By freddyflat5 (205.185.237.44 - 205.185.237.44) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:23 pm:

Just got back from the funeral for Pistol Allen at Swanson's in Detroit, just blocks from where I grew up. It was a very moving send off to one of the great guys..Great drummer, of course, but truly, a nicer guy was hard to find..he'll be missed..everyone was there..Martha Reeves, Ralhpe Armstrong, Marcus Belgrave, Johnny Trudel,Ernie Rogers, and, to our surprise, Stevie Wonder, who spoke to the crowd, and got us to laugh a little when we needed it most, then sang the "Our Father" with the house organist..not a dry eye in the house..my best memory of pistol is, when I worked at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, as he was leaving, he'd always, always, always say " see ya' tonight..!", as it was already about 3:00am, so technically, see you tomorrow was in appropriate..we'll miss you, brother,..

By RJ Spangler (152.163.206.186 - 152.163.206.186) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:46 pm:

I just got home from my tour with Alberta when I found out the funeral was today. Pistol was a great drummer and a helluva nice guy. Damn he's gonna be missed. Glad Stevie made it. He was at Beans Bowles funeral too. Very sad indeed. -RJ

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:46 pm:

Freddie,
Thanks for posting the information. The celebrities that attended the service give credence to Pistol's poularity and talent. We will all keep him in our thoughts.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 07:26 pm:

Fitting indeed.

Thanks for the update.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 02:16 pm:

Thanks to Susan for a great tribute to Pistol in today's Detroit News.

http://detnews.com/2002/entertainment/0207/06/d01-530641.htm

Love the photographs too.

By SisDetroit (67.25.212.63 - 67.25.212.63) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 04:11 pm:

It was a grand homegoing indeed. I cannot describe how touched I was by the services. Being in the mist of these great individuals touched me deeply. Stevie is always there with us, and we love him very much. It was a pleasure meeting Susan, Allen Slutsky, Bob Babbitt, Paul Riser, and many more of the Hitsville Family. A thanks goes out to Bert for extending his love to all, the food was delicious. The musicians who sat in, were great. Even Allen Slutsky sat in while Martha Reeves was singing showing his musical talents (and I'm hoping we got that on a pix.) The singers, including Martha Reeves and Stevie were an extra tribute to "Pistol", and a great treat for the family and friends. Pistol will be missed.

By Sue (152.163.195.212 - 152.163.195.212) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 04:18 pm:

Sis,
It was great meeting you. To everyone, Sis Detroit walked up and guessed who I was, and we exchanged the secret Soulful Detroit handshake.

To both of our surprise, I knew her brother Wendell, a bass player ...had known him waaaay back in the '80s. Detroit is a small town masquerading as a city.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 04:32 pm:

Thanks for the update Sis.

Glad you got to meet Sue.

By Sue (205.188.200.154 - 205.188.200.154) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 05:59 pm:

David,
Anything for Pistol, he gave so much pleasure to others. I hope everything made the family realize how esteemed he was.

We did take photos last night, and already have the caption for the pix of Babbitt and the Funk Sisters: "HELLO MO-FO'S!"

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 07:39 pm:

Thanks to Sis for sending in the Obituary.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 07:44 pm:

and text

By Wendell (67.25.219.234 - 67.25.219.234) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 10:13 pm:

I would like to thank the musicians and friends who attended the memorial services for the great and wonderful drummer of the Funk Brothers, Pistol Allen, of whom I had the pleasure of performing with in the early 80's at an affair for the Former Mayor of Detroit (The late Coleman A. Young). Pistol always said to me "Don't get behind the beat Wendell,", and then he would smile. We were playing upbeat jazz. I will always cherish those musical moments, playing with, and listening to Pistol Allen. I will also cherish the picture I took with Pistol in 2000, remembering how exciting it was performing that good jazz with him. May the Gods be with Pistol.

Last night, I sat in at Bert's Place with some of my favorite Detroit musicians, and talked with Eddie Willis, Uriel Jones, Bob Babbitt, Ernie Rodgers, and many others who have always inspired me through the years. It was also a joy to be sitting at the table with Mrs. Jamerson (Jamerson's widow), and James Jr. who also sat in on a few numbers. James Jr. was lucky to have sat in with Stevie. As we were leaving we had a chat with Ralph Armstrong and he was joking with us, as usual.
"Hello Susan" - It was great seeing you after so many years. I do sometimes read your columns. Stay in touch. Best Regards, Wendell.

