Free BLINKY From The Vaults - Now!

[copley]

We came so close a few years ago! I'll never give up trying.

SONDRA ‘BLINKY’ WILLIAMS

Blinky was born Sondra Williams on 21st May 1944 in Oakland, California. According to Blinky she got that name because she had a bad habit of blinking a lot due to a nervous twitch. Her father had the same habit. As a child she was called "Blink-Blink" which devolved into Blinky as she grew up.

She was singing from a very young age & had a solid background in the church. In the early '60's she sung with the gospel group the COGICS [[Church Of God In Christ Singers) which such people as Billy Preston, Andre & Sandra Crouch, Gloria Jones & Edna Wright. They released an album called "PRESENTING THE COGICS" [[circa 1964?) via Vee-Jay which was issued on their Exodus Records imprint. The COGICS also released a single on Richard Simpson's own label Simpson in 1964. Later that year, whilst still with Simpson, a further single was released this time on Vee-Jay under the name Sondra Williams. In 1967 Blinky had a gospel album released, again as Sondra Williams, on Atlantic Records SD R-003 called “Hark the Voice”. It is pictured on some of Atlantic’s old inside album sleeves

It was in mid 1967 that Blinky was brought to Motown by the Temptations & their manager at that time. During her 6 year tenure with the company she recorded a lot but sadly released very little. Only four solo singles escaped from the studios plus an album on which she was paired up with Edwin Starr from which only one single was culled. She had four albums scheduled for release but all four titles were cancelled. As to whether they were actually four different albums is something I don’t know but am trying to ascertain. Blinky was notably the voice of the blues singer who sang “Taint Nobody’s Bizness” in the film “Lady Sings the Blues.” She also was the opening act for Sammy Davis Jr and travelled with him to perform for the troops serving in Vietnam. She called Sammy ‘father’ and made an appearance with him on “The Mike Douglas Show”.

There's an interesting Motown connection with John Lee Hooker. He had a couple of albums on the Vee Jay label back in the early 60s, which feature Funk Brothers and Andantes a-go-go. The musicians on ‘Burnin'’ from 1962 are Benny Benjamin, Hank Cosby, Ivy Jo Hunter, Mike Terry, James Jamerson and one other. Vocals on 1963's "The Big Soul Of.." are courtesy of Marlene, Louvain and Jackie of the Andantes, along with [[of all people) Mary Wilson. In 1973, John Lee Hooker released an album on ABC Records entitled "Born In Mississippi, Raised Up In Tennessee" It had just 6 tracks, 3 on each side, and the backing vocalists on side 2 are none other than Oma Drake, Marti McCall and our very own Blinky Williams.

In 1974 Blinky with Jim Gilstrap sang the title song from “Good Times” a US TV show that rang until 1979. Also in 1974 she released one single on reprise as Blinky Williams 'When Love Calls Your Name/Walk With Me Jesus'. She also recorded at least four songs on Motorcity in 1990 'I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is' [[an updated recording), 'Lifesaver', 'Good For Nothing' and 'Fear', which was a duet with Edwin Starr. These recordings produced by Ian Levine have been deleted.

Blinky was credited for backing vocals on Billy Preston's 1984 post-Motown album entitled ‘On The Air’.

In 2006 Blinky married William Powell and indicated that she'd like to record & tour once again. Sadly William passed away in November 2009. Blinky is a member of Yahoo group Motown Treasures.

In August 2010 Paul Williams of Reel Music exclusively announced on Motown Treasures that Blinky’s ‘lost’ album ‘Sunny And Warm’ was being released with two bonus tracks in late 2010/early 2011. Paul made a further announcement that he intended to release another Blinky album in 2011. To date nothing has been released due to the demise of Reel Records. The FREE BLINKY FROM THE VAULTS campaign continues.

In 2012 Blinky returned to performing live and her name has been mentioned alongside other former Motown artists.


Sondra Williams

Albums

Atlantic SD R-003 - Hark! The Voice - 1967
Tracks: Won't It Be Sad / Nobody Like The Lord / Need Somebody / It's A Blessing / I Find No Fault In Him / He's Got The Whole World In His Hands / Heartaches / He Included Me / Hark The Voice / God Bless The Child / Don’t Lift Your Spirit From Me

Singles

Vee-Jay 941 - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands / Heartaches – 1964
Atlantic 7552 - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands / Hark! The Voice – 1967
Atlantic 2432 - God Bless The Children / Heartaches – 1967


Blinky

Albums

Motown 712 - Sunny And Warm - 1970 [[N/R)

