The Philadelphia Story
I am a firm believer in the Laws of Attraction. It amazes me how the flimsiest of connections can bring people together from all corners of the earth.
The Philadelphia Story is a quartet. I never met them, and never heard them sing, but there was a connection and although flimsy, it was enough to grant them honorary Dayton Group props.
Forty years ago, I was part of a band called The Stone Soul Image. We were invited by our manager’s old friend Fuller Gordy, to come to Detroit and audition for Motown. Our audition started by an opening act gig at the renowned Motor City club, known as the Twenty Grand. The headliner was 
David Ruffin, recently departed from the world famous Temptations. In the process of working on our Motown deal, some of the principals were talking about having us tour with David Ruffin, either as his background singers or as his opening act. The negotiations broke down, primarily because we ranged in age from 21 to 15.
To make a long story short, the group Philadelphia Story got the gig.
Guy Ellington, Monroe Wright (center)
DMGRadio
DMGRadio
The Motown Sounds of Touch
PLAY: From The 2018 EP Release Love’s Holiday
Episode 8 – 2012
PLAY: 29:55 minutes
FACEBOOK – Arthur Stokes
Throwback Thursday Music
The Four Corners
Arthur Stokes/Four Corners
Wow,…Charles, That really brings back a ton of memories! A lot of good times and the early days of forming the Dayton Sound! Floyd does a great job of singing lead on this song. Actually another member Harold Bryant started out as the Lead Singer on this song and did a good job,…..But somewhere along the way Floyd began singing the lead,….and I did always like his lead vocal on this song much better!
Arthur Stokes Hey Charles, Those Jump Suits and Hats were bought in Pittsburgh while we were performing there with The Ohio Hustlers, Leander “Little Lee” Williams and John “Herky” Early both doing vocals with the Band. The picture was actually taken when The Four Corners were in Miami Florida doing some dates in that area. Wow,…….The memories!
(This is what I like about Facebook)
Picture: Funk Music Hall Of Fame
Funk Music Hall Of Fame
The Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center, a.k.a, “The Funk Center”
http://thefunkcenter.org/
Dr. John”Turk” Logan
Turk Logan and Darryl Smith
Darryl R. Smith
The Funk Music HAll of Fame
VISION
To establish a home for the legacy of Funk music by acknowledging the artists who brought this art form to life while showcasing the Funk experience.
MISSION
To house and maintain Funk music memorabilia, where the public, especially children, can be educated about the history of Funk music.
CORE VALUES
1. Accountability- Responsibility of our actions that influence the lives of our customers and fellow workers. More on Accountability
2. Balance- Maintaining Healthy life and work balance for workers. More on Work Life Balance
3. Collaboration-Collaborating within and outside the company to give the best. More on Collaboration.
4. Commitment-Commitment to roll great product, service and other initiatives that impact lives both within and outside the organization. Read more on Commitment
5. Community- A sense of responsibility and contribution to society that define our existence. Read more on Community
6. Consistency-Be consistent in offering the best for wonderful experience. Read more on Consistency.
7. Diversity- Respecting the diversity and giving the best of the composition. Read more on Diversity.
8. Efficiency- Being efficient and effective in our approach to give best solution each time. Read More on Efficiency.
9. Empowerment- Empowering the employees to take initiative and give the best. Read more on Empowerment.
10. Fun- Having fun and celebrating small successes in our journey to achieve big. Read more on Fun.
11. Innovation- To come out with new creative ideas that have the potential to change the world. Read more on Innovation.
12. Integrity-To act with honesty and integrity without compromising the truth. Read more on Integrity.
13. Leadership- The courage to lead from front and shape future. Read more on Leadership.
14. Ownership- Taking ownership of the company and customer success. Read more on ownership.
15. Passion-Putting the heart and mind in the work to get the best. Read more on Passion.
16. Quality-Giving the best and unmatched results for all round satisfaction. Read more on Quality.
17. Respect-Giving due respect to self and others and maintain the environment of team work and growth. Read more on Respect.
18. Risk Taking- Encouraging self and others to take risk for a bright future. Read more on Risk.
19. Safety- Ensuring the safety of people and making sure to give them trouble free experience. Read More on Safety.
20. Service Excellence- Giving the best and world class service and achieving excellence each passing day. Read more on Service Excellence
Greenlife
Greenlife
Dayton, Ohio Rap group. Self published Debut CD: Hungry Intentions
More Info?
