By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 02:45 pm:

Hey Gang:
I need some information regarding this group the legendary Johnnie Mae Matthews may have produced during her long tenure (doing research on Detroit legends for one of my clients). If anyone has any info to volunteer (label, songs, group members), please post away!
Thanks!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By David Meikle (81.98.128.186) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:03 pm:

Not sure who you mean Kev.

Our next webisode circa March/April will be Johnnie Mae.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:06 pm:

David:
It may be a group her daughter Kaiya Matthews was involved in.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Funky Compton Ca (4.60.54.238) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:15 pm:

The name of the group was the ADC Band. ADC is short for Aid for Dependant Children. They had a song out in 1979 called Long Stroke.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Funky:
Gotcha on ADC Band - already have particulars.
Need to know if General Assistance was a spinoff group.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

Kev,
I'm probably wrong about this - funk bands aren't
one of my areas - but I've a feeling that General
Assistance was the name of the label used by the
ADC Band for a few local-only singles before they
were signed up by Cotillion.

Davie

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.55) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Kev,
there was a record on the Northern record Label by a General Assistence name that recorded a northern 45 titled
'pleasing plump/Im looking for my roots'.
mel.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

Mel:
That's it! Thank you so much!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 05:30 pm:

DMeikle - I don't know Johnnie Mae's daughter, but when you talk to her, ask her about Kim (Bates) Smith who used to sing with her and her brother, and traveled with the ADC band. I was in a choir with Kim's mother in the early 70's.

By Paulie3shoes (151.197.41.191) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

Gen'ral Assistance.. must be a paisan but I dont remember him from 'Nam!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 06:19 pm:

SisDetroit:
Audrey Matthews will be in NYC on Wednesday on business. I will be seeing her that afternoon. I will relay your message to her.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 08:04 pm:

Thanks Kevin. Kim's father was the late J.C. Smith who was baritone with the Fantastic Violinaires. I don't know if he was with the Violinaires when Wilson Pickett was in the group, or shortly thereafter. Kim lives in Detroit on Santa Rosa with her mother Erma.

By stillsoulin (213.122.214.225) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

hi, i have seen a record by the general assistance on northern records, titled "cut your motor off" i assumed this was an earlier release of the black nasty track of the same name. it was produced by the ADC band i think, so this would all tie in with jonnie may mathews. hope this helps.
rob.

By Marcel Visser (62.194.44.181) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

Johnnie Mae Mathews earlier work was with her group Black Nasty which recorded one album for Stax Records the group renamed themself into The Nazty and recorded another album for Nashboro Records in the late 70's, Mathews again changed the name of the group into ADC Band which recorded 4 or 5 albums for Cotillion. Several 45.s were recorded even before the Black Nasty period. She released about 25 singles as Johnnie Mae Mathews released in a period from 1959 till 1980 several 45's on Atco, Northern, Blue Rock, Audrey, Big O, Sue. Reel, Spokane, Blue Rock, Jam, Art, Atco, Big Hit and Cotillion.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Hey Folks:
Thanks so much for the info. I just got through with my meeting with Audrey Matthews & she sends her regards to all here at Soulful Detroit.

David Meikle:
Maybe Audrey could be of some help to your upcoming webisodes. Let me know if you need her particulars (she was thrilled to see the photo of her Mom on the website).

SisDetroit:
Audrey barely remembers Kim Bates. She said that so many folks worked with the ADC Band and even her stay only lasted 2 or 3 albums. If she saw Kim, she would remember her.

Best to all,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:31 pm:

Thanks Kev - Did you ask her to come aboard?

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:39 pm:

Does anyone know whether Al McKenzie was with the ADC Band?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:43 pm:

Sis:
I'll ask her when she gets back to Detroit.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By acooolcat (210.201.192.198) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 09:15 pm:

Hi Kevin
I've met and interviewed Audrey regarding the future story about Johnnie Mae.
Thanks, Graham

By dvdmike (12.84.21.112) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 10:21 pm:

Does anyone know at what studio The Distants cut "Come On"? Did Johnnie Mae produce it?

By David Meikle (213.122.38.144) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 04:29 am:

Thanks for that offer Kevin.

Graham's webisode will be live by April.

Please ask Audrey to check it out later, thanks.

David

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 12:13 pm:

DMeikle - Are you speaking of Graham Finch?

By acooolcat (210.201.192.198) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 04:21 am:

Sis - Yes, David is refering to me.
dvdmike - I think "Come On" might have been cut at Special... I'll check.
Graham

By acooolcat (210.201.192.198) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 04:23 am:

Mel - Do you have a copy of Northern #01002?
Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.12) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 06:30 am:

Sorry Graham,
I havent.