HERE COMES THE MYSTERY MAN: DICK WAGNER

Dick Wagner with Alice Cooper

Today is one really cool day to be Retro: Kimmer. I get to write about one of my very biggest rock heroes of all time... Dick Wagner...

Mr. Wagner's discography and bio is so huge that I need a whole new blog to accommodate his music legacy. Dick has played on so many albums that it is impossible to list. His website does a very fine job and you can go check his history there.

I spent many hours this week researching Dick's life in rock music. There just aren't enough adjectives to describe his work. The word Legendary which is tossed around by so many lesser beings... very appropriately describes Dick Wagner.

Dick Wagner

I was introduced via the telephone by Mark Reaume who is one of my favorite RK readers. Mark and Dick are collaborating on a project and that is how I came to meet Dick . We had a very interesting opening conversation! He wanted to talk about my blogging work and I wanted to talk about HIS work (of course).

But where to begin with Dick's musical career?

"Baby Boy" was my starting point. A fun pop tune with a very young Mark Farner on backing vocals and rhythm guitar. I found a video which features 2 of the Bossmen songs. By all means listen to this.... I must have played this 50 times this week. Each time I hear something new that I missed the time before. Buy The Bossmen singles on CD Baby

 

Dick's Room

The Frost(s) or just Frost as we called the band back in the day...was my favorite of all of Dick's magical work. The late 60's psychedelic times deserved a band to match... We had it in spades in Michigan with Frost...

As I am the luckiest girl in the blogosphere, I am in a unique position to listen to fascinating stories of the musicians and the music that began emanating out of Michigan beginning in the late 50's and early 60's. Never dreamed that today I would be hearing Dick Wagner recite his lyrics to me over the phone... Just unbelievable.... All I can do is thank the universe for such an enormous gift...

I just received this note from Dick and it knocked me right out of my chair....

Kim, my friend...Amazing, the best way to describe you.... Amazing....I am so happy we've connected,at last... The Motor City needs a center of internet focus, and here you are...positive friendship and daily support for so many Detroit music makers, past, present and future.

Bless you for your dedication to all things musical in Detroit and for informing the world on the beautiful sounds and stories about the immense talent that made up the city of Detroit music scene, that still does thrive from within the city limits, to the outer reaches of the beautiful state of Michigan, and far beyond. May the love you give be returned one hundred fold.

DICK WAGNER

Believe me... that love is returned to me every minute of every day....

Thank you so much Mr. Wagner and his business partner Susan Michelson for the story today.

Dick Wagner and Steve "The Deacon" Hunter

MICHAEL DAVIS: THE EMERALD THEATER APRIL 9 !!!

Music Revolution

DETROIT-BASED METRO 37 STUDIOS TEAMS WITH MC5 BASSIST MICHAEL DAVIS AND FRIENDS TO SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Detroit, MI – Record Producer Kevin Sharpe of Metro 37 Studios will host an all-star benefit for MC5/Destroy All Monsters bassist Michael Davis’ Music Is Revolution Foundation to support music education in public schools at the Emerald Theater in Mt. Clemens on Saturday April, 9th. Area bands, including 34 Bliss, Black Irish, Detroit Daggers, Imagine Nation, Hell Rides North and Sweet Crystal, will be joined by Davis, former MC5 manager John Sinclair, and a surprise guest or two, for an evening of high energy rock and roll to raise funds for music education in Michigan public schools via the Music Is Revolution Foundation’s mini-grant program.

“Because I had the good fortune to actively participate in making music dating all the way back to my time at Dossin Elementary School, I founded the Music Is Revolution Foundation to provide emergency funds to teachers in the form of $500.00 mini-grants so that as many students as possible can Kick Out The Jams in one way or another,” says Detroit native Michael Davis.

When The Music Is Revolution Foundation (whose Board of Directors includes John Sinclair, art star Shepard Fairey, pro skater Corey Duffel and superstar DJ Steve Aoki), was approached by Kevin Sharpe with his generous offer to host this benefit to support their foundation’s projects, Davis saw it as an opportunity to satisfy the many requests that they have received from Michigan teachers.

According to Michael, “The benefits of music education in public schools have been well documented in studies related to the correlation between students who receive these experiences and greater academic achievement, drop out prevention, and overall sense of community. Music education assists in the healthy development of minds and spirits. It teaches one of the most effective means of communication. Yet, Michigan schools today struggle to fund even the most basic music education programs. We believe that every student should be afforded the opportunity to learn music and to share in musical experiences.”

Davis continues, “To date the Music Is Revolution Foundation, an IRS 501c3 public charity, has served 5000 students in 11 states across the country. And we have a long list of qualifying applications for mini-grants from teachers around Michigan and around the country that we have yet to fill. Your attendance at this event will help us do exactly that. And it is great that Detroit musicians and people who work in the music business here are being so generous in helping out the teachers and the kids we serve. This will be an unforgettable night thanks to people like Kevin, Steve Marshall (SMA), and Mike Mitchell of The Emerald Theater, who, along with the rest of us, are all donating their resources and/or services for the evening.”

Tickets are 10.00 and are available from participating band members or through Ticket Master. Doors open at 7pm.

All cash donations to Music Is Revolution are tax deductible and will be applied directly to mini-grants for teachers and students.

For questions or interviews with Michael Davis, Music is Revolution directors, or the bands on the bill, please contact angela@musicisrevolution.com

For more information visit The Emerald Theater

NEW MOBSTER MOVIE COGANS TRADE!

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Ray Liotta has joined the cast of "Cogan's Trade," an all-star crime thriller headlined by Brad Pitt.

Pitt's Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who must investigate a heist that took place during a high-stakes poker game under protection of the mob. Liotta will play Mark "Markie" Trattman, the unfortunate hustler who runs the game in a motel room and finds things only going downhill from there. Full Story from Yahoo News

Credited cast so far....
Brad Pitt
Ray Liotta
Javier Bardem
Mark Ruffalo
Sam Rockwell
Casey Affleck
Richard Jenkins
James Gandolfini
Scoot McNairy
Bella Heathcote
Vincent Curatola

Read More on RK
Bringing Down the Mafia
The Spilotro Brothers
1960's Las Vegas Slideshow

OFFICIAL IGGY STATEMENT ON ANN ARBOR RON ASHETON TRIBUTE

The Michigan Theater — which is hosting an upcoming concert by Iggy Pop and the Stooges in honor of the Stooges' late founding guitarist, Ron Asheton — has released a statement by Pop on its website and Facebook page that includes some intriguing details about the show.

The full statement, as posted on the websites:

"The Stooges and I wanted to do a concert in memory of Ron and his music. We've chosen to do this in Ann Arbor where our group, our attitudes and our ideals were forged. It really was the birth of a movement. We're planning to involve musicians across the spectrum from classical to youth groups and have a f----- big blast in memory of Ron.

Teenage musicians from the Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor's teen center will open performing early Stooges songs. I may join them on vocals if they don't have somebody who can kick my ass. Deniz Tek from Radio Birdman who was Ron's closest friend in music outside the group is going to join me for a couple of Ron's best numbers.

Henry Rollins who articulates so many things about music so well has volunteered to MC and try yet again to defeat me in a musical duel. He may think he's got a better chance now that I'm 64, and he's only 50, we shall see. Henry was given his pick of Stooges songs to perform and he chose a great one.

"The full and present Iggy and the Stooges line up will then perform a full set, songs from The Stooges, Funhouse, Raw Power/- James Williamson - guitar, Scott Asheton - drums, Iggy Pop - vocals, Mike Watt and Steve Mackay, Bass and Sax respectively."

-Iggy Pop

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster, although according to the event page on Ticketmaster.com, a presale starts Wednesday morning.

Keep watching AnnArbor.com for full coverage of the show.

SCOTT RICHARDSON/JAMES WILLIAMSON: THE CHOSEN FEW

Scott R sent me this photo of "The Chosen Few". (Photos of TCF are really hard to find) This band was on the line up of the very first Grande Ballroom gig in October 1966 with the MC5 as headliner and the Wha? opening.

Card Graphic by Dick Rosemont (Thanks Dick!)

It has been more than an interesting time for me with tons of new connections and opportunities coming my way. One of the best things to happen of recent is I began working with Scott Richardson (thanks Patti Quatro!) fabulous and handsome lead singer of SRC fame. Scott has provides me with all kinds of historical puzzle pieces to the story of Michigan Rock History. (understatement of the western world...)

See Heather's Gallery on James' website gallery HERE

Met James via Rock Photographer Heather Harris and Facebook and a lot of mutual friends. James is such a wonderful guy and so sweet to me. He sent me photos of his Raw Power Gold Record and made my whole day happy! Read the story about his gold record and see the photos HERE

(photo James Marshall)

THE CHOSEN FEW LINEUP

Various Members of TCF
*Scott Richardson (V)
*James Williamson (G)
*Ron Asheton (B) The Prime Movers
*Kip Phillips (B)
*Richard Simpson (G)
*Stan Salusky (?) D

(Late 1965 - December, 1966)

While James was recently on tour with Iggy and the Stooges in Australia. I wrote and asked him if he would give me a short story on his involvement with TCF and he happily sent it over today... I loved this story and am sure my readers and James' fans will dig it too. thank you JW xxooK

White Fender Jaguar (not James') waiting for pic

James Williamson's Story on "The Chosen Few"

Hi Kim,

I was only in the Chosen Few for a short time. I co-founded the band with Scott Richardson, who I met at a Birmingham coffee shop is I recall correctly. He was from near the Pontiac area and we hit it off since both (of us) were into Beatles, Stones, etc.

So we jammed a little and ended up recruiting the other guys in the band...Richard Simmons (2nd guitar), Kip Phillips (bass), Stan Salusky (sp?...on drums)...I was the lead guitar and Scott was on vocals...

I think we only played a couple of live shows while I was in the band. The first was at a high school dance and the 2nd might have been at a frat party in Ann Arbor. After that I was sent away to Juvie for being "incorrigible" meaning that I wouldn't cut my hair and do what I was told to do.

Of course the first day in Juvie (juvenile detention) they buzz cut my hair, so I might have done things differently in hind sight, but anyway, that was the way it was. From there I was sent to boarding school in upstate NY...and thus the Coba Seas subsequent recent release.

I played a While Jaguar (probably 1964-66) that I had conned my mom into buying me once I could play ok. Loved that guitar and could play all the surf songs on it perfectly...(just got another one recently ...sunburst)...

I had the White Jag until I traded it along with my SG for my Cherryburst Les Paul Custom (1969) which I later recorded Raw Power (and Kill City ) with. Iggy knew the music store owner so he brokered the deal (so naturally I got screwed royally)...really wish I hadn't traded those guitars, but what else could I do...the Les Paul was the perfect guitar for the Stooges.

Anyway, it was during one of my vacation returns from boarding school that I got together with my old band mates from the Chosen Few and went up to their gig at a Frat Party in Ann Arbor...

Kip Phillips was going off to college and so a new bass player named Ron Asheton was in the band. I was impressed at how long Ron's hair was and that he barely looked at the audience...just played into his amp with his back to the audience. That night was the first night I met Ronnie.

Young Ron Asheton

Iggy was there too that night and it was also the first time I met him as well. I had brought my White Fender Jaguar with me and during a break I played some of my original songs for him. He said he liked them, but it was hard to tell.

Surely, he's told me how frenetic he remembers them being and that that impression was a lasting one for him and something he remembered when he finally asked me to join the Stooges in late 1970/early 71'...the rest is well documented....James

Gary Grimshaw poster art

From Scott Richardson:

Kim,

Thanks so much to you and James for your info regarding 'THE CHOSEN FEW'. I did meet James in Birmingham though I thought it was at a record store where we were both checking out disks and the amazing beatnik blonde clerk, 'Fran'..

In any case James & I connected and began a whirlwind drive to form our band. Kip, Richard and Stan came from a group called 'THE FIVE GRAND' who I saw at The Michigan State Fair in a battle of the bands.

All three of them plus James and I had an instant chemistry that just felt right. My recollection is that there was one gig at a Catholic School in Pontiac before James left that had Ron Asheton on bass.

Reason that came about was we were scouted by two managers, Ron Richardson, (no relation) and Jeep Holland, both based in Ann Arbor. I hitch hiked to meet Jeep at Discount Records. He managed the store but wasn't there when I arrived. Instead I met a dude named Jim Osterberg who was stocking records, and told me to hang out till Jeep returned. Jim also was the drummer for the Prime Movers blues band at this time.

I an eternally grateful to him for picking up the phone and calling his friend bassist Ron Asheton. Twenty minutes later, Ron, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander showed up. Jeep however, did not.

The four of us walked across the quadrangle to Ron Richardson's apartment and there THE CHOSEN FEW PT. 2 was born. Richard moved to lead guitar after James left. Al Wilson became our rhythm guitarist and Ron Asheton played bass.

I feel so proud and grateful that both future hall of famers James and Ronnie came into my life. In the brief time of that band a lot of cool connections happened & a bit of history was made. Scott Richardson

P.S.

Kim, please also add that Ron Richardson took THE CHOSEN FEW to New York City and later became manager of THE STOOGES. Jeep Holland became manager and producer of the SCOT RICHARD CASE.

2nd SUNDAY SOUL WITH SCOTT MORGAN!

Ok Nina Simone was a classically trained pianist and her instructors told she could never play classical music because was black. Bless their souls. This song "Do I Move You?" from the album Nina Simone sings the blues. Read it and weep.

From the all star film Jackie Brown, starring Pam Grier, in the Quentin Tarantino film and of course the title track by Bobby Womack. Bobby played with Sam Cooke and married his wife after Sam was killed. his band the Valentinos did the original it's all over now which was covered the Rolling Stones.

The Valentinos song "I'm Lookin for a Love" was covered by J geils.. Bobby Womack's song "That's The Way I Feel About Cha" was a huge hit. I couldn't get shut out of this game... so I went to the urban barber shop and bought "Put Something Down on it". Never covered it but just dug it.

This one makes the hair stand up on my neck. I call this wicked good. Donny recorded "Where is the Love" with Roberta Flack who I believe was a classically trained pianist.

Won't belabor this point any more. consider this your last piece of chocolate and now we'll retire to the smoking lounge. I think Frank Zappa said it best. I'm not black but there's a whole lottsa times I was wishing I wasn't white. but I've spent 40 years proving.... anyone can have the blues. Scott.....

LONESOME TOWN: SCOTT RICHARDSON

Scott Richardson guest author today

Yesterday I was talking with my dear friend Scott Richardson the lyricist/writer/vocalist of SRC. Scott is such a technicolor guy! Mind like a steel trap comes to mind...

Rick Nelson

He remembers everything.... Scott's voice is so fantastic, hopefully soon I'