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Legendary performer and writer Harvey
Fuqua died from a heart attack Tuesday (July 6) in a Detroit hospital. He was 80. Born in Louisville, Kentucky (the
nephew of Charlie Fuqua of the Ink Spots), he founded what would become the Moonglows after leaving the service for Cleveland
in 1952. DJ Alan Freed found out about the group, which included Bobby Lester, Pete Graves and Prentiss Barnes, and recorded
them on his own label. He changed their name from the Crazy Sounds to the Moonglows after his own on-air nickname, the "Moondog."
With Bobby on lead, "I Just Can't Tell No Lie" became a regional hit in Cleveland, but failed to chart nationally.
So the group traveled to Chicago, where they signed with Chance Records. With Alan Freed often listed as co-writer, they continued
to find success in Cleveland and now Chicago, with tunes like "Baby Please," "Hey Santa Claus," "Just
A Lonely Christmas," "Secret Love" and "I Was Wrong." The group moved across the street to Chess
Records in 1954 and "Sincerely" became their first chart hit-- reaching #1 R&B but only #20 pop (thanks to a
cover version by the McGuire Sisters). It was followed by "Most Of All" (#5 R&B-1955), "We Go Together
(#9 R&B-1955) and "See Saw" (#25 pop, #6 R&B-1956). Harvey was co-lead singer in the group with Bobby, usually
on the up-tempo numbers. As Harvey asserted more authority over the group, Bobby left and the group became Harvey and the
Moonglows. "The Ten commandments Of Love" got to #22 pop and #9 R&B-1958. But the next year, Harvey fired the
rest of the group and instituted the Marquees (including young Marvin Gaye) out of Washington, DC, as his new Moonglows. Despite
singing background on hits by other Chess artists, the Moonglows had no more on their own and by 1960 Harvey moved to Detroit.
His Tri-Phi label introduced the Spinners and Johnny Bristol to America. He also married Anna Gordy, sister of Motown President
Berry Gordy, Junior, and was there for the early years of Motown, eventually folding his label and moving his acts there.
Harvey headed artist development at Motown and wrote such hits as "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" and "Someday
We'll Be Together." In later years he produced Marvin Gaye's hit, "Sexual Healing" and is credited with discovering
disco acts like the Weather Girls, New Birth and Sylvester. Harvey (along with the Moonglows) appeared in the Alan Freed movie,
"Rock Rock Rock" in 1956. They was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 a year after joining the
Vocal Group Hall of Fame. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marvin Isley, a bassist who provided the foundation
for his family’s hit-making R&B band, the Isley Brothers, died on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Weiss Memorial Hospital
in Chicago, Illinois, a hospice near his home . He was 56. The cause was diabetes, said Chris Jasper, a brother-in-law
who was the Isley Brothers’ keyboard player for many years. Marvin Isley had fought diabetes for more than 20 years
and in 1997 lost his legs to the disease. The band had two distinct phases. The first, in the late 1950s and early ’60s,
was as a vocal group made up of the three older brothers: Ronald, as the booming lead singer, and O’Kelly and Rudolph
as backup. Then in 1973, Marvin Isley, Ernie Isley, a guitarist, and their cousin Chris joined the group. It was the start
of the band’s greatest run of hits. From 1975 to 1980, the Isley Brothers had 14 Top 10 R&B records, including “Fight
the Power Part 1,” “Harvest for the World,” and “Livin’ in the Life.” In 1984,
Marvin, Ernie and Chris split from the older brothers and formed their own group, Isley Jasper Isley, and in 1985 had a No.
