Little Milton

New book about Marvin Gaye .... Jan Gaye is either the luckiest woman in the world, having married Motown heartthrob Marvin Gaye, or she's a woman who's led a very challenging life. Actually, after you read Gaye's memoir "After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye" (Harper Collins), written with David Ritz, it's clear that both things are true. The highs of her life were very high, and the lows almost as extreme. She paints a vivid picture of herself as a pretty, adventurous teenager, meeting and then quickly moving in with the handsome, older Motown superstar against the backdrop of the drug-fueled, sexually free music scene of the 1970s. Marvin was entranced, and almost obsessed with her, but that turned into paranoia later. He would push her into compromising situations, then rush to check to see if she'd betrayed him. She was 17, and he was 34, the same 17-year age difference between Marvin and his older wife, Anna Gordy Gaye. (more @ detroit news)


Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr., the composer, arranger and performer, has died. Harold was 83. He had undergone a period of declining health. Harold will, probably, be best remembered for his arrangements on the late Sam Cooke’s evergreen ‘You Send Me’ in 1957. Born in New Orleans, Harold attended the Dillard University, where be became accomplished as a saxophonist, pianist, and arranger. After forming his own group at the time, Harold, in 1961, set up the first African American musician-owned record label. All For One Records, was also known as AFO Records. The imprint released Barbara George’s ‘I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)’, and the first album by Ellis Marsalis, ‘The Monkey Puzzle’. As a producer and arranger, Harold’s work included Joe Jones' ‘You Talk Too Much’, Lee Dorsey's ‘Ya Ya’, and Sonny and Cher's ‘I Got You Babe’. (more at soulwalking)

Cecil Morris (Cam/Music Master) celebrates his birthday today. He founded PCRL radio in Birmingham and other radio stations prior to that from the early 1980's. His talent agency Rising Star helped launch the careers of people like Steel Pulse and UB40. Later his efforts along with over 250 volunteers let to the Government giving City's in the UK many SLR broadcasting licenses, New Style being just one of them. We wish him a peaceful Sunday!

Playlist for Sunday 28-06-15



Hour One
Shirley Jones - Because You Love Me
Gladys Knight - Soon
Vincent Ingala - Just Imagine
Cool Million/PACE - Type Of Woman
Jermaine Jackson - There's No Better Way
Joss Stone - Senimlla
Bobbye 'Doll' Johnson - True To You
Derrick Lucas - Realize
Luther Vandross - Lovely Day Party
Leroy Allen - What Is Love
Valentine Bros - Lonely Nights

Mittle Milton x3
1 Misty Blue 2 That's The Way I Feel About You
3 Mr & Mrs Untrue

Patti Austin - Heat Of Heat
Dante - 7 Days A Week
Mary J Blige - Baggage
Kashif - Help Yourself
Gerry Woo Help Yourself
Maze/Frank Beverly - Before I Let Go
Phyllis Hyman - Don't Tell Me, Tell Her

Little Milton biography:

Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi Delta town of Inverness and raised in Greenville by a farmer and local blues musician. By age twelve he had learned the guitar and was a street musician, chiefly influenced by T-Bone Walker and his blues and rock and roll contemporaries. In 1952, while still a teenager playing in local bars, he caught the attention of Ike Turner, who was at that time a talent scout for Sam Phillips' Sun Records. He signed a contract with the label and recorded a number of singles. None of them broke through onto radio or sold well at record stores, however, and Milton left the Sun label by 1955.

After trying several labels without notable success, including Trumpet Records, Milton set up the St. Louis based Bobbin Records label, which ultimately scored a distribution deal with Leonard Chess' Chess Records. As a record producer, Milton helped bring artists such as Albert King and Fontella Bass to fame, while experiencing his own success for the first time. After a number of small format and regional hits, his 1962 single, "So Mean to Me," broke onto the Billboard R&B chart, eventually peaking at #14. (more at wiki)