Otis Redding

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There is a great movie unmade that should be made about Otis Redding. He married a woman named Zelma which he met in Macon, Georgia, in 1959. They were married in 1961 and Otis died in 1967. According to Zelma, Otis never saw color and he always had time for the big man and the little man. It just did not matter to him. That’s why so many people knew and loved him a lot. Zelma would tell Otis how nice he sang, and he would always say that he couldn’t sing. He would say that he could gimmick real good. Well, from what I hear when I hear his voice, it’s some pretty good gimmicking. The man could sing.

If someone makes a movie about Otis Redding, there would probably be some action in the movie. I was reading some words from a man name Alan “Red” Walden. According to Alan, Otis was not a violent person. You nearly had to pin him against the wall to get him to react, but once he did, you never forgot it. Alan said, “One night in North Carolina, he was down on his knees singing “These Arms Of Mine”, when this guy got jealous of Otis’ effect on his wife. Otis had his eyes closed while he was singing, and this guy walked up on the stage and belted him in the face….Otis finished the song, stood up, got off the stage, and beat the ……out of this guy in front of everybody. A policeman was there, and he kept saying, “Hit him, Otis, I didn’t see a thing,” while Otis beat the crap out of this guy.”

If a movie is ever made about Otis Redding, the sad part would be his death. According to Zelma, the morning he got killed, he called her around eight in the morning. Otis sounded kind of down. He told her that he was tired. There was more that she said he said, but I’m feeling too sad to write the rest. However, I would love to see the good memories of Otis Redding made into a movie.

Marvin Gaye_Troubled Man

The song Marvin Gaye wrote, What’s Going On, means a lot. If Marvin just could have seen what was going on in his own life before his end, he might would have been living today. He was talented and gifted and had to find his way in music. There was so much in music that he could do, and he had so many styles. I think Marvin was unsure of himself because he needed his father to be proud of him. He needed his father to say, “Yes, Son, it’s alright what you are doing. The music business becomes a sin when you have too many women, drugs, and sex. Stay away from it.” I think Marvin Gaye had a jealous father, and he hated his son. No matter what Marvin did, Marvin did not seem to please him. Parents back then seemed angry when their children didn’t do things their way. They were hard and sometimes mean. Maybe that’s how they were brought up. I don’t believe it was always right.

Marvin Gaye's father was a minister. According to Marvin's sister (Jeanne Gay), Marvin was a free spirit, and he didn't like to be told what to do. It is also said that Marvin's father always told him that he didn't know where he came from, and that Marvin was not his son. He told Marvin that he had too much of the devil in him. It is also said that Marvin's father was a strange man and wore female clothing. I think that Marvin's father thought that Marvin was going to be a better man than himself. Marvin's father would often beat Marvin when he was naked. Marvin and his father were not close, but Marvin loved his mother. She was there to defend him and encourage him. That is what Marvin needed from his father. He also needed his father to love him. Marvin's mother is probably the reason he became a great star. She told him he would be one day.

To me, Marvin was a great Gospel singer. However, he had talent singing love songs too. His father did not like it because he felt that Marvin was leaving his calling. I think Marvin's father and his beliefs had a hard effect on Marvin's life. Marvin had a struggle inside about good and evil. Marvin said, "I think we have two sets of gods in us. We have to decide which power we are going to serve."


  

As far as Marvin singing the blues, I really don't think that he has done wrong. A love song is simply a song telling someone how much you love them. I do not think that it is a sin unless you do it through lust. Lust is a sin and not love. Love comes from God. He meant for us to fall in love, to marry, and have families. The way Marvin was taught is that he was a devil. Marvin probably thought that he was not loved by God or his father with guilt inside that he was doing wrong. I think it got to the point that Marvin just started doing wrong. If you tell a child over and over again that they are bad, then they are going to be bad.

Children need some freedom to grow and enjoy. They must be children until they grow up. Becareful what you say to a child and show them love. Teach them what is right the right way. Explain to them what they are doing is wrong and how it is wrong. Teach them that God will always love them. God always loved Marvin, and I believe he is great in mercy. Sometimes the things that happen in our lives is not our fault. Maybe Marvin's father needed help in his life somewhere down the line. God knows all about each and every one of us. He's the one to talk to. Let God be your strength and guide. When you are weak, he will make you strong. Never stop seeking God. Marvin became weak and tired and his life was taken. I have learned a lesson from Marvin Gaye. The sad thing is Marvin was killed by his own father.

The Temptations

The Temptations were a talented and big group at Motown. They sound  soulful and religious singing blues. Otis Williams was the leader of the group that brought them all together. He had a tenor voice. There was Eddie Kendricks. He had a high pitched voice. There was Paul Williams with a baritone. Melvin Franklin had a deep bass voice, and David Ruffin had a raspy sounding voice. The Temptations were the biggest and baddest (best) singing group at Motown. When they sung their hit, “ My Girl”, you could hear how they blend wonderful. My favorite part is when Eddie goes “My girl”, then Paul going higher behind him, and David goes even higher after Paul. They made “My Girl” a beautiful song.


There was a movie made about the Temptations in 1988. According to the movie, there was anger in the group. The guys could not get along. David Ruffin was always late, and they voted him out of the group. Fans loved the Temptations, and fans really loved David Ruffin. The guy that played as David name was Leon Robinson. Leon looked like David’s twin. I didn’t know David in real life, but if I didn’t know Leon was Leon, I would have thought he was David. Not only Leon, but all of the characters did wonderfully and made you think you were watching the original Motown.

