re: Philadelphia International Records:
After reading our piece on the demolition of the Philadelphia International Records building in Philadelphia, our British Dee Jay Buddy Geoff Dorsett was inspired to try to set up a phone interview with either Kenny Gamble or Leon Huff. Good Luck, Geoff ... let us know if you pull this off ... and when and where we can tune in to listen! (kk)
Hi Guys
I read with great interest the great tribute by Kent Kotal of Forgotten Hits about the Philly building. I am a UK radio presenter who specializes in phone interviews ... 1400 in the last seven years including Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Valerie Holiday, The Eagles, Chicago, The Stylistics and many, many more.
See website: www.softrockshow.co.uk for gallery and audio.
I also present a soul radio show every Saturday night. I would be delighted if one of the guys, Kenny or Leon, would be my phone guest sometime.
Regards
Geoff
Geoff Dorsett
Radio Presenter
Hi, Kent,
That was an excellent retrospective profile on the demise of the Philadelphia International / Gamble & Huff / Cameo - Parkway facility. I admire the detail of your research and the perspective you lend to your articles.
Best regards,
Jeff March
Co-author, "Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone?" -- Volumes 1 & 2
Kent,
A truly wonderful piece on Philadelphia International Records. Thanx for sharing the vibes of this
legendary music palace. Your passion reminded me of the first time I cut TV spots at the historic Brill Building in New York back in the early 90's.
Philly has lost a shining star, a legacy of memories. I can hear the O'Jays harmonizing on "Love Train." Gamble and Huff defined music in the 70's, music that will endure for endless generations.
Chet Coppock
Author: Chet Coppock: Laying it on the Line
Host: Chicago BlackHawks Heritage Series
Ironically, our DJ Buddy Stu Weiss interviewed James Rosin on his program last weekend ... James wrote an EXCELLENT book on the Philly Music Scene (which we've mentioned several times before in Forgotten Hits) and that show is now archived so you can listen to it any time you like! More details below ...
For those of you who missed my interview last Friday night with James Rosin please note that it is now available on our website. James talks about the Philadelphia music scene / the artists / the dee jays, etc. ...very enjoyable and quite informative. Just go to our website: www.oldiesyourway.com ... and click on "Interviews".
Stu
Hi Kent,
When I got this email from you with the subject line, "End of An Era," I shuddered a moment, wondering who else might have passed away. The death march of our musical heroes has rapidly been picking up its pace as of late. While relieved to find that no one had perished, I was truly heartsick to see that 309 S. Broad Street had a date with the wrecking ball.
Like you, Kent, I had the very good fortune to visit the offices and studio of Philadelphia International back in 2008 for an interview I did with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. Here, for those who are interested: http://scottpaton.writersresidence.com/system/attachments/files/36665/original/Gamble_Huff_Interview.pdf?1395546974
Back in their 1970s heyday, when I was doing a half-dozen interviews a week or more as part of my job at "American Top 40," my attempts to land a conversation with Gamble & Huff were always rebuffed. They were just too busy. So, by the time the opportunity arose 30 years later, my admiration for them had only grown, and to be conducting the chat in the very room where a vast majority of those Philly International hits had been cut was the cherry on the sundae.
I'll confess, I was just a bit nervous when I arrived that day, such was the esteem in which I held Gamble & Huff. And in every photo I had ever seen of them, they looked so stern and inscrutable, staring down the lens of the camera. But what I found when I met them (as our scheduled half-hour turned into a two-hour session at the mic) were two of the most down-to-earth individuals you could hope to meet. Despite their wealth and acclaim, there was not an air about them. Frankly, I've never met anyone else at their tier of success in this business that were that unaffected and as eager to share the credit of their achievements with their colleagues.
If Kenny and Leon had been pretentious or full of themselves, it would have done nothing to lessen my love for their music, but imagine the added joy at discovering that they were such a nice couple of guys. On two subsequent occasions, I was invited up their way for a couple of events and, in both instances, was greeted with generous hospitality by not only the two of them, but their associates as well -- most notably, Chuck Gamble (Kenny's nephew and the President of Philadelphia International) and Craig White, the studio manager and a talented record producer in his own right.
