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Rememberance

Becoming of age, many great performers from the Doo-Wop era, as us who loved them, cannot escape the inevitability we all humans have to face one day. It's a sad thing to learn about yet another great artist's death but let us and their family draw strength from the fact that they are in a far better place, and their music will never die.

In Memoriam

Friday, October 17, 2008 - Levi Stubbs

An unforgettable voice of ‘60s Soul fell silent Friday Oct. 17 when Levi Stubbs, lead singer for the legendary Motown group The Four Tops died at age 72. May God bless his family and comfort them.


Monday, May 31, 2010 - Ali-Ollie Woodson

Ali-Ollie Woodson, singer of The Temptations died at age 58 after battling cancer. Ali joined the legendary Motown quintet during the 80s and helped restore them to their hit-making glory with songs including "Treat Her Like A Lady." May he rest in Peace.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Johnny Maestro

New York City-born Johnny Maestro (born John Mastrangelo; May 7, 1939) began his career in 1957 as the original lead singer of The Crests, one of the first interracial groups of the recording industry. After a regional hit with "My Juanita"/"Sweetest One" on the Joyce label, and two years of chart success on Coed Records with "16 Candles", "Six Nights A Week", "Step by Step", "The Angels Listened In", and "Trouble in Paradise", Maestro left The Crests for a solo career. Maestro was unable to reach his former chart heights with The Crests, but did have Top 40 hits with "What A Surprise" and "Model Girl" in 1961. His fantastic voice would find acclaim amongst Doo-Wop aficionado's allover the World and define a significant part of the style and period of time. After a combined performance in 1968 the talents of Maestro, the four Del-Satins, and The Rhythm Method merged into 'The Brooklyn Bridge'. The new group's name came about after their manager made the off-handed comment that "it would be easier to sell the Brooklyn Bridge" than book the proposed 11-piece act ! Johnny is singing with the Angles in Heaven now, may he rest in peace, he will never be forgotton.

Friday, April 23, 2010 - Norman Wright

Norman Wright, member of the Dell-Vikings, died at the age of 72. The group was founded by US Airforce personnel at a Pittsburgh base who recruited Philadelphia-born Norman when their tenor singer became stationed in Germany. May he rest in Peace.

Sunday October 10, 2010 - Solomon Burke

On the day of the Lord, Sunday morning 10-10-10, the unforgettable performer of ‘60s Soul - Solomon Burke died on arrival at Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands. Solomon Burke is well known from his massive R&B hits "Cry To Me" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". He died at age 70. May God bless and comfort his family.

Thursday March 3, 2011 - Monte Owens

Monte Owens was a founding member of the Solitaires. The group had a string of hits throughout the latter part of the 1950s included "The Wedding" (1955), "The Angels Sang" (1956) and "Walking Along" (1957), which was later recorded by The Diamonds. The Solitaires released their final single in 1961, before disbanding. May he rest in Peace.

Monday, Aug 22, 2011 - Jerry Leiber and Nick Ashford

Famous songwriters Jerry Leiber and Motown legend Nick Ashford die on the same day, Monday August 22, 2011. Leiber, who died in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78, was the better known having partnered with composer Mike Stoller to write iconic hits such as 'Hound Dog' & 'Poison Ivy' and co-wrote 'Stand By Me' with Ben E. King. Ashford, who died from throat cancer at the age of 70 in New York, was part of a songwriting duo with his wife Valerie Simpson that wrote the hits 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' & 'I'm Every Woman'.

"Thanks for the love that you've given me. The memories are all in my Mind.."