Buddy Lamp

**jsmith** · 08-27-2013, 02:08 AM

Buddy Lamp [[Willie Lampkin) enjoyed a long recording career though his commercial successes were few. He started out singing gospel [[on record) in the late 50's with the likes of the Lampkin Sisters and the Violinaires. By 1961, he had hit the floor running on the secular side of the tracks. He cut for some small labels [[Peanut, Top Hat, D Town, Wee, MSC,etc) and some big ones [[Gone, ABC, Duke, etc) and cut down in his native south and up in his new home base of Detroit.
He went on major tours from Day 1, playing gigs in locations such as Carr's Beach [[Maryland) with Sam Cooke & Lloyd Price, in Boston with the Impressions & Marvelettes and in Chicago with the Spaniels, Erma Franklin, the Sheppards & Mitty Collier [[all by Xmas 1961).
His initial 45 outing escaped on the Gone label though Lloyd Price helped out on production. He jumped labels on a regular basis, with many of his outings finding favour on the NS scene [[his Wheelsville 45 cuts in particular).
It has been said that he also cut in the early 60's under the names of Johnny Wess & Johnny West and although the song cut by Johnny West [["Tears Baby" for Soul) was written by Buddy in conjunction with Mike Hanks, it seems more likely that this actually featured one of Buddy's gospel friends under a false name.
Buddy passed away some years back and sadly it seems left little details of his life / long career behind him.
Is there any site on the net [[apart from the Sirshambling page) .... ...
http://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/L/buddy_lamp/
.... that celebrates the man's vocal achievements ?

Here's an example of his work, an ABC track from 1963 ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sFlHf0tK7E

**jsmith** · 08-27-2013, 02:22 AM

Buddy seemed to work quite a lot with Mike Hanks & Cody Black BUT his work with them doesn't seem to get much of a mention even on this sites 'Mike Hanks Story' ........
http://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/

**Kamasu_Jr** · 08-27-2013, 01:21 PM

Buddy Lamp recorded one of my favorite Detroit sounds, You've Got the Loving Touch for Wheelsville. I had a link for it in the Clubhouse earlier in the year. There is footage of him performing the song on Swingin' Time DVD. I'm sure he had other records and I probably have some of them, but I can't remember what they are. I have a Wheelsville compilation. I can look for it.

**Kamasu_Jr** · 08-27-2013, 01:34 PM

Buddy Lamp was one of those entertainers who worked the Detroit nightclubs. Loving Touch received a lot of radio airplay.

**nosey** · 08-27-2013, 01:48 PM

Never heard of him and I agree the Loving Touch is nice. His sound reminds me of the Fantastic Four.

**Soul Sister** · 08-27-2013, 01:53 PM

He sounds so much like Tommy Hunt, at least on "Promise Land".

On "Loving Touch" he reminds me of James Carr a bit, the southern soul sound.

S.S.
***

**jsmith** · 08-27-2013, 03:11 PM

He cut for quite a few labels, Double L, Peanut, Top Hat, ABC, D-Town, Wheelsville, Duke & more.
Here's his 1963 outing for ABC, he was on a 'Chuck Jackson' kick at the time .........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfWflfEMx9s

**jsmith** · 08-27-2013, 03:13 PM

He was still recording in 1979 .......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBcM4lDj680

**theboyfromxtown** · 08-27-2013, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Kamasu_Jr

Buddy Lamp recorded one of my favorite Detroit sounds, You've Got the Loving Touch for Wheelsville. I had a link for it in the Clubhouse earlier in the year. There is footage of him performing the song on Swingin' Time DVD. I'm sure he had other records and I probably have some of them, but I can't remember what they are. I have a Wheelsville compilation. I can look for it.

2nd track. Fab song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH3G7Y25qm4

**Kamasu_Jr** · 08-27-2013, 05:24 PM

I wonder if Buddy Lamp was related to the Lamp Sisters? They recorded for Duke-Backbeat as well and had a small Motorcity hit with A Woman With the Blues. It was kind of old timey. On second thought, Loving Touch could have been recorded in Memphis

**robb_k** · 08-27-2013, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Kamasu_Jr

I wonder if Buddy Lamp was related to the Lamp Sisters? They recorded for Duke-Backbeat as well and had a small Motorcity hit with A Woman With the Blues. It was kind of old timey. On second thought, Loving Touch could have been recorded in Memphis

According to Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven, the Lamp Sisters are Buddy lamp [[Lampkin)'s grandson's great aunts[[all three were sisters). Therefore, I assume that they were Buddy's sisters. They sang as his backup group when he was on tour in the '60s.

**Kamasu_Jr** · 08-28-2013, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by robb_k

According to Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven, the Lamp Sisters are Buddy lamp [[Lampkin)'s grandson's great aunts[[all three were sisters). Therefore, I assume that they were Buddy's sisters. They sang as his backup group when he was on tour in the '60s.

Here's a photo of the Lamp Sisters.
http://bayoucitysoul.files.wordpress...sters-scan.jpg

**nosey** · 08-28-2013, 10:35 AM

Love the picture, Kam.

**nosey** · 08-28-2013, 10:43 AM

theboyfromxtown, thanks for that video. I especially liked seeing the Mag men. That reminded me sooo much of seeing them at the Uptown.

**soulwally** · 08-29-2013, 07:49 AM

I'll echo that from Nosey. I just love that Magnificent Men song. And, audio only, there was the superlative Association in there too.

**Kamasu_Jr** · 09-02-2013, 11:37 AM

The Lamp Sisters' Motorcity hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3JN4GKq9Aw

**imnokid** · 09-03-2013, 05:12 PM

Bettye said the Lamp Sisters often backed Buddy on live shows.
She said Jim Lewis tried to make sure that they were on programs. He didn't care HOW they sounded, he liked their big booties!

**Kamasu_Jr** · 09-03-2013, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by imnokid

Bettye said the Lamp Sisters often backed Buddy on live shows.
She said Jim Lewis tried to make sure that they were on programs. He didn't care HOW they sounded, he liked their big booties!

LOL. I did notice the Detroit lean and the cleavage in that photo.

**nosey** · 09-03-2013, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Kamasu_Jr

The Lamp Sisters' Motorcity hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3JN4GKq9Aw

Y'all overdosing me on all this new music! Again, too much sugar...............

**Kamasu_Jr** · 09-03-2013, 09:26 PM

Glad you liked it Nosey. It has to grow on you because it was so old fashioned. Motown was thriving, Stax too and here's this record that sounded like it came out in the Fifties.