So, aside from the awe I held for the facility at 309 S. Broad Street anyway, there's an element of personal affection for the site as a result of the very nice and gracious experiences I've had there. And like their counterparts in Detroit (Motown), Memphis (Sun Records) and other locations, when you step into these buildings, you feel something tangible, even sacred in the air. The walls are imbued with echoes of the souls of the men and women that worked there, united in the creation of music that evoked emotion in listeners up the street and around the world. That may sound a little exaggerated and melodramatic to some -- and granted, I am a musichead -- but others with whom I've spoken with a lesser appreciation for music history have felt those spirits, too.
Adding to this effect at Philly International was the fact that the offices there had literally gone unchanged since the early-'70s, and the studio since the earlier Cameo-Parkway days. Kenny laughed and said Huff never wanted to change a single thing there, right on down to the shag carpet, because it might "disrupt the magic" with those walls.
So as you saw, too, Kent, walking in that front door and taking that early-20th Century elevator upstairs was like stepping into a time machine.
But the magic did get disrupted there when that drunken arsonist torched the place several years ago. On my last visit there a while back, Chuck Gamble told me that restoration was in the works, but I guess it proved too daunting. And the futility of trying to re-create something that had been preserved so long, almost to the point of antiquity, must have finally prevailed. I can only imagine how hard it was for Kenny & Leon to make the decision to finally let the building go. While there's talk of establishing a museum somewhere in Philly honoring the local record labels, where would it have been better located than 309 S. Broad Street? This loss is truly an historic tragedy.
Regards,
Scott Paton
I also got this email from legendary producer Joe Tarsia, who built Sigma Sound Studios during the Cameo / Parkway days, which carried over well into the Gamble and Huff Philadelphia International days as well. He tells us that we've got some of our facts wrong ... but I can only tell you that what we reported is what we were told during our tour of the P-I facilities a few years ago ... and the general perception absolutely was that this was, in fact, a fully functioning studio churning out a boatload of hits.
We promised to do a bit more digging ... and plan on talking to Joe one-on-one in the near future to nail down a few more details. Meanwhile, here is what he is telling us ...
Forgotten Hits,
Your article, while a great story, is seriously inaccurate.
I was Chief Engineer at Cameo Parkway when in 1963 we built two recording studios at the 309 South Broad Street location. When Gamble, Huff & Bell bought the building in or around 1970, the big studio was converted into offices and the small room was strip of the equipment and laid dormant. From 1968 to 1988 all Gamble, Huff and Bell music was recorded at my Sigma Sound Studios.
In 1974, to handle overflow at Sigma’s 212 N 12th Street location, Sigma rented the space from G, H & B and equipped it. It was known as Sigma Sound South. At the end of the lease in 1988, Gamble and Huff took back the studio and used it mainly for archiving and creating completions. This is not to detract in any way from the site’s great history but where the music was recorded, and truly the home of the Philadelphia Sound is Sigma Sound Studios at 212 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Some of the other noted artists, producers and labels that made all or some of their music at Sigma Philadelphia include, Tom Moulton, WMOT Records, Salsoul Records, the Village People, Loleatta Holloway, Chuck Brown, Baker, Harris and Young, the Trammps, Steve Wonder, Todd Rundgren, B. B. King, David Bowe, Billy Joel, to just scratch the surface.
I would be more than happy to talk with you at your convenience. It is amazing to me how everyone tries to put their own twist on history. I would be happy to give you my slant, most of which can be documented in the archives at Temple University Library and at Drexel University.
Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you.
Joe Tarsia
Musicians at Sigma 12th street studio
Philadelphia Bulletin 1977
Leon Redbone & Hank Williams JR. Sigma Studio 1
re: More Freddy:
Vintage Vinyl News picked up our story about Freddy's recent surgery ... AND the discovery of his original demo recording of "She's My Rock And Roll Baby", the song that became "Tallahassee Lassie". Cool to see that they're helping to spread the word! (kk)
Click here: Freddy Cannon Has Successful Quadruple Bypass Surgery ~ VVN Music
Hi kk ...
It's Rick Levy ...
Haven't heard from Freddy in a while ... used to play for him and book him.
I didn't know about his recent surgery - glad to hear he's doing all right.
RICK
P.S. I just spoke to Freddy ... he sounded weak ... but in good spirits.
Our FH Buddy Tom Cuddy has been talking to him, too, and his wife Jeanette as well. It's going to take awhile, but Freddy's going to come back from this just fine ... to quote Chicago, "Feelin' Stronger Every Day!!!" (kk)
Thought you'd like to see a photo of Freddy a friend of mine took a number of years ago.
