Jimmy Ricks, Former Lead of The Ravens Records ‘Daddy Rolling Stone’
On November 10th, 1961 Ravens frontman/co-founder Jimmy Ricks recorded his classic track “Daddy Rolling Stone.”
The record, which was originally written by songwriting legend Otis Blackwell, was release in 1962 on the Festival label. It was reissued in on the ATCO label with the flipside “Homesick” replacing Festival’s original B-side, “Umgowa Twist.”
Jimmy Ricks was a founder of the legendary Ravens. The group, which featured Ricks’ deep bass as the lead, launched their professional career in New York.
They went on to influence every facet of R&B, from singing styles to “bird” group names. The Ravens, along with The Ink Spots and The Mills Brothers, also helped paved the way for the genre of Doo-Wop music.
Calvin Williams Of The Hi-Liters/Golden Gate Quartet Passes
In a year filled with bad news, we are extremely saddened to report the passing of our close friend Calvin Williams.
We have posted this short bio of Calvin along with some photos on the “What’s New Page” of http://www.classicurbanharmony.net
Calvin was born in Bucksport, SC, on November 8, 1921. Calvin began singing Gospel music and at the age of 15 joined with a local quartet called the Southern Four Gospel Singers.
During World War II Calvin worked at the Wilmington, NC, shipyards where he sang with National Four. After the war, Calvin moved to Trenton, NJ. By 1947 Calvin formed a new group called the Deep Tones.
RareSoul Exclusive: Block Of Broad Street To Be Named After Gamble & Huff Next Week
Legendary producer-songwriting team and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees KENNETH GAMBLE andLEON HUFF will be honored by the City of Philadelphia with the renaming of the block of South Broad Street they made famous to “people all over the world” as “Gamble & Huff Walk” in a special ceremony to be held here Wednesday, November 17 at noon EST.
The world-renowned pioneering music icons, architects of “The Sound of Philadelphia,” one of the most enduring brands of soul music anywhere, will be honored in ceremonies in front of the infamous Philadelphia International Records building, where they created a massive catalogue of 3,000 songs together, including R&B #1 hits, pop #1 hits, 100 gold and platinum records, Grammy winners and BMI songwriters’ award nominees. The block of South Broad Street where the historic building resides is located along the Avenue of the Arts between Spruce and Pine streets, a strip that also includes the Kimmel Center, the University of the Arts and the recently launched TSOP Experience, a live performance venue and souvenir shop that celebrates the Gamble & Huff legacy by showcasing the music of Philadelphia’s rising and established stars.