Gaye's favourite hobby was or something, LOL :)

[soulster]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I didn't think about it so negatively, I was just wondering what Marvin Gaye's favourite hobby was or something, LOL :)

Snorting coke and beating his wife?

[TomatoTom123]

Snorting coke and beating his wife?

Ooohh, harsh, soulster!! Harsh, harsh, LOL. Not quite what I was thinking! Hehe, More along the lines of "was he an avid chess player, did he enjoy a round of golf", etc [[again, examples, LOL)

[marv2]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I didn't think about it so negatively, I was just wondering what Marvin Gaye's favourite hobby was or something, LOL :)

Marvin liked to golf.

[TomatoTom123]

Marvin liked to golf.

Thank you Marv :)

[satipe]

Tom,

I'll tell you about my nice experiences and friendships...by the way, I have never been employed by Motown nor was I ever a groupie. I am a teacher and Motown helped me help my students. I am sorry if this reads as showing off as that is not my intention; it is nice for me as well to remember how important and great these people have been to me.

-Melvin Franklin was a wonderful man who always smiled and made you feel like you had known him for years. We were always told we could have a few minutes with Melvin and it always wound up being at least 30 minutes. Obie Benson was the same although I could only call him an acquaintance as we only met him twice.
-Dennis Edwards always takes my phone calls and is there in a heartbeat if he can help. If you meet him, he makes you feel as though it is his pleasure and honour to talk with you.
-Beans Bowles was like my Grandpa and he was a great history story teller-he had the greatest laugh and LOVED his jazz.
-Sylvestor Potts became a very good friend and he would actually call me to see how I was doing. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's has a grip on him.
-Bobby Rogers loved to tell stories as well and was so nice to everyone. One time we were having tea together at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada and a man came up and just started talking to the two of us about anything and everything. After he left, Bobby said, "Your friend sure can talk" and I replied, "My friend? I thought he was yours." Neither of us had ever met him so we had a great laugh.
-Roz Holmes and Annette Helton have always been there for me and "my kids". I don't speak to Annette very much but Roz and I keep in contact and once again, she is ever so nice.
-Kat Schaffner and I fight like cat and dog and an old married couple but she is one of my closest friends [[we have known each other for 20 years as 0f 2017) and her family is now mine as well. She treats her fans like GOLD.

Wow, I could go on and on but I do not want to write a book as I am thinking of others like Billy "Stix" Nix, Damon Harris, Cal Street, Duke Fakir and many others. Me and "my kids" have been BLESSED!

[TomatoTom123]

Tom,

I'll tell you about my nice experiences and friendships...by the way, I have never been employed by Motown nor was I ever a groupie. I am a teacher and Motown helped me help my students. I am sorry if this reads as showing off as that is not my intention; it is nice for me as well to remember how important and great these people have been to me.

-Melvin Franklin was a wonderful man who always smiled and made you feel like you had known him for years. We were always told we could have a few minutes with Melvin and it always wound up being at least 30 minutes. Obie Benson was the same although I could only call him an acquaintance as we only met him twice.
-Dennis Edwards always takes my phone calls and is there in a heartbeat if he can help. If you meet him, he makes you feel as though it is his pleasure and honour to talk with you.
-Beans Bowles was like my Grandpa and he was a great history story teller-he had the greatest laugh and LOVED his jazz.
-Sylvestor Potts became a very good friend and he would actually call me to see how I was doing. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's has a grip on him.
-Bobby Rogers loved to tell stories as well and was so nice to everyone. One time we were having tea together at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada and a man came up and just started talking to the two of us about anything and everything. After he left, Bobby said, "Your friend sure can talk" and I replied, "My friend? I thought he was yours." Neither of us had ever met him so we had a great laugh.
-Roz Holmes and Annette Helton have always been there for me and "my kids". I don't speak to Annette very much but Roz and I keep in contact and once again, she is ever so nice.
-Kat Schaffner and I fight like cat and dog and an old married couple but she is one of my closest friends [[we have known each other for 20 years as 0f 2017) and her family is now mine as well. She treats her fans like GOLD.

Wow, I could go on and on but I do not want to write a book as I am thinking of others like Billy "Stix" Nix, Damon Harris, Cal Street, Duke Fakir and many others. Me and "my kids" have been BLESSED!

satipe, thank you so very much for your response, I am so so grateful. It was truly fascinating and honest and just brilliant! I genuinely cannot thank you enough!!! And teaching is a great and undervalued profession, I am glad that Motown helps you do it!

[stingbeelee]

Marvin Gaye was really nice and low key. He was always smiling, very friendly. I played football with him in front of his house and in his little backyard. I was his paperboy. There was a point in time when I thought he was very sad. My mother reminded me that Tammi Terrell had just died. I didn't see him for a while, then he perked up and wanted to play football all the time. Ms. Anna was also a good person, always mannerable and very polite and friendly. they were some of my best customers! I didn't go in the house a lot, I knew they smoked weed and I could not go home smelling of weed smoke; as one of my goals in those days was not getting a whipping. I NEVER saw any of those other things, such as wife beatings and etc. Of course, I was a child then and could not discern adult things. Marvin would give out his albums on Halloween. I can recall him asking me "What's going on, little paperboy?"

[TomatoTom123]

Marvin Gaye was really nice and low key. He was always smiling, very friendly. I played football with him in front of his house and in his little backyard. I was his paperboy. There was a point in time when I thought he was very sad. My mother reminded me that Tammi Terrell had just died. I didn't see him for a while, then he perked up and wanted to play football all the time. Ms. Anna was also a good person, always mannerable and very polite and friendly. they were some of my best customers! I didn't go in the house a lot, I knew they smoked weed and I could not go home smelling of weed smoke; as one of my goals in those days was not getting a whipping. I NEVER saw any of those other things, such as wife beatings and etc. Of course, I was a child then and could not discern adult things. Marvin would give out his albums on Halloween. I can recall him asking me "What's going on, little paperboy?"

Wow, that's fascinating, thank you very much, stingbeelee!!

[144man]

Susaye Greene, who posts here as "thelastsupreme" has a great sense of humour.

[TomatoTom123]

Susaye Greene, who posts here as "thelastsupreme" has a great sense of humour.

Susaye Greene is a member here?! I didn't even know that, thank you 144man

[robb_k]

Susaye Greene is a member here?! I didn't even know that, thank you 144man
11914
We've had loads of Motown artists and production people post here, including:
Joe Hunter, Clay MacMurray, Jack Ashford, Louvain Demps, Frances Nero, Weldon McDougall, Mike McLean, Bob Ohlsson, Ralph Terrana, Russ Terrana, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbitt, Ray Monette, Scherrie Payne, and several singers who made at least a few posts, answering our questions. I can't remember them all.

[TomatoTom123]

We've had loads of Motown artists and production people post here, including:
Joe Hunter, Clay MacMurray, Jack Ashford, Louvain Demps, Frances Nero, Weldon McDougall, Mike McLean, Bob Ohlsson, Ralph Terrana, Russ Terrana, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbitt, Ray Monette, Scherrie Payne, and several singers who made at least a few posts, answering our questions. I can't remember them all.

Wow, this place is amazing!

[soulster]

11914
We've had loads of Motown artists and production people post here, including:
Joe Hunter, Clay MacMurray, Jack Ashford, Louvain Demps, Frances Nero, Weldon McDougall, Mike McLean, Bob Ohlsson, Ralph Terrana, Russ Terrana, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbitt, Ray Monette, Scherrie Payne, and several singers who made at least a few posts, answering our questions. I can't remember them all.

This is why it is important to to keep the noise level down. These people don't have time for the crap the goes on here.