Joel O'Brien
Randolph, VT
Hey Kent -
Furvus, Ken Evans, of The Fifth Estate here. I just have to write on the Freddy Cannon pieces you've just put out. Great info! And many of the things I never knew about Freddy and the record "Tallahassee Lassie." Never realized the Boston connection, or the Ace Studios connection there, which I was in around 1962 or so. To me Freddy was really the bridge between the first blast of rock and roll with Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Bo. He not only helped, but to many maybe almost single-handedly carried that early rock and roll feel, which was on the wane in 59 / 60, into 62 - 3 - 4 when the British started reimporting it again with The Beatles, The Searchers, The Kinks and the like. But all the elements of these bands were clearly already in Freddy's stuff, especially Tallahassee Lassie. I didn't so clearly recall that till you posted the tune just now. Thanks!
Also, as I'm writing this some kind of bell went off with one of the tunes on our new Take The Fifth album just out. I just brought up our It's Not Right song from that album and I include it here. If you set this up next to Freddy's tune for the folks, I think they would see what I mean, maybe? It would be interesting to me if some here think Freddy's is still having it's effect on what The Fifth Estate has recorded more than fifty years later. No copyright violations I hope!! Sheesh. Honest we never mentioned or directly thought of Tallahassee Lassie at the time this was being done, but to me listening now, the arrangement, the instrumentation, the guitar sounds and type guitar solo, the little harmony answer backs, virtually the same beat and tempo, and even Ricky Engler's voice on that one even sounds just like Freddie - still!! I think. Exact same subject matter!! Some kids never grow up!! So Freddy lives in us still maybe.
It'll be truly interesting for us to know if others feel or hear this as well. But we love this kind of music. It's just too bad that there are no Arnie Ginsburgs around today to help everyone realize all this.
By the way, if some wish to pick up our new Take The Fifth album, just be careful if you already have Time Tunnel. That was our slightly earlier independent release. They have many of the same songs, although the new album has some different material and the overall effect is different and we now have major league distribution. But we don't want all the great folks who already bought Time Tunnel to be disappointed. And we have been getting a lot of fan mail like the following about the new one, so something is happening. And in spite of no Arnie Ginsburg, the record and the word seems to be getting out ... check out this review from a week ago or so:
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2014 2:31 PM
Subject: "Take The Fifth" Awesome Cd !
Hi from Wisconsin -
Lucky for me that I live in a city that has a real music store - "The Exclusive" - is one of the best independent music stores ever. I was looking thru the music - pretty much like I have continued to do since the mid 1960s and I was quite happy to see your CD. Yes, I did remember the group and wondered if this could be the same group that I still remember. It appears that you guys are the real deal and still making AWESOME MUSIC! I am enjoying "Take The Fifth" so very much and have listened to it five time straight since buying it this morning. I plan to buy the "Time Tunnel" CD also. May I ask - any possible way to get you guys to autograph a CD booklet or something for me.
Thank you for listening. :-)
John
Told John yup and watch out for Time Tunnel. Also said he might prefer The Fifth Estate - Anthology one of our older stuff and / or our early rock and roll now out as a VINYL! ALBUM!
Available at Get Hip and Break-A-Way. http://thefifthestateinfo.com/
Thanks, Kent -
Ken
Kent,
I had an "oldies" band in the 90's and we backed Freddy at an event. I don't know if he'll remember me from that but a short time later he might remember sitting next to my mom (and me being mentioned) on a flight from Chicago.
Positive vibes coming your way Freddy!
Davie Allan
Kent and Forgotten Hits:
How wonderful it is to see all of the incredible tributes to the one and only Freddy Cannon! In the world of rock stars and country stars today emulating the classic stylings of 1950s and 1960s rock & roll, Freddy is a true original. His songs still stand up today as crisp, clear and filled with excitement as the day they were recorded. The fact that Cannon is able to sing his mesmerizing catalogue of hits with the sound and energy that made them hits five and six decades ago is a blessing to us all. I had the honor of helping Freddy write his memoirs recently, and I am so happy that he was able to share his vivid memories in the book "Where the Action Is!" Now that Freddy is on the mend, my sincere prayers and good wishes are with him. I know that he will be up and singing in no time, and what a celebration that will be!
I think that it is about time the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honor his many musical achievements! Much love to you Freddy! I look forward to cheering you on when you return to the performing stage.
