FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’69 . . . AUGUST 9, 1969

From the MCRFB news archive: 1969

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1969

DERAM’S RECORDS own Moody Blues cancelled out of their visit to Detroit August 19. They were to appear at Meadow Brook, and outdoor theater on the main campus of Oakland University. The British group was to appear as part of a series of concerts  that includes Atlantic’s Aretha Franklin, Apple’s Mary Hopkins, Reprise’s First Edition, RCA’s Peter Nero and Atco’s New York Rock & Roll Ensemble . . . WABX-FM held it’s first free concert at Tartar Field Sunday, July 20. The event drew roughly 2,500 people with such acts appearing as the SRC, Savage Grace and Plum Wine, all local groups . . . The Frost, Vanguard Records artists, returned home to Detroit from their West Coast tour rather suddenly when drummer Bobby Rigg was hospitalized after being bitten by a spider. The group made stops at the Fillmore West in San Francisco and the Whiskey Au Go Go in Los Angeles . . . Capitol’s SRC is set to launch on a three months’ tour that will hit cities from California to Toronto.

The time between August 1 through 3 was a few golden days for Detroiters. Atco’s Blind Faith appeared at the Olympia Stadium Friday, August 1, the Petosky Rock Concert and Jive Fest with London’s John Mayall, SRC, Columbia’s Spencer Davis, Savage Grace, and several other acts took place August 1 through 2, WABX radio held their second free concert August 3 with big local groups and the list goes on . . . . Fantasy’s Creedence Clearwater Revival pulled a hefty crowd into Olympia July 26. On the bill with the San Francisco group was Bell’s Box Tops, Savage Grace and the James Gang. Reprise’s Jethro Tull was to be part of the lineup but the English group did not show up . . . Parrot’s Savoy Brown Blues is set to record an album at the Grande Ballroom in August . . . Jack Bruce, ex-bassman for Cream is reportedly going around England producing back up musicians he remembers from his days backing other musicians and singers. Since he’s now a millionaire, he’s decided to get these guys on record and not worry and not worry about making money off it.

A festival in Detroit designed to feature English groups with Michigan groups is being worked on. Some of the artists named in the negotiations are Immediate Records Nice, Atlantic’s Led Zeppelin, RCA’s Lighthouse, Frost, Mainstream Record’s Amboy Dukes and others. . . Motown’s Smokey Robinson has been named chairmen of the “I Care About Detroit” committee. Last year Smokey and the Miracles recorded a tune called “I Care About Detroit” which received fairly good local response . . . Val Pringle is set to appear at the Raven Gallery until August 10 . . . The city of Detroit is trying to reach the younger set through free concerts in the middle of the Motor City every Wednesday afternoon. It’s all part of a “Detroit Is Happening” program . . . Friend & Lover is slated into the Raven Gallery August 12-31. . . . A new club opened up in Detroit recently called The Birth Groups, which they don’t play there as such, instead the club will supply amplifiers and musicians are invited to come in, share the stage and jam. There is no food or beverage, just sound . . . Eddie Holland, of Holland, Dozier, Holland fame has signed several groups to his new Hot Wax label. Included in the groups are the Changing Times, Politicians, the Flaming Ember and the Honey Cone.

Michigan group the Grand Funk Railroad, Capitol artists, made their first Detroit appearance at the Eastown Theater July 25 . . . They’ve recently signed to appear at the Houston and Nashville Pop Festivals . . . MGM’s Herman’s Hermits did nice business at Windsor’s Elmwood Casino in their recent 10-day stay there . . . WABX-FM announced plans to have another night at the movies. The featured film will be Monterey Pop and special guest artists will be Elektra’s David Peel and the Lower East Side . . . RCA’s Carolyn Franklin, sister of Aretha Franklin, has signed to appear at the Central Canada’s Exhibition’s “Where It’s At” pavilion in Ottawa August 23. END

(Information and news source: Billboard; August 9, 1969).