Tracks

1. I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is
2. Rescue Me
3. How You Gonna Keep It [[After You Get It)
4. This Man Of Mine
5. It’s Gonna Be Always
6. How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone*
7. Shine On Me*
8. For Once In My Life*
9. I'll Always Love You
10. Is There A Place [[In His Heart For Me)*
11. This Time Last Summer
12. Your Love Was Worth Waiting For*

Bonus Tracks

13. Oh How Happy - Blinky & Edwin Starr
14. You Get A Tangle In Your Lifeline


Soul 735 - Soft And Warm - 1971 [[N/R)

MoWest 111 - Blinky - 1972 [[N/R)

Motown 770 - Softly - 1973 [[N/R)

Tracks

1. Till The End Of Time*
2. I’m Going Crazy*
3. Is There A Place In His Heart For Me*
4. You Pulled The World Right Out From Under Me*
5. Rescue Me
6. Lady Sings The Blues*
7. Sweet Joy Of Life [[solo)*
8. I See A Rainbow [[solo)*
9. If I Were Your Woman*
10. He’s Got Me Going*
11. His Love Will Always Be*

* Unreleased


Singles

Motown 1134 - I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is / I'll Always Love You - 1968
Motown 1168 - How You Gonna Keep It [[After You Get It) / This Time Last Summer - 1970 [[N/R)
Soul 35089 - How You Gonna Keep It [[After You Get It) / This Time Last Summer - 1971 [[N/R)
Mowest 5019 - Money [[That's What I Want) / For Your Precious Love - 1972
Mowest 5033 - T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do / What More Can I Do with Gil Askey – 1973
Motown 1233 - You Get A Tangle In Your Lifeline / This Man Of Mine - 1973


Edwin Starr & Blinky

Albums

Gordy 945 - Just We Two - 1969
Tracks: You've Made Me So Very Happy / I'm So Thankful / Oh How Happy / Let It Be Me / I'm Glad You Belong To Me / I'll Understand / We'll Find A Way / Sweet Joy Of Life / Can't We Be Strangers Again / I See A Rainbow / Ooo Baby Baby


Singles

Gordy 7090 - Oh How Happy / Ooh Baby Baby - 1969


Blinky Williams

Singles

Reprise 1197 - Walk With Me Jesus / When Love Calls Your Name - 1974


The Cogics [[Church of God in Christ Singers)

Singles

Simpson 273 - It's A Blessing / Since I Found Him - 1964


Albums

Exodus - Presenting The Cogics – 1964?
Nashboro - The Cogics – 1981 [[produced by Ed Cobb & Gloria Jones)



Tracks on CD

God Bless The Child:- The Key to the Kingdom - 1995 [[deleted)

I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is:-

Composers Series: Ashford & Simpson - 1990 [[deleted)
Big Motown Hits & Hard To Find Classics Vol.3 - 1987 [[deleted)
Motown Year By Year: The Sound of Young America 1968 - 1995 [[deleted)
Ashford & Simpson Songbook – 2007
TCMS8 - 2007

I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is [[live):- The Motortown Revue Collection disc #4 - 2005

I Can't Turn You Loose [[live):- The Motortown Revue Collection disc #4 – 2005

I'll Always Love You:- TCMS8 - 2007

The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game:- Motown Sings Motown Treasures - 1998 [[deleted) & 2005

Rescue Me:- Cellarful Of Motown Vol 2 – 2005

You Get A Tangle In Your Lifeline: - Readers Digest – The Ultimate Motown Collection Vol 8 – Soul Sisters – 2006 [[deleted)

Can I Get A Witness:- Cellarful Of Motown Vol 3 – 2007

How You Gonna Keep It [[After You Get It):- TCMS10 - 2008

This Time Last Summer:- TCMS10 – 2008

It’s Gonna Be Always:- Cellarful Of Motown Vol 4 – 2010

Money [[That's What I Want):- TCMS12A - 2013

For Your Precious Love:- TCMS12A - 2013


Unreleased Motown Tracks [[not already mentioned)

He's Gone/For Your Precious Love [[medley)
Shoe Leather Expressway
Mr. Soul Brother
Can’t We Be Strangers [[solo version)
You’ll Never Cherish A Love So True


Updated 2nd November 2016

[TomatoTom123]

YES, COPLEY, BLINKY NEEDS TO BE SET FREE FROM THOSE MOTOWN VAULTS!

Thanks for the info by the way, it was excellent. Love the sound of those unreleased Motown tracks. Blinky really was given a bit of a rough deal at Motown, with no less than FOUR cancelled albums. Such a shame.

Do you know why she had all those albums cancelled?

Also, what do you mean when you say Blinky's Ian Levine tracks have been 'deleted'...?

Anyways, FREE BLINKAAYY!