Sincerely,
Mark Bego
Sometimes it gets a little frustrating doing Forgotten Hits ... you know you are doing it for all the right reasons but there aren't always the "rewards" one might expect for all the effort expounded churning this out every single day. (And I don't just mean financial rewards ... although that's been a HUGE disappointment as well ... I've long since given up any notion of turning this into a money maker ... but every once in a while there is REALLY something special that makes this labor of love so worthwhile ... that personal "feel good" feeling you get when you know you've really hit home with something. It doesn't happen all that often ... but when it does, it acts as a magical reminder of just how special doing Forgotten Hits can be.)
Today (after running our Get Well Wishes to Freddy Cannon) it all came home to remind me of why I really do this in the first place ... when I got this incredibly moving and touching email from Jeanette Cannon, Freddy's wife ... it reminds me again of WHY I do WHAT I do. (kk)
HI KENT,
THIS IS JEANETTE, FREDDY'S WIFE. WE'VE NEVER MET BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM EVERYONE WHO KNOWS YOU, YOU'RE THE BEST OF THE BEST.
THANK YOU FOR FINDING THE SHE'S MY ROCK AND ROLL BABY AND YOU KNOW ACETATE. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME AND FREDDY.
FREDDY AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
HE HAS GONE THROUGH A GREAT ORDEAL AND EVERY DAY IS GETTING STRONGER. YOU HAVE LIFTED HIM UP SO MUCH. HE THANKS YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF HIS HEART AND SO DO I.
AS SOON AS HE GETS STRONGER, YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM PERSONALLY.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT US SO MUCH LOVE AND GOOD WISHES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD
SINCERELY,
JEANETTE CANNON
And then this ...
THANKS, KENT!
YOU JUST LIFTED ME UP SO VERY MUCH WITH YOUR KIND WORDS.
WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
LOTS OF LOVE AND GOOD WISHES GO OUT TO YOU.
SINCERELY,
FREDDY AND JEANETTE
XOXOXXOXO
Thanks, guys ... and the "well wishes" keep coming (as evidenced above.)
Glad to hear that you're feeling better and I know it'll be a bit of a recovery period ...
But I want you to promise me that once you're feeling better, you'll bring your show out here to Chicago so all of us can see the great Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon live in concert! (kk)
re: JIM PETERIK:
Wow! Epic writing! Glad u dug it!!
Keep rocking!
Jimbo
Kent,
Sorry I did not ever find time recently to send in a review of Jim Peterik's wonderful look back at his life SO FAR. Due to a family medical emergency, I did not have any time to do so.
I will agree whole heartedly that the book is indeed well worth reading. Sometimes, it can be tough because the situations were not happy at times, but there were just as many or more happy times for him and his bands and family and friends ... and enemies.
I particularly liked the sixties memories, maybe because that was my prime listening era and when the Ides were Jim's band full time ... AND I was young. The great part about Jim's pre-70's recollections were that usually they were the happier times before breakups and such that we all experience as we grow up. I am happy that I know Jim and he has befriended me enough to help a bit with his discography, too. His music has meant SO much to me through the years, so it is a blessing to know him.
For you to have lived in the same environment would be quite a cool thing to read through as well. It's sad there is no mention to Berwyn's Svengoolie (Rich Koz), TV's Berwyn horror show host we see here locally, but I'm sure that will be in his NEXT book. Just joking.
Anyway, I have read many autobiographies and seldom have they said the blood and guts things that they actually feel and have felt through the years, as this book has. Jim's happiness and painful moments are captured in chronological fashion like few have done. GO BUY THIS BOOK!
Kent, you mentioned how the Ides always wanted to capture the harmonies of the Shames back when. It's so true, but here's a quick comparison to the sounds of the Shames in 68 and Ides in 69.
First, the Cryan Shames' "Up on the Roof" followed by the Ides' "Nobody Loves Me" unreleased demo. Pretty close in so many ways. Both beautiful songs by great artists.
Clark Besch
I think the Svengoolie during Jim's era (the late '60's and early '70's) was the incredible Jerry G. Bishop, one of my favorite disc jockeys of all time. (I was never one for the Svengoolie Fright Fest and all the corny jokes that went along with it ... but I found Jerry G. to ALWAYS be entertaining in nearly everything he did.) We lost him a short time ago (ironically, we had been talking about doing a Forgotten Hits interview shortly before he passed so I never go the chance to partake.)
Nice "outtake"