Retro: Kimmer

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RETRO KIMMER AT THE DETROIT MUSIC LEGENDS SHOW! Posted: 15 Nov 2010 09:40 PM PST Al King Kim and Scott Morgan Well we did it! After a month of sorting through Scott Morgan's valuable stash of rock history we loaded up my jeep and sped off to Gibraltar Trade Center in Taylor, Michigan. My crew included Drummer Al King the fantastic salesman extraordinaire, Emcee Stanley T. Madhatter, my daughter Lesley and her photographer friend Alex Sing. Photographer Karen Fogarty met us out there. She graciously shot the photos for this story. Thank you Karen! Sonic's Rendezvous Band posters photo: K Fogarty We sold a bunch of items. Lots of posters, flyers and one of a kind snap shots too. From even before the doors opened we were busy with customers. We were trying to set up and take money at the same time. Artist Lesley Maki Photographer Alex Sing Photo: K Fogarty Lesley spent hours making buttons for the fans. She sold quite a few. We made Think Rational buttons as we couldn't locate Scott's missing box of Rats buttons. Hope to find them someday! The buttons are so cool. Heartbreakers flyer sold right away... Question Mark Finally met Question Mark and spent some time chatting with him back stage before his show. He told me all about the lady who makes his stage outfits. This shirt was fantastic! The Contours were sheer Detroit brilliance! Some of my favorite music of all time. Everyone loves "Do You Love Me,"? In 1960, Berry Gordy Jr. signed a talented group of vocalists called THE CONTOURS as one of Motown's first acts. Forty-eight years later, under the direction and leadership of Joe Billingslea this legendary group continues to shake 'em down. During their distinguished careers, THE CONTOURS have entertained tens of millions of fans and have sold millions of records along the way. They are ranked as one of the top 500 R&B artists of all time according to "Top R&B Singles 1952-1995" compiled from Billboard Magazine's charts. In the 1960's, the group charted eight hits, including Motown's first million-seller and its fastest-rising hit of all time, "Do You Love Me." In 1988, after the release of the movie, "Dirty Dancing", starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, "Do You Love Me," which was a featured song in the movie roared back on the charts, outselling its original performance many times over. Stanley T. Madhatter was Emcee and Greeter too. That really helped boost sales! Scott signed so many autographs I was exhausted just watching. Some longtime fans were shocked to see Scott in the booth! When they realized it was Scott sitting next to me they could barely speak! They were so excited. Richard Stevers Frijid Pink is a Detroit area hard rock/blues band formed in 1967, best known for their version of "House of the Rising Sun," released in 1969. The initial line-up of the band included drummer Richard Stevers, guitarist Gary Ray Thompson, bassist Tom Harris, lead singer Tom Beaudry (aka:Kelly Green), and later added Larry Zelanka as off-staff keyboardist. Our friend Jim Randolph played guitar with Pink too! They had the most fantastic booth in the whole show! Hot Pink and black. Just gorgeous. Richard gave me a think pink button which I love. Mysterian Bobby Balderrama Bobby Balderrama is a fantastic musician. He has played guitar with The Mysterians since he was 13 years old. He has also played with Joe "King" Carasco and The Robert Lee Band and now fronting The Robert Lee Revue. Got to meet Bobby and he was so very nice. Scott went to see him as they have known each other for many years. Scott knows positively everyone! SRB and Flirt Original Flyers The Shades of Blue Nick A. Marinelli (The original Shades of Blue lead singer) was born in Detroit, and he spent his early years in Detroit's northwest Italian neighborhood. The family moved to California for a short time and in the '50s, moved back to Livonia, Michigan, where Nick attended Emerson Jr. High. At this time, Nick hooked up with some guys who were into street-corner Doo-Wop. That's when things took off. Back then they called themselves "Little Bow & The Arrows," singing at local schools and small teen clubs. In the late '50s and early '60s, while attending Franklin High in Livonia, Nick got serious about music. Nick, Bob Kerr, Ernine Denai and Dan Guise renamed the group "The Domingos." The group got their first experience recording in a basement studio with a song called "Camel Walk." Nick still has this record to this day. The group emulated such starts at the Tempations, Countours, Penguins and the fantastic Flamingos. The guys worked at colleges and local clubs like the old Walled Lake Casino, with local DJs Lee Alan and Dave Prince. This was when Mich Rider was called "Billy Lee and the Rivieras." Nick says, "Those days were full of freebie gigs, but we did keep busy working local teen clubs throughout our high school years. While attending college, the group lost Dan to other interests. Then they changed the dynamics of the group by adding a woman vocalist and developed a little different sound. The group now consisted of Nick Marinelli (Lead), Ernie Dernai (1st tenor), Linda Alan (2nd tenor) and Bob Kerr (baritone). Little did they know in this time they would touch so many lives with a simple song. OH how happy I was to see them perform!!! Lemon James and her fab guitar! Wow we were right behind Ms. James and her fabulous guitars. I loved her outfit don't know anyone who could wear that outfit but Lemon! She had 2 guitars on her table that were just incredible. Her guitar playing takes no prisoners! This girl can Kick Out the Jams Lemon James' interest in music was inspired by soul-stirring guitar work from a Pink Floyd album. Her inspiration to express herself through music has since become Lemon's one desire that lives down to her soul. Dissatisfied with the guitars available to her, Lemon built her first guitar in 1989. Starting with hand drawn sketches she utilized computer aided design to create a guitar that fit her style and sound. Lemon then patented her guitar design. Scott Morgan and John Troutman John Troutman Kim and Marti Met John Troutman a pal from Facebook. He was so great! He bought a ton of posters and stuff! And drum roll plz.... he has a huge Radio Birdman tattoo! Knew we liked him! Came home and emailed Deniz Tek about it! Richard Stevers and Kim Is this young MC5 fan the coolest? The 5 will never die! KOTJ! Thank you Al, Lesley, Alex, and special thanks to Karen Fogarty for the photos!

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