[copley]

I honestly have no idea why poor Blinky kept getting the runaround! She had so many label changes and album cancellations it was hard to keep up! The Ian Levine tracks are no longer available, not that it's a bad thing!

[TomatoTom123]

Thanks copley. Also, I had always wondered how Blinky got her name and now I know!

By the way, I checked and I believe all those Ian Levine tracks are available to download from iTunes. I just bought "Lifesaver" and it downloaded like normal. I like it very much!

[TomBairdFan]

Copley: Adding to the Blinky archive, here's a 10x8 glossy headshot and a transcription of her official Motown Biography from 1969 - spelling and grammatical errors intact. The writer didn't get the duets album title right, either! Needless to say, there's no mention of any planned album releases. It's a nice little bit of history, though.

[[From The Motown Scrapbook)

MOTOWN RECORD CORPORATION
2457 Woodward Avenue / Detroit, Michigan 48201 / 313-965-9250
BIOGRAPHY
BLINKY
MOTOWN RECORDING ARTIST

She's not the first preacher's daughter to make it big, but this attractive young lass with the unusual name is currently teamed with Sammy Davis Jr., delivering a one-two performance that knocks out audiences wherever they play.
One of Motown's latest discoveries, Blinky first caught the attention of Temptations Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams in a Los Angeles Discotheque owned by Tony Curtis and Jim Brown, football star turned actor. Blinky's vibrant and exciting performance wowed these veterans and when the dust settled, Blinky had a recording contract with Motown she immediately launched a tour with the Temptations, creating tremendous interest wherever she appeared.
Born in Oakland, California, and raised in Los Angeles, Blinky attended Fremont High School and Los Angeles City College, majoring in child psychology and elementary education.
Blinky's singing career began at the age of 11, when she sang in church functions across the country. Her late father was a prominent pastor, president of the Baptist Ministers of California, and his dedication to gospel music became Blinky's primary influence. As her talents developed, Blinky even began recording gospel songs, gaining valuable expenience in this aspect of entertainment.
An accomplished musician, Blinky plays piano, violin, congo drums and trap durms, where where she gets exercise as well as practice. While on tour with the Temptations, Blinky became interested in playing the guitar. With a few pointers from Eddie and Paul, both accomplished guitarist, and her own natural ability, Blinky has been teaching herself to play this popular instrument.
After her father's death, Blinky found herself in a gradual transition into show business, yielding to the increasing demands for her talents in a broader area of entertainment and popular music. When Blinky began as Sammy Davis' protege in a premier performance at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, her transition was complete and totally successful.
When she later played a popular night spot in Reno, Blinky afterwards received a letter from the manager, noting the tremendous improvement in her performances since she had played the same club last year. The critics had noticed the change too, giving Blinky excellent reviews to speed the ascent of her star.
While appearing at the Latin Casino, in Philadelphia, Blinky was a guest on the Mike Douglas Show, with Sammy acting as Mike's co-host for the evening. Back in Los Angeles, Blinky was invited by host Hugh Hefner to appear on Playboy After Dark, another coast-to-coast network show.
Since joining the Motown roster, Blinky has had two hit singles - ''I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is'', followed by ''Oh How Happy [[You Have Made Me),'' on which she teamed with Motown star Edwin Starr for great results Blinky and Edwin again joined forces on the follow-up album, ''Oh How Happy,'' which is currently winning them new fans everywhere.
In person, Blinky is even more delightful, for this shapely young star loves mini skirts and wears them ''to the bone,''
''The midi look should be left in the 20's where it belongs,'' Blinky declares of this latest trend in high fashion, ''Maxi coats I dig; the midis I hate,'' she states adamantly. And with a maxi coat to warm her ankles and a mini skirt to warm the hearts of men in the audience, Blinky has no need for half-way measures, in her performance or her dress.

#####

[copley]

Thanks Tom. I can never have too much Blinky

[Roger Polhill]

Blinky appeared on Playboy After Dark and sang "God Bless The Child" -it is brilliant!

[copley]

It sure is a brilliant version

[longtimefan]

"She also recorded at least four songs on Motorcity in 1990 'I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is' [[an updated recording), 'Lifesaver', 'Good For Nothing' and 'Fear', which was a duet with Edwin Starr. These recordings produced by Ian Levine have been deleted."

I just checked and all four of Blinky's MOTORCITY recordings are currently available on Amazon. It might be nice to add them to copley's excellent discography above.

[loofer]

Dear Folks,

Our wishes are coming true:

http://www.realgonemusic.com/news/20...-2-cd-set.html


Coming nov 15!

Ciao, Kees

[TomatoTom123]

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...)-[[11-01-2019)