After David left the group, he went solo and made hits. Then Eddie Kendricks left the group too, and he went solo. Then the Temptations had a reunion tour. After that, according to the movie, David Ruffin died a tragic death, and Eddie Kendricks died of lung cancer. The Temptations were a great singing group at Motown that will always be remembered.

Florence Ballard (The Strong Voice of the Supremes)

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Article by: Gail Nobles

Primettes to Supremes
We know that there is Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong which are known as the Supremes. The Supremes began as a quartet called the Primettes. Then it was Diana, Mary, Florence Ballard, and Betty McGlown. It is said that in 1960, Barbara Martin replace McGlown. They were the sister act to the Primes later known as the Temptations. The Primettes later became known as the Supremes. Florence Ballard was replaced in 1967 with Cindy Birdsong. This is when Barry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes. It is said that the reason Barry chose Diana to be lead singer because it would help the group cross over to white audiences. **Well, that’s what Barry wanted, but he should have also paid attention to the strong voice of Florence Ballard. Sometimes a strong voice is needed for messages in certain songs to reach people from all walks of life. Anyway, Diana left the group and was replaced with Jean Terrell. It was 1970 that Diana left the group for a solo career.

Florence Ballard
Florence Ballard had a very strong voice. What happened to her? It is said that Florence had a drinking problem. She was sometimes too drunk to appear on stage. That’s when Cindy Birdsong became permanent in the group.

When I was small, my mother introduced the music of the Supremes to me, and she often told me that there was a Supreme that had a better and stronger voice as a lead singer. Now, I know that it was Florence. I never heard her sing. My mother told me that Florence had some problems.

Solo Career
It is said that Florence did have a solo career. She had two singles. “It Doesn’t Matter How I Say It (It’s What I Say That Matters),” and “Love Ain’t Love” on ABC records. Her singles failed to chart, but she kept on trying. In 1971, Ballard unsuccessfully sued Motown for payments she believed were owed to her. **Somehow, I feel deep down inside that Motown owed her some money too. A lot of cheating was done in the music business and cheating is still going on. People were not getting paid what they should have gotten paid in those days.  If any wrong was done to Florence, pay up time will come. We have to pay before we leave this world because of the wrong we do or it’s possible to pay in hell if we don’t repent.


Career Ends
Florence  had children and her husband left her. Her career ended and her house was seized by foreclosure. Things were rough for Florence. **It is said that Diana Ross heard about the foreclosure and offered her help to save the house, but legal issues made it not to happen. I have heard a lot of negative things about Diana Ross, but this news from the past was the best that I have heard. Nobody can judge a person’s heart, although, we all have faults.

Florence Death  
In 1976, Ballard died of a blood clot in one of her coronary arteries. She was thirty- two years old. Florence had a great singing voice, and it’s a sad that things happened the way that they did. **Maybe she was meant to sing in Church for the Lord. I hope that’s what she is doing now. What Florence has done on earth is nothing compared to what she could be doing in heaven now. There’s no more cheating, hurt, pain, sickness, and heart breaking. Hopefully Florence is with the one above that gave her the voice where she can sing all she want to happily. Her life can be perfect and right, and she can do what’s right in heaven. Florence can drink the pure wine and not get drunk. If she can see the Supremes now, I’m sure she wants them to do what is right. She would want them to put the past behind them and be close as sisters so that they could all some day be together.

Eddie Kendricks

This is an old interview of Eddie Kendricks. He shows his respect and talks about Rosa Parks

Mary Wilson_Come See About Me

All that I can say is that Mary Wilson can throw down. I believe the Supremes can still be as big as they were when they were with Diana Ross.

All I Need is Some Sunshine in My Life - Dixie Nightingales

Chalice (record label) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the British record label. For information on the American gospel music Chalice label, see Stax Records. ...

Marvin Gaye_What's Going On

The words to this song, "What's Going On", tells the story of yesterday and today. Marvin wrote what he saw and felt. That makes a song real. We need more artists like Motown artists to bring back real music.

Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 dances

According to Wikipedia, “Land of a Thousand Dances” (or “Land of 1000 Dances”) is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. Famous for its “na na na na na” hook, which was added by Cannibal & the Headhunters in their version of the song in 1965, the song’s best-known version was Wilson Pickett’s 1966 recording on his album The Exciting Wilson Pickett.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown_Funk Brothers

This video proves that Motown music is still alive and real. It should never die.

Respect Yourself_The Stax Records Story PBS

It seems that Stax music had something powerful to say. Their music seemed loud, strong, and soulful. Stax is known as Soulsville. Stax Music is truly about soul. When I was small, I strongly remember Otis Redding from Stax Records. "Sitting on the Doc of the Bay" was my favorite. I use to sing that song, and I didn't really know the meaning like I know the meaning now. Knowing and feeling makes the difference when you sing, and that's what Stax Music was all about.

The Sound of Motown

I was born in 1971. All of my life I have been hearing the Motown Sound. The Motown family was all about real music and still is. It is a sound that has died in a younger generation. However, when that generation learns about Motown, they grow to love it like I did. When they do, they are hooked. I see a younger generation watching the Temptation's movie a hundred times. So the music really is not dead. We just need to bring it back and keep it alive. The real music like Motown.