Retro: Kimmer

at 2:11 AM

Robert Lee (Bobby Balderrama)

Bobby East and Skid Marx

David Doman and Joe Doman

Shane Whitehead from Forsake the Fallen

Victor Doman

Steve, Melissa, and Rhonda

Rhonda at the Blind Pig

Jerry Mack and Linda Ray

David and Victor Doman

David, Victor and Joe Doman

Fran Doman and Linda Ray

at 6:04 PM

Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach

2 of my very favorites....

Burt Bacharach/Hal David
Promises, promises
I'm all through with promises, promises now
I don't know how I got the nerve to walk out
If I shout, remember I feel free
Now I can look at myself and be proud
I'm laughing out loud

Oh, promises, promises
This is where those promises, promises end
I don't pretend that what was wrong can be right
Every night I sleep now, no more lies
Things that I promised myself fell apart
But I found my heart

Oh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a life
Oh, promises, those kind of promises, take all the joy from life
Oh, promises, promises, my kind of promises
Can lead to joy and hope and love
Yes, love!!

Every night I sleep now, no more lies
Things that I promised myself fell apart
But I found my heart

Oh, promises, their kind of promises can just destroy a life
Oh, promises, those kind of promises take all the joy from life
Oh, promises, promises, my kind of promises
Can lead to joy and hope and love
Yes, love!!

"Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls'" was recorded for the film of the same name. The song was written by Andre Previn and Dory Previn, and had initially been intended for Judy Garland before she was fired from the film. At the urging of Barbara Parkins, the song was given to Dionne Warwick.

John Williams arranged the original version heard throughout the film. Due to contractual restrictions, Warwick's voice was substituted on the LP album recording of the soundtrack and Warwick was contractually permitted to appear only on the film's actual soundtrack and not the recording released on the 20th Century label.

Record buyers of the 20th Century Soundtrack LP were sorely disappointed to find Warwick's voice absent from the LP, although no mention was made that the LP did not not contain the actual Warwick soundtrack. Warwick recut the tune for her home Scepter label with an arrangement by Pat Williams and conducted by Bacharach with Bacharach on piano, and this version hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in February 1968, and #4 on the Canadian Chart, #28 in the UK, #2 on the Billboard AC Chart and #13 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues Singles chart.

The tune hit #1 on the Record World Chart in March 1968. "Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls', the "B" side of Dionne's million selling "I Say a Little Prayer", also became another million seller for Dionne.

Dionne Warwick's twelfth album for the Scepter label "Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls" featured the single along with another Top Ten hit "Do You Know the Way to San Jose". The album was smartly marketed as "The only album in which you will hear Dionne Warwick singing the "Theme From 'Valley of the Dolls'". The album hit #6 on the Billboard Album Chart and #2 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues Album Chart and would remain on the Hot 100 Album Chart for over a year. It was recorded during the summer and fall of 1967 and was released early the next year. The album was awarded an RIAA gold award.all

at 4:43 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH....

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO...

xxxxKim

at 12:28 AM

Accepting sponsorship applications!

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Play the best.

HARRY GROSS: DETROIT PURPLE GANG MEMBER · at 7:01 PM

Detroit Purple Harry Gross

A bit of Detroit History... Our friend, music producer/drummer Tino Gross sent us his Uncle Harry's Detroit Police mug-shot from the book "Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang' ...

Harry Gross was a Purple and was shot Thanksgiving Eve 1937 along with leader Harry Millman. The old-timers around Detroit have told Tino that Harry was a sweetheart, a gambler, not muscle, and was tight with entertainers like Cab Calloway.

Harry Millman

Harry Millman was shot to death before a crowd of horrified customers at Boesky's Restaurant in Detroit on November 25, 1937. Two gunmen approached Millman, who was standing at the bar and opened fire. Millman was hit 10 times. Several other people were also shot, including Harry Gross, a partner of Millman's in the handbook business. Gross later died of his wounds.

