By JSmith (195.93.50.10) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 06:28 pm:

Any connection between the CurTOM Eddie Thomas and the guy in the Daylighters by the same name?
ALSO only just realised that Gerald Sims (later to work for Okeh, be in Chess studio band and run the Gerim label -- 45's from Seven Miles High, etc.) started out as the Daylighters git man before assuming the group's lead vocal duties.
What else can forum members tell me about Gerald ??

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 08:27 pm:

Gerald Sims also directed the studio band for several sessions Carl Davis produced for Brunswick Records between 1966 and 1969.

The Eddie Thomas of Curtom fame is not the same guy from the Daylighters.

The Daylighters also included Chuck Colbert, Jr. who later joined the American Breed ("Bend Me Shape Me")& formed the band Rufus (he left before the group recorded "Tell Me Something Good").

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By JSmith (195.93.34.9) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 11:41 pm:

KevGo,
Any chance of getting the story on the Independeant Movement (name change; recording stories) from Eddie.
ALSO.....
can anyone tell me if the Billy Wade (who cut for ABC around 68) was related to Billy Butler & Infinity member (& ace songwriter) Larry Wade --- more questions relating to Chicago soul !!!

By dvdmike (68.72.162.84) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 12:36 pm:

Chuck Colbert's son Catero is an accomplished actor and singer

By Don (68.75.60.155) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 05:27 pm:

To JSmith. If you happen to go by any public library ask of Robert Pruter's book 'Chicago Soul', if it helps. And if your into Doo Wop ask someone there of this same author's book 'Doowop: The Chicago Scene, which I find is better. Both books has like different info on the group you are inquiring about and Eddie Thomas.

By JSmith (195.93.34.9) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 01:18 am:

I have both books but neither go into the full level of detail I am seeking (how could a 'full history' of Chicago doowop / soul be of logical length if it went into full detail on each artist involved !!).
For instance, his soul book makes no mention of a few Johnny Pate produced acts (at both VeeJay & ABC -- artists such as Sam Fletcher, Earl Jackson, Billy Wade) BUT the biggest ommission (IMHO) is the lack of details on Lee Charles Nealy (also to be an Invictus / Hot Wax artist later).

By don (68.77.32.28) on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

To JSmith. The only reason why that I commented on those two books in the first place, I found it to be entertaining. See Chicago kind of hurt itself as being a supposedly real kick ass town in the music scene. But how many books that are out there that gives some kinda detail about Chicago, at least not to my knowledge, I'm not speaking of the Blues books either. I meant that it's a nice springboard of a read. I figured that some groups that you've mentioned had have roots from the 50'S and the 60'S in some respect of some kind of info to help. See, there are not many authors that does real in depth investigating, the one's that are out there are far and few in between that's been there and done that. I do agree that Pruter did some okay things but many of his interviews and some of it's contents we're taking from old interviews. And to be honest, some of the lesser known groups in the Pate camps ( that I know personally ) got so carried away with themselfs that they pulled in anyone they found and got rid of the talent, because of a recording contract, is why in fact that they didn't go to far. I heard rummor Mr. Pate tried to suggest the very same thing to the leader of a girl group from the westside he was producing under his production for ABC/Paramount called The Kittens. The same thing happened when they signed with Chess. The girl they kicked out of the group during the Pate sessions was a girl named Joan Nabors Montgomery, from what I can remember. You know J the book didn't even mention too much of The Ideals, one of the best underrated groups from that side of town. I heard a single release they did up in Detriot called "Mighty Lover" from a Goldmine CD named 'Detroit Undercover'. I know all about the fellas "Go Go Gorilla" they recorded here. J, check out my recent comments (Main Forum) about the Notations.

By ronnie (194.151.28.26) on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 06:45 am:

yes

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 11:39 am:

Hey Folks:
Don has a point regarding books written about the Chicago music scene.

Robert Pruter is a very good author but the information that was compiled for the book "Chicago Soul" came from interviews he conducted for Goldmine Magazine over the course of many years. I'm not knocking his work - it's just that it needs refreshing.

There are several Chicago soul veterans that are still around & I've had the pleasure of meeting as well as working with a few of these folks. When I do get some more free time, I plan on conducting interviews with these folks for future liner note projects and maybe a book if I can carve out the time to commit to such a project.

Here's who is still alive & well in Chicago and even making music - just to name a few:

Carl Davis, Tom Washington (Tom Tom 84), William "Sonny" Sanders, Eddie Thomas, Joshie Armstead, Richard Pegue, Alonzo & Wesley Wells of the Steelers, Ric Williams, Andre Williams, Charles Colbert, Jr., Burgess Gardner, Bobby Robinson (of the David Rockingham Trio), Eugene Record, Marshall Thompson, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, Lowrell Simon (Lost Generation), Gene Chandler, Marvin Smith (Artistics), Tommy Green (Artistics), the Dells, Art Sheridan (owner of Chance Records & former Vee-Jay Records executive), Maurice Jackson (Independents).

Hopefully soon, their stories will be told in fuller detail.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Don (68.75.189.21) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 04:34 pm:

Right on Kev U Go-Go.