By Wendell (67.25.219.234 - 67.25.219.234) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 10:26 pm:

I forgot to mention Joan Crawford, who sang the funeral "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," did a fantastic job. A beautiful rendition.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 12:36 am:

Wendell, thanks for sharing your memories of a sad, but uplifting day.

By HW (68.37.217.106 - 68.37.217.106) on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 11:53 am:

http://detnews.com/2002/entertainment/0207/06/d01-530641.htm

check this out...

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.199.169 - 205.188.199.169) on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 12:42 pm:

Hi everyone. I also attended the funeral. It was a sad day. Pistol had a lot of friends. I spoke briefy with Stevie, and Paul Riser. I also spoke with Sue, Babbitt, Joe Hunter, James Jamerson Jr., John Trudel and Ed Wolfrum. The place was standing room only - a fitting tribute to a good friend and great musician.

Dennis Coffey

By John Lester (213.1.130.238 - 213.1.130.238) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 06:42 am:

HW- thanks for that URL - I had no idea that Esther had a heart attack....thank goodness she is back up and about again.

By SisDetroit (67.25.206.79 - 67.25.206.79) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 02:36 am:

Esther, along with Mrs. Jamerson, Martha Reeves, and Stevie Wonder, posed for pictures with Congressman John Conyers at Bert's Place. Judge Craig Strong was also at Bert's. However, I don't recall seeing Conyers or Strong at the services.
Sis.

By bobbabbitt (67.32.194.198 - 67.32.194.198) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:18 am:

WHILE FILMING THE MOVIE, THE EMOTIONS, THE MAGIC, THE FEELING, AND THE JOY OF PLAYING AGAIN WITH PISTOL WERE EVEN HIGHER THAN THE "HIGHER POWER"
I FEEL THAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME TO HAVE PISTOL IN MY LIFE, THANK YOU PISTOL FOR YOUR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP...YOU WILL BE MISSED....BOB BABBITT

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.201.193 - 205.188.201.193) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 09:45 pm:

Hey Sis. I think I saw Conyers at the funeral.

Dennis

By SisDetroit (67.25.223.88 - 67.25.223.88) on Friday, July 12, 2002 - 11:41 pm:

OK, Thanks Dennis. It was so crowded. I know I missed seeing a lot of people. I called myself supporting James Jr., and my brother, but it took all I had to hold back the tears. As the people were leaving Swansons', I went up front and looked at the pictures of "PISTOL". Great pictures. Allen was still there as they were taking down the VCR, and I took a picture with him and James Jr. Can you imagine how I felt there, posing between those two guys, up front near PISTOL'S pictures, having just seen some of "Standing in the Shadows...?" Just a week ago today.
Sis

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 01:54 am:

Hi Sis. I talked with James Jr., twice that day. I remember when James Sr. and his family first moved to LA. James called me and said he'd be over at 6:00pm. That didn't happen. I was surprized to see James and his family at my door at 10:00pm the same night. I guess they had gotten lost and finally found their way to my house. I was still glad to see them. Pistol and Uriel played drums on Scorpio. When the record first came out, Pistol invited me to a party at his place and played the record for his guests. They liked it even though it wasn't a hit yet. I was also a pall bearer for Bongo Eddie. Babbitt and I talked at Pistol's funeral. We don't even know what to say about it anymore. So many of our friends have left us much too soon. I guess it is now up to God.

Dennis

By Sue (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 04:16 am:

Folks,
Barbara Allen told me that relatives had a private family-only ceremony last week, to lay Pistol to rest at Roselawn Cemetery on Woodward at 12 Mile, in Berkley. His urn is at the columbarium there, for any one who wants to pay their respects.

Rob Tyner of the MC5 is also at Roselawn ...

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79 - 12.245.225.79) on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 02:30 pm:

Sue;
Does the Rob Tyner tombstone say "Tyner" or his real last name (which escapes me at the moment)? We walked in circles forever last summer trying to find it. Also, besides Rob and Pistol, are other legendary musicians buried there?
Steve K.

By Sue (208.232.121.87 - 208.232.121.87) on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 08:24 pm:

Rob's tombstone says Derminer, the family name. Not sure who else is buried there though.

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94 - 64.32.154.94) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 03:00 am:

I'm "just" a fan.....the ultimate "air drummer" who only knew "Pistol" thru the licks I heard, the liner notes I read, & the praise of those who REALLY knew him. In hearing of his passing, I was greatly saddened....knowing that we had lost another great who (like the other Funk Brothers) had never gotten his due. Many thanks to Smokey Robinson who took time out on his local (Los Angeles) radio show to give props & educate the listeners about "Pistol".