Michael Stokes -- Detroit Work

[jsmith]

I know Michael Stokes was born [[1955) in Detroit & grew up there [[Palmer Woods) plus in New York. Via visitors to his mother's restaurant near Scepter Records HQ in Manhattan. he got a break in the music biz and did work with Juggy Murray in the late 60's.
He then returned to Detroit, hooked up with Eddie Kendricks & started work with the Posse [[soon to become just POSSE). The group had a 45 out on EJK [[Eddie's label) which was distributed by Juggy Murry's Sue Records. Still via EJK, they had 2 x 45's on Janus in 71 and then one on V.I.P. in 72 [[this time working with Eddie K & Ron Matlock rather than EK & Michael).
After that the group surfaced on the west coast on Bell via Jerry Fuller's Moonchild Productions.
Michael Stokes meanwhile had returned to New York & tied up with Sussex Records. Here he worked with the likes of Creative Source, Soul Searchers, Dennis Coffey & Bill Withers. He then started his own production company and guided the careers of Detroit's Enchantment, Keith Barrow [[working alongside Ron Matlock), Nature's Divine & Magic Lady.

My question is .... did Michael actually work for Motown directly before he was brought in to work with Ozone [[1983) & then signed Magic Lady [[1988) to the label ??

12886

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PYhEyCFQww

[TomatoTom123]

Hey jsmith, thanks for the info! I was only familiar with his work with Magic Lady. I believe he was actually married to Linda of Magic Lady. I didn't know about Michael's work with Eddie Kendricks & The Posse, nor Ozone, so thanks for that. Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your question! I did have a look through his Discogs page and couldn't find evidence of any other Motown work, but I'm not sure. :)

https://www.discogs.com/artist/118496-Michael-Stokes

[MIKEW-UK]

Your questions took me to the soulwalking page on Michael Stokes.

2 facts leapt out.

[[1) "By the early `80s he made a move to Hollywood-based Motown where – with Iris Gordy and Ray Singleton – he co-founded Super Three Productions which yielded DeBarge [[“All This Love”) and Rockwell [[“Somebody’s Watching Me” f/ Michael Jackson)"

This infers he signed his production company skills to Motown rather than as a direct individual and the timing is given. His production company UTOPIA also signed 7 acts to Motown.

[[2) Michael Stokes's sister, Patricia was married to Eddie Kendricks [[http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Eddie%20Kendricks.html) and they have a son called Paris.

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Michael%20Stokes.html

[jsmith]

When Michael worked with Enchantment & Dennis Coffey, I guess that work was mainly undertaken in Detroit ... is that right ?
ALSO ... he seemed to have an 'unproductive period' around 1986, when he was doing work for his own newly set-up label MS International ...
12890
He pacted with Macola Records and although he had 6 acts signed to his label, limited product only escaped on 2 of them.
That must have been a period when he had stepped away from Motown [[after his 83 work but before he signed Magic Lady with them in 88).

[jsmith]

His 'unproductive' MS International period .... a 1986 ad ...
12898