"DIAMOND" JIM RILEY
Most of the label owners in the detroit area in the late fifties and throughtout the 60`s were very colourful characters to say the least, most were involved in gambling rackets, after hour drinking clubs, prostitution, drug racketeering etc, this is the story of one of those such characters, who`s labels would become some of the most collectible on our scene, "DIAMOND jim riley as he was known was the owner of an after hour drinking joint in downtown detroit, his name "DIAMOND" jim came from his flahy outfits and a chain of diamond he constantly wore around his neck, even having one set in one of his front teeth. Rileys drinking joint was called the BLIND PIG, wich supplied drink, gambling, and women on a strictly after hour basis, the one thing the blind pig offered was a jukebox wich contained many of the artists song who performed at the nearby MOZAMBIQUE LOUNGE including such artists as DANNY WOODS. Mr rileys legitamate buisness was a boxing gym as boxing was his first love. At one of his bithday celebrations at the 20grands up market DRIFTWOOD LOUNGE every guest was given a slice of cake wich contained a diamond in it. In the mid sixties he opened three record labels, BIG D, RILEYS, AND DIAMOND JIM, others followed WHIP, & the famous DOTTY`S, in may 1971 jim was in the mozambique lounge with three very attractive young ladies on his arm after buying the champagne all night he asked the on several occasions to accompany him to his after hours club the blind pig, after refusing several times jim lost his temper and rose to his feet caaling the "BITCHES" drink my champagne all night but won`t come to my club. a guy at the next table turned round and said "don`t call the bitches one of thems a friend of mine". Jim lost it and knocked the guy over three tables kicking him and screaming motherfucker, as the man rose he pulled a gun, but Diamond jim never carried a gun the man actually one of jims bodyguards emptied his gun into jim, re-loaded then emptied it again. Below are just a couple of "DIAMOND JIMS contribution to our scene, follow the links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSTPGFsXhpM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g9DGLejxlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf9XuLBY91k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpltPIVDqZ0
Born 1925 in detroit, Ed wingate was the owner of the GOLDEN WORLD label, the main rival of BERRY GORDY`S motown outfit, by the age of 40 ed wingate was one of the most succesful buisness men in the detroit area, Owning the now legendary 20 grand motown. I ntrigued by the amount of indipendant labels springing up in the detroit area in the early sixties, ed paid a visit to the then young owner of the motown label berry gordy.Following the huge success of motown first million seller SHOP AROUND motown were suffering financial difficulties, gordy offered wingate a partnership in the motown label hoping for a large cash injection to put motown back on its feet. Wingate turned down the offer, wich as we know today was somwhat of a mistake, believing his own labe GOLDEN WORLD was destined for greatness itself, teaming up with jo anne jackson, who would later become his wife & after hiring pianist conducter & arranger GEORGE TEACHO WILTSHIRE, the fledgling label was ready to sign its first artist singer songwriter SUE PERRIN, and in 1962 GOLDEN WORLD recorded its debut single I WONDER. The follow up was released on ric-tic records golden worlds new subsidurey label YOUVE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF LIVING TO DO, recorded by JOYCE WEBB. and golden worlds assault on motown had begun. Recording nine releases in the first two years unfortunatley none of these becoming hits. But with the addition of the now legendary producer POPCORN WYLIE things were about to change for ed wingate, especially with the added expertese of such greats as SONNY SAUBDERS & COMPOSER BOB HAMILTON. Bob hamilton teamed up with FREDDIE GORMAN to co-write golden worlds first top ten hit by the REFLECTIONS-JUST LIKE ROMEO AND JULIET. And with the addition of such acts as THE DEBONAIRS & CARL CARLTON more success was to follwow and golden world was now begining to overshadow the MOTOWN LABEL soon to be added to golden world were the now legendary FUNK BROTHERS all this and the opening of there new state of the art recording studio at 3246 w davidson avenue thing were begining to look ver rosey for this label. As quickly as the label flourished it began its decline just as quickly mostly due to the now huge international success of the motown label, and in late 1966 BERRY GORDY bought out the label for $1000,0000 not only gaining the whole of its subsiduary labels but all the artists contracts as well. After spending the remaining years of his life in las vegas ed wingate passed away at the age of 86. BUT WHAT A MUSICAL LEGACY HE LEFT US BELOW ARE SOME OF THOSE TUNES CLICK ON THE LINKS TO LISTEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhhohvsFZnI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br9jJfrRqVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA49ZjYa8MM
Shrine Records was founded in 1964 by songwriter Eddie Singleton and his wife, Raynoma Gordy Singleton, also known as Miss Ray, who had previously cofounded the legendary Motown Records with her first husband, Berry Gordy. Its headquarters was a townhouse at 3 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. There were a total of 19 Shrine Records singles released, and about six more completed recordings that were never issued. Eddie Singleton wrote many of the songs himself, and the musicians were primarily local Washington acts. Notable artists involved with Shrine included Ray Pollard (who later released material on Decca), Linda Tate, Eddie Daye & The Four Bars, and The Cavaliers. However, none of the Shrine singles were significant hits, and the label ceased operations in 1967. Shrine's stock of unsold records was destroyed in a warehouse fire in the 1968 Martin Luther King riots. As a result, very few Shrine records remain today, and they are highly sought-after by collectors.
0100 - Linda & Vistas - Bad Apple / She Went Away
0101 - Leroy Taylor & The Four Kays - Taking My Time / I'll Understand
0102 - Jimmy Armstrong - I'm About To Say Goodbye / Mystery
0103 - Ray Pollard - No More Like Me / This Time
104 – Cautions - Watch Your Step / Isn't It Right
105 - Jimmy Armstrong - I Believe I'll Love On / It's Gonna Take Love (Unreleased)
106 – Epsilons - Mad At The World / I'm So Devoted
107 - D.C. Blossoms - I Know About Her / Hey Boy
108 - J.D. Bryant - Walk On / I Won't Be Coming Back
109 - Sidney Hall - The Weekend / I'm A Lover
110 - Shirley Edwards - It's Your Love / Dream
111 - The Cairo's - Stop Overlooking Me / Don't Fight It
112 - Eddie Daye & The Four Bars - Guess Who Loves You / What Am I Gonna Do
113 - Bill Dennis - I'll Never Let You Get Away / Poor Little Fool
114 - Les Chansonettes - Don't Let Him Hurt You / Deeper
115 – Cautions - No Other Way / Poor Loser
116 – Prophets - If I Had (One Gold Piece) / Huh Baby
117 – The Counts – Peaches Baby / My Only Love
118 – Enjoyables – Shame / I'll Take You Back
119 - The Cavaliers - Do What I Want / Tighten Up
As said above the complete unsold stock of this now legendary label wich is now considered the rarest record label in the world, with many of the above fetching well into four figure sums, were held in the WAXY MAXY warehouse wich were raised to the grounds in the race riots, below is one of my personal favourites from the label, plus two other northern anthems from this highly desirable label
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoI3lPKkNak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_s5Zx8rG8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KifqLWq9kzA