1 R&B hit, the gospel-inspired “Caravan of Love.” Marvin Isley was born in Cincinnati on
Aug. 18, 1953, the youngest son of O’Kelly and Sally Isley. He graduated from C. W. Post College on Long Island in 1976,
with a degree in music. Besides his brothers Ernie, Ronald and Rudolph, he is survived by his wife, the former Sheila Felton;
a son, Corey; and two daughters, Sidney and Jalen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jimmy Dean, television host, actor, entrepreneur and country singer who was
due to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October, died Sunday night (June 13) of natural causes at the age
of 81. Born in Olton, Texas in 1928, Jimmy dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and joined the Merchant Marines for
two years before enlisting in the Air Force. Stationed at a base in Washington D.C., Jimmy played in an area band, then formed
his own after he was discharged. In 1952 he recorded his first single for Four Star Records. "Bummin' Around" reached
#5 on the country charts and launched his career. He was offered a local television program, which introduced viewers to artists
like Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline. In 1957 he moved to New York to host a morning network program for CBS-TV and signed with
Columbia Records. It was then that his spoken-word recordings crossed over to the pop charts. "Big Bad John" in
1961 topped at #1 for five weeks. It was followed by "Dear Ivan" (#24-1962), "The Cajun Queen" (sequel
to "Big Bad John" which got to #22 in 1962) and it's flip-side, "To A Sleeping Beauty" (#26-1962) and
"P.T. 109" (the World War II story of John F. Kennedy which made #8 in 1962). His last appearance on the pop charts
was "I.O.U." (#35) in 1976, though it re-appeared two more times on the country cahrts. All told, he charted 26
times on the country charts and 14 times on the pop charts. Jimmy was the first guest host of Johnny Carson's "Tonight
Show" on NBC-TV and hosted his own variety program, "The Jimmy Dean Show" on ABC from 1963-1966 (where he gave
a big break to puppeteer Jim Henson who was later to create the Muppets). He also appeared on TV's "Daniel Boone"
and played the villian in the 1971 James Bond film, "Diamonds Are Forever." In the late '60s, he began the Jimmy
Dean Meat Company and became the spokesperson for its pork sausage. The company was sold to Sara Lee but he continued to perform
in its commercials for twenty more years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnny Maestro,
the pure-toned tenor who as the lead singer for the Crests, the Del-Satins and the Brooklyn Bridge recorded rock ’n’ roll hits like “Sixteen Candles” and “The Worst That Could Happen,” died Wednesday at his home in Cape Coral, Fla. He was 70 and had lived in Islip, N.Y., until seven years ago.
 Photofest Johnny Maestro, center, with members
of the Brooklyn Bridge. RelatedVideo: Johnny Maestro sings "The Worst That Could Happen" (youtube.com) The cause was cancer, said Les Cauchi, an original member of the Brooklyn
Bridge, which continues to perform before graying audiences, swaying to the tunes of their teenage years. “The
original Brooklyn Bridge had 11 members, singing and playing,” Mr. Cauchi said. “Now there are six members, without
Johnny.” The Bridge, as the group is often called, was a merger in 1968 of two bands, the Del-Satins
and the Rhythm Method. It was originally billed as Johnny Maestro, the Del-Satins and the Rhythm Method. A bit too bulky.
“So we decided we’d pick a new one,” Mr. Maestro told The New York Times in 1994.
“We were sitting around the office, and someone said: ‘This is going to be difficult. We have 11 people. That’s
hard to sell. It’s easier to sell the Brooklyn Bridge.’ We said, ‘That’s the name!’ ”
With their strong vocal and horn arrangements, the Bridge recorded a series of hits, including “Welcome
Me Love,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Your Husband, My Wife.” But lightning struck
for the band with the songwriter Jimmy Webb’s “Worst That Could Happen.”In December
1968, the Brooklyn Bridge performed the song on “The Ed Sullivan Show” (with Mr. Sullivan mispronouncing Mr. Maestro’s name as MAY-stroh, not MY-stroh). In the song, a man
sings about the impending marriage of a woman he still loves, and reluctantly wishes her well. “If
he loves you more than me,” Mr. Maestro sings, “maybe it’s the best thing, maybe it’s the best thing
for you, but it’s the worst that could happen to me.” That Sullivan show appearance, Mr.
Cauchi said, “launched our career.” Mr. Maestro’s career had taken off before.
In the late 1950s he was the lead singer for the Crests, fronting hits like “Sixteen Candles,” “Trouble
in Paradise,” “The Angels Listened In” and “Step by Step.” John
Peter Mastrangelo was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on May 7, 1939, one of three children of Salvatore and Grace
Mastrangelo. He is survived by his wife, Grace; his brother, Ronald; two daughters, Tracy and Lisa; a son, Brad; and four
grandchildren. The Crests were a band of street kids from the Lower East Side, and quite a mix. “There
were three blacks, one Puerto Rican,” Mr. Maestro said, “and I was the Eye-talian.” They performed at parties
and dances and rode the subway for the drop of a few coins. One day a rider handed them a business card; that led to a record
contract. On the Coed label, they recorded “Beside You.” “The
B side was ‘Sixteen,’ ” Mr. Maestro said. “Who knew?” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anita Humes Chappelle, 69,
entered into her heavenly reward on Sunday, May 30, 2010. Born in Harrisburg on October 10, 1940, she was the fourth child
and first daughter to the late George E. and Naomi Thompson Humes. She was a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, class
of 1958. Anita had worked at Capitol Bakeries and the State of PA, before entering into the U.S. Marine Corps
in 1961. While in the Marines, she and three other marines formed the musical group known as the "Essex." The Essex
had three gold records, 'Easier Said Than Done", "Walking Miracle", and "Are You Going My Way".