Read a large excerpt on the Detroit Purples

at 8:11 AM

The Bee Gees, formed of Brothers Barry Gibb, Robin and Robin's twin Maurice, first found international success in the late 60s with the album Bee Gees' 1st. My favorite Bee Gee songs featured Barry on lead vocals. Robin's vocals were just too sad for me. Here is my most favorite of the Bee Gees.... "To Love Somebody"

Hits including Words and I've Gotta Get a Message to You, Massachusetts, followed, but the group hit even bigger heights in the 70s with their songs featured on the soundtrack to John Travolta film "Saturday Night Fever".

I really loved so many of their songs... the disco tunes not so much... but here is a great one...... "Lonely Days".

Maurice passed away from cardiac arrest at age 53. Youngest brother Andy had a brief successful solo career but sadly... passed on at age 30 from years of depression induced drug and alcohol abuse.

The soundtrack to John Travolta's classic film Saturday Night Fever spawned some of the Bee Gees' most famous hits with How Deep is Your Love, Stayin' Alive and Night Fever all managing to hit the top spot.

As well as enjoying phenomenal success as a group – the Bee Gees are one of the biggest selling acts of all time – the brothers also wrote hit records for an array of other artists.

Paying tribute to Robin Gibb, broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said: 'Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music.

'Their accomplishments have been monumental. Not only have they written their own number one hits, but they wrote huge hit records for Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Celine Dion, Destiny’s Child, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the list goes on and on.'

Robin Gibb, who passed away earlier this month, will be given a special ceremony this September, the Guardian reports.

Rumors of a memorial service for the star had surfaced over the last week, with a source telling The Sun: 'This will be the biggest send-off since the death of John Lennon. Robin was so very highly regarded in the industry and this will be reflected in the turnout.

'Robin's boys, Spencer and Robin-John, are also working on ideas for their dad's farewell.'

Gibb had many fans both in and out of the music industry, and it is expected they will attend the public memorial services in large numbers.

It was originally thought that the singer died after a long battle with cancer, until Gibb's son Robin-John revealed that it was kidney failure. Read more:

at 12:19 AM

Donna Summer

LaDonna Adrian Gaines, known by the stage name Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970s. She had a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and was a five-time Grammy Award winner.

Born: December 31, 1948, Boston
Died: May 17, 2012, Florida
Children: Brooklyn Sudano, Amanda Sudano

As TMZ reported, "Disco Queen" Donna Summer will be laid to rest Wednesday during a private ceremony at a church in Nashville, TN.
We're told the church is expecting a capacity crowd -- roughly 1,000 people -- but the service is invitation only.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The family is adamant ... they don't want the ceremony to become a media spectacle and they've put together a strict guest list consisting of close friends and family members.

It's unclear if any of Donna's famous friends will attend -- but we're told people are flying in from all over the country.

TMZ broke the story ... Donna passed away in Florida last week after battling lung cancer. She was 63.

at 2:46 PM

We had some exciting news this week! I sold some of my Coachville photos to a German Film company that is doing a documentary on Jim (Iggy Pop) Osterberg's life.

Back in 2009 I had a visitor from Australia staying at my home and I took him to see this tiny trailer court. He wasn't an Iggy fan so I shot the photos pretty quick and we were off to see other sights in Ann Arbor.

So far I have had 3 sets of people interested in these images and that is really gratifying.

This little park used to have airstream trailers and mobile homes. Now the trailers are vinyl sided or manufactured homes.

at 9:53 AM

Hey gang! I want to thank the folks that came out and supported me at my Guitar Expo last May 19! It was a gas watching legendary guitarist Robert (Bobby) Lee Balderrama (Question Mark and the Mysterians) play guitar with Bobby East (Kid Rock Reefermen) on Bass. How fantastic!

Also we are so grateful to The Domans and the Domanation Band for lending us their equipment and playing so well.

Was perfect having pal Art King as DJ... he played the best music for my show... Thanks ART!!!

Forsake the Fallen

Also a special shout out to Shane Whitehead and the Forsake the Fallen Band for their great performance and backing up the guys on drums.

Loved having bass player Skid Marx, The Motor City Rah Rahs, photographer Leni Sinclair, Detroit Artist Carl Lundgren, as well as Joyizmac Leather onsite.

Special thanks to my friends Bootsey X, Gerald Shohan, Fran and Cathy for all their support and friendship.

Stay please tuned for our next gig coming soon...... xxK