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jsmith
09-27-2010, 04:18 AM
Dee Clark was in the record biz for around 20 years and enjoyed a brief revival when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a top 20 UK 45 Pop Chart hit in 1975. This was his first UK chart hit since "Just Keep It Up" way back in 1959 [[it only charted for one week). In the summer of 1975, "Ride a Wild Horse" was played contantly in British discos & it remained on the charts for 2 months [[peaking at No. 16)
..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJkqs_ohTNY
Dee had started out way back in 1952 as one of the Hambone Kids who performed with Red Saunders & his Orch. [[this outfit inclding Riley Hampton). Another outfit back then were the Golden Tones that featured the likes of Cicero Blake & Teddy Long.
By 1953, Dee had linked up with the Golden Tones and in Chicago via Herb Kent aka "The Cool Gent" [[the DJ who worked at WGES in Chicago & at WBEE in Chicago in the 1950’s) they were signed to Vee Jay as the Kool Gents.
The Kool Gents lead singer had originally been John McCall but at Vee Jay's bidding, Dee took over as their lead singer.
Kool Gents >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQ-lS11HUA
Dee went solo in 1957 and enjoyed quite a few big hits [["Raindrops", etc).
By the mid 1960's, he was signed to Constellation and was releasing good soul records ...
Dee Clark -- That’s My Girl [[Constellation 120)
Dee Clark -- T.C.B. [[Constellation 147)
Dee Clark, -- Nobody But You / Nobody But You Part 2 [[Wand 1177) .... a re-working of his ealier track ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH3BSN0gNcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7TYBsswlE
Dee died in poverty in 1990.
Members of the Kool Gents later turned up in the Four Shades [[John McCall, Ted Long) who had a 45 out on Ronn in the early 70's .... "My World / Something Special"
These songs being written by group member Ted Long in conjunction with David Moses Baldwin [[the later also arranging the tracks) and are good examples of early 70's Chicago soul sides.

Does anyone recall if Dee Clark came to the UK to promote "Ride a Wild Horse" [[touring or playing Top of the Pops) ??
Did he ever have a follow-up 45 to this hit ??
What became of the group the Four Shades & their song writer Dave Baldwin ??

jsmith
09-27-2010, 04:30 AM
The Kool Gents in 2008 ....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAh2HWLqkM
When did they reform ??
The Four Shades .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGxtr-oj48
..................... ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJBn3jDgIic

nomis
09-27-2010, 05:05 AM
There is no listing for Ride a wild Horse in the Top Of The Pops database..however the listings are incomplete due to most of the video masters being wiped in the 70s due to the lack of overseas sales of the programme..he might of appeared on the show,however I cant find any leads..

sunset_traveler
09-27-2010, 06:04 AM
I don't think there was ever a follow up to "Ride A Wild Horse", and it may well have been his last recording. As far as I'm aware he never visited the UK to promote it.

"Nobody But You" Parts 1 & 2 is a recut of his late fifties hit made to sound like it was recorded in front of a "live" audience. The song has attracted several good cover versions over the years, including Garnet Mimms; Willie Hightower and Little Bob & the Lollipops. I even have one or two "gospelised" versions!

One little known fact about Dee Clark was that he co-wrote the classic instrumental "You Can't Sit Down" by the Phil Upchurch Combo, and that it is his voice, not Upchurch's that you can hear shouting encouragement to the band on the record.

jsmith
09-27-2010, 09:34 AM
Thanks for that.

jsmith
09-27-2010, 03:53 PM
A 1960 VeeJay / Abner ad for [[amongst others) a Dee Clark 45 .......
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noah
09-28-2010, 12:00 AM
Hi John

The Kool Gents did a one-time reunion in New Jersey in 2008 as part of a day-long show put on by a filmmaker. I was lucky enough to be there -- they were fantastic. One member had to be hospitalized the day of the show but they still performed. Of course you're surely familiar with the blues career of Cicero Blake who was with them. As far as I know this performance was a one-time affair for the group, although

The guy who put on the show reports that the DVDs are almost ready following many delays caused by a car accident he was in. Full info is at www.blackswansociety.com. There is also a reference to a possible November 2010 show featuring the Kool Gents. If that comes to fruition I'll let you know.

jsmith
09-28-2010, 03:44 AM
The Kool Gents live in 2008 .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAh2HWLqkM
Is that Cicero on lead ??

sunset_traveler
09-28-2010, 09:13 AM
Here is a UK demo of the original version of Dee Clark's "Nobody But You".

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