Upon completing her tour of duty with the Marines, Anita entered into the U.S. Army and toured with the Army Showmobile. She
also sang at the Apollo Theatre in New York City, and appeared on the television show, "To Tell the Truth", with
Kitty Carlisle and Orson Bean. Anita was also on the Dick Clark Tour in Dallas, TX when President Kennedy was assassinated,
canceling the show. In the early 90's, her group performed at the Benetton Theatre in Pittsburgh for WITF. She leaves
to mourn her memory, three brothers, Gary L. Humes (JoAnne) of Highspire and George E. and Donald E. Humes, both of Harrisburg;
a sister, Shirley Humes Penn (Wayne) of Oberlin; a great-aunt in Reading and three aunts in Harrisburg. She was also survived
by a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She will be deeply missed by family and friends. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Ann Thomas is an Aspinwall Herald staff writer and can be reached at 412-782-2121 x1510
Linda Laurie, singer/songwriter
best known for the novelty hit "Ambrose (Part 5)," died Thursday (November 19) from cancer at a hospital in Santa
Barbara, California. She was 68. Linda (whose real last name was Gertz) was a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School
in Brooklyn when she recorded "Ambrose," providing both her voice and the caustic title character, who constantly
replied, "Just keep walking." Linda had already recorded with her friend Linda Yellin as the Knott Sisters in 1958--
"Sunglasses" on Big Top Records failed to chart. And "Ambrose"? "It was just a party routine I used
to do to amuse my friends. We played around with the idea of making some records of the routine and made a few tapes."
Ambrose, by the way, was the name of her rag doll. Picked up by Glory Records in late 1958, the song made it to #52 early
the next year. While there were no Parts 1 through 4 (though an instrumental version was released by the Hal McKusick Quartet),
there was a "Forever Ambrose" follow-up. That, and her song "Jose, He Say," both missed the charts, as
did more serious songs like "Prince Charming." After attending New York University, Linda became a songwriter, most
notably composing the Helen Reddy hit "Leave Me Alone(Ruby Red Dress)". She also wrote the title song for the original
Saturday morning TV version of "Land Of The Lost." It was reprised for the Will Farrell movie this year. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oldies concert
promoter Richard Nader, whose first "Rock & Roll Revival" was in New York City in 1969, sparking
a revival in fifties artists and music. Richard died Tuesday (December 1) of Parkinson's disease. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legendary producer Bob Keane, who owned the Del-Fi record label and launched
the careers of Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens and Bobby Fuller, died of kidney failure Saturday (November 28) at the age of 87.
Born Robert Kuhn in Manhattan Beach, California in 1922, Bob was a big band clarinetist who headed his own band at the age
of 17 and later led Artie Shaw's orchestra. In the '50s, he helped start Keen Records, where as head of artists and repertoire
he lured Sam Cooke away from gospel music and produced "You Send Me." A falling out over the ownership of Keen caused
Bob to form Del-Fi Records, where in 1958 he discovered teenager Ritchie Valens playing at a movie theatre in Pacoima, California.
Bob soon became the youngster's producer and manager. With hits like "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna" and
"La Bamba," the future looked bright for Ritchie until the infamous 1959 plane crash snuffed out his young life.
Tragedy also struck Bob's biggest '60s artist-- Bobby Fuller, whose body was found inside his mother's car outside his apartment.
Though the official cause of death was ruled a suicide, most believe Bobby was the victim of foul play. He left behind such
hits as "I Fought The Law" and "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Bob's Mustang label. Over the years, Bob
produced or released hits by Johnny Crawford, Ron Holden and Little Caesar & the Romans. He released some of the earliest
efforts of Frank Zappa (who also worked as a producer for him) and hired a young Barry White as an artist and producer, as
well. Though he retired from the music industry for awhile in the late '60s, interest in Ritchie's death and the desire to
promote his own son's musical careers led Bob to re-form Del-Fi in the '90s. Bob's autobiography, "The Oracle Of Del-Fi,"
was published in 2006. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aaron Schroeder,
who wrote over 2,000 songs-- most notably the Elvis Presley hits "It's Now Or Never," "Good Luck Charm,"
"Stuck On You," "Big Hunk O' Love" and "I Got Stung", died Wednesday (December 2) of a form
of Alzheimers-like dementia in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 83. All-told, he wrote 17 songs that the King recorded, four
of which went to #1. Aaron also produced the Gene Pitney hits "Town Without Pity," "(The Man Who Shot Liberty
Valence" and "Only Love Can Break A Heart." It's said that his songs were recorded by such diverse artists
as the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Dione Warwick, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Jr., Art
Garfunkel, Nat King Cole and Arlo Guthrie-- including Annete's "First Name Initial," Frank Gari's "Utopia,"
"Rubber Ball" by Bobby Vee and Pat Boone's "Twixt Twelve And Twenty". He later worked with animators Hanna-Barbera,
providing songs and recordings for children's shows including the theme for "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?".
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