By nikki (24.46.200.124) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 10:41 pm:

I've been trying to get Tommy Lockhart to join here.....but in the meantime, I thought I would pass along some interesting tidbits of info gotten directly from Tommy...

Tommy Lockhart who now sings with the SHEPS, today's premier R&B/doowop acapella group in the ciruit, was the lead singer for the Master Four ("It's Not the End").

The Master Four wore many faces. Besides their recordings on Tay-ster as the Master Four, they were also known as the Jet Set on Rojac (also for "It's Not the End").

The Master Four also backed up Barry Mann on "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" for Barry's LP of the same name.

The Master Four also backed up Big Maybelle on "It's Been Raining In My Heart (on Rojac).

Later on, the Master Four recorded that same song "It's Been Raining in My Heart" ala "Temptations-style", but as the International GTO's!

The Master Four (same 4 guys) also backed up Jimi Hendricks on "Freedom" and there they were known as the Ghetto-Fighters!

Probably many of you PRO'S here already know some or all of this info, but thought I'd pass it along anyway to those who don't!

So these guys sure made the rounds & wore many hats!

In harmony,

Nikki
http://www.harmonytrain.com

By Mark Speck (65.56.4.107) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 12:26 am:

Their song "Love From the Far East" is AWESOME!

Best,

Mark

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 11:14 am:

Hi Nikki,

Thanks for the info on the Master Four - I had
NO idea they were also the Ghetto Fighters.

Please continue trying to get Tommy to come on the forum - Rojac's an interesting label and
I'm very curious about its owner Jack Taylor.

AS you might know Big Maybelle did a cover version
of ? and the Mysterians' "96 Tears" which was written by ? (Rudy Martinez) however BMI credits
the song to Jack Taylor - something I'm, to say
the least, sceptical about.

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 12:39 pm:

Is this the same group, " The Master 4", recorded
a cut in the summer of 1967 called, " It's Not
The End" ??????

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

Ooops just got my answer as I misread Nikki's
post, lol sorry.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By nikki (24.46.200.124) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 12:42 am:

Hi Davie G. - Looks like Jack Taylor is shown for writer's credits on other 45s too ....



Nikki
http://www.harmonytrain.com

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:47 am:

Thanks Nikki,

According to his BMI account he wrote nearly
everything issued on Rojac and its sister label
Tayster. I think we have a Don Robey / "Deadric
Malone" situation here where the label owner
either buys the songs outright or just sticks
his name on the credits irrespective of who the
real writer is. There's a couple of Clarence
Reid singles on Tayster which Taylor has registered under his name but Clarence is a well
known Miami based singer/writer/producer who has
,as far as I know, always written his own material.

The record business, dont'cha just love it ....