AUDIO Hungry Intentions
London Fog & The Continentals Story
London Fog & The Continentals Story
Around 1966, after performing acappella for a couple of years, The Continentels were in a search for a band, after all, everyone else had one, so, although we always killed with our harmony, our humor, and our infectious hand-clapping, we decided that we needed a band.
Bozie and I were both students at Dunbar H.S., while Quinn went to Chaminade, He brought us together with some friends of his from school who were starting a band called the London Fog. (yes, from the raincoat.) It was fun from the jump, and we were ecstatic to finally have a band. (Sidebar; there was another brighteyed, personable young man from Chaminade who we all liked upon meeting him. He expressed an interest in singing with us, but we never got the chance to work him in. His name? Johnnie Wilder (guess he got over it and moved on huh? Our loss.) . I must confess a sense of pride in seeing a Heatwave concert
containing elements of LF&C shows, guess someone was taking notes.
We attacked our stageshows with total abandon, once we had music behind us. The Fog were great pupils of the funk that I taught them to play for us. I like to call them the AWB of the 60’s. They maintained their own identity as well, opening our shows with some Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears. Then we came out, suited, tuxedoed, and gowned, to slam you with some Tempts, some Aretha, or even some Linda Jones or Gene Chandler, before wearing you out with an Otis Redding or James Brown medley to take home with you! We came on stage looking like dignitaries, and left the stage looking like we’d been shot out of a cannon, emotionally and physically drained. And me usually with my pants split. But I digress……
We were ground-breakers as Dayton’s 1st fully integrated band and group, this diversity gave us the ability to kick ass on “either side of the bridge” , so to speak. (Yeah, we caught some flak for it too). We felt that if the show was good enough, People would forget about skin color, and we were right! We were accepted in black and white venues.
We also became the 1st group to have our own television show. It was in 1969. 1:00 on Saturday afternoons, and it was called “Do Your Thing“. We guest hosted many of the artists mentioned, in the DMG. The show ran for two years.
We also cut a hit single, called ‘Easy Mover’ which Loretta sang lead on, written by Brenda Lee Jones.
We did extensive tours of the east coast, enlisting many Dayton artists to fill-in as hosts on the show. (Roger, the Del-vons, the Players etc……)
Besides our club dates, we acted as openers for acts such as David Ruffin (at the Palladium, in fact!). Sam and Dave and the Bee Gees (yes, I said the Bee Gees). From the Diamond Club to the Ebony Club, It was a great, wild ride, and a part of my life that I’ll never forget, or ever regret.
Unfortunately, there is very little paraphenelia that was saved from our group. Hell, we didn’t
know we were making history, (I don’t think that anyone did at the time!). I do know that there is a picture in the Afro-American museum at Wilberforce.
I just thought of something else ; The London fog was’nt our 1st band, we did a short stint with the Fabulous Originals, Lester Mulberry, RAYMOND Mulberry and Bobby Allen. We quit in a labor dispute. We used to do Sunday afternoon matinees at the Palace theater and we found out that while we were paid $5 per show, the band was making $8! Bobby’s grandmother, Angel, handled the finances.
By John Mortimer. (RIP John. We miss you)
The New DMG
(Scroll down to search)
We are finally updating the Dayton Music Guide. During the Construction please visit the old site at Dayton Music Guide
Yes, it was about 43 years ago. The Ohio Players were promoting the record, “PAIN”, at the Lakeview Paladium, and our group, The Stone Soul Image got the opening act gig. We were seasoned veterns of three years. We had opened for the Delfonics twice, David Ruffin and had two Motown auditions under our belts.
That same night, Alan introduced his audience to a young man named Abraham. This guy can sing. He is blessed with a set of vocal pipes that allow him to push notes above a musical bed and let you almost breath his melody, and he does it with seemingly total ease. It was at that moment that I saw the difference in what he does and what I do. He sings, and I sang, and with that knowledge, passed down from sensei – Sugarfoot, 43 years ago, I earn my wings. I used to sing, but now I can sang.
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