September 2014 – Page 3 – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

From the MCRFB news archive: 1969

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1969

SRC 1969 (click on image for largest view). — **SRC** 1969 (click on image for largest view).

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.

Cleveland's The James Gang circa 1969. — Cleveland’s **James Gang** w/ Joe Walsh circa 1969 *(click on image for larger view).*

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.

Detroit's The Flaming Ember circa 1969. — Detroit’s Flaming Ember circa 1969 *(click on image for expanded view).*

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).

The influential record producer and co-writer of ‘Rag Doll’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ lived in Scarborough.

News | Posted Yesterday at 11:36 PM | Updated at 6:29 AM

By Dennis Hoey PPH Staff Writer
Songwriter and record producer Bob Crewe, who discovered and co-wrote songs for The Four Seasons in the 1960s, including numerous hits that led to his inclusion in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, died at his Scarborough home Thursday morning. He was 83.

Dan Crewe of Cumberland said his brother had been living at the Piper Shores nursing care facility in Scarborough since he fell and injured his brain three years ago.

“He created The Four Seasons,” Dan Crewe said by telephone Thursday night. “But he will be remembered for the actual songs he wrote, the quality of those songs, which are now considered the standards of the rock ‘n’ roll era.”

The long-running Broadway show “Jersey Boys” and a 2014 movie by the same name directed by Clint Eastwood were based on the lives and careers of bandmates in The Four Seasons. Actor Mike Doyle portrays Crewe in the film.

After deciding that he didn’t want to become an architect, he started recording demo records and writing songs. Crewe and Frank C. Slay went on to co-write hits such as “Silhouettes” for The Rays and “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” for Freddie Cannon, according to his brother.

Dan Crewe said his brother’s character and “striking good looks” elevated him to teen idol status, landing him on the cover of 16 Magazine and appearances on early 1960 talent shows like those hosted by Dick Clark.

MCRFB note: For the rest of this Portland Press Herald Bob Crewe article (September 11, 2014) please go here.