My career started back in 1958 when I left my High School, Crane Tech in Chicago, IL to go on the road with hit group The Eldorado’s. Their hit song titled, “At my front door" had many singing the Crazy Lil Mama tune. I replaced Pirkle Lee Moses as new The Eldorado’s lead singer.  I knew all their songs! I can attribute that to singing their songs with my local vocal group. We were known as the fascinators (not the recording group). We were just a street corner group who sang at Chicago’s Bud Billican Parade and Westside Parade in Garfield Park.  In High school we mostly sang in the corridors to get the echo sound of acapella harmony. We all had great voices and could really blend. I always had gigs with the Eldorado’s.

 

 I lived in San Francisco, California for about two years. I promised my mother, I would finish my high school education while going to night school in San Francisco while singing on weekends. We were working pretty well for about two years it eventually started getting slower. I was ready to return to Chicago, I was pretty much home-sick and missed my girlfriend.  I was singing with my vocal group earlier in my teens we also sung gospel songs as spiritual singers known as the  “Sensational Starlighters”. I sang lead and we patterned ourselves after Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. We knew all their songs. I was very polished.

 

I would say my mother was the reason for wanting to sing.  Before singing with The Artistics. I would be waiting on dinner in the kitchen and she would be singing and I would just join her she was a gospel chorus singer. When Carl Davis signed me to the company he told me he was going to put me with The Artistics. I was signed to Carl Davis’ management under the direction of Columbia Records on the Okeh label. This gave us our first national worldwide Hit “This Heart of Mine” written by Barrett Strong of Motown Records. Carl signed me on the promise that he would make me a single Artist. He later did another hit after our biggest hit worldwide the Brunswick label “I’m Gonna Miss You” and then my single hit on the Brunswick record label. I sang my song “Time Stopped” during my appearance on the Chicago’s Soul Train hosted by Don Cornelius before he went to California. I also appeared and sang on American Band Stand Hosted by Dick Clark. Time Stopped just took off. I have been blessed to have worked with and have known some of the greatest Artist in the world. Friends such as Michael Jackson (Jackson Five), Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder Temptations, Gladys Knight + Pips, Smokey Robinson + Miracles, Tammi Terrell, Dells, Chilites, Jackie Wilson, Martha and The Vandellas, Tyrone Davis, Jerry Butler, Johnny Taylor, Gene Chandler, Emotions, and James Brown. I was on Curtis- Mayfield record label with my songs “Who Will Do Your Running Now” and “You’re Really Something Sadie” (CurTom).

 I have played in the Apollo Theater, Regal Theater in Chicago, Uptown in Philly, Howard in Washington D.C., New York and many other coliseums, clubs, colleges, venues in the U.S. and England.

 

My Idol? Sam Cooke! I remember talking to Sam Cooke on the phone. I told him I could sing as well as him, I must have been out of my mind (Laugh). He started laughing and told me to send him a tape. I forgot and never did. I loved his voice, that voice was just awesome. He had an awesome personality.Tammi Terell. Tammi Terell had a beautiful personality liked to her laugh. She autographed a picture; I’ve always tried to preserve it. During the time I met her she was crazy about David Ruffin (Temptations), she was just my friend and fun to be around.

 

 I am now recording and hoping to get a record deal I’ll never stop! “That’s my regret”. That I turned down a chance to be with Motown Records.

 

Temptations-Artistics |  Manhattens-Chilites | Staple singers-DellsSupremes | Marvalettes  | Impressions

Highlights

Berry Gordy Jr.

Dianna Ross

 

American Bandstand                          San Diego-Hollywood

Apollo Theater                                      New York

Regal Theater                                       Chicago

Uptown Theater                                   Philadelphia

Howard Theater                                   Washington D.C.

U.K Blackpool                                        England  Northen –England

 

This Heart Mine                                    The Artistics Written by Barrett Strong

Time Stopped                                        Marvin Smith

I’m Gonna Miss You                             The Artistics

Something to Remember                    Marvin Smith

Who Will Do Running Now                   Marvin Smith

You’re really something Sadie            Marvin Smith Written by Curtis Mayfield

 I Wish You Love                                    The Artistics

Hold on                                                    Marvin Smith

What The World Needs Now              The Artistics

Lucky Old Sun                                        The Artistics

With These Hands                                 The Artistics

Get My Hands On Some Lovin            The Artistics Wrritten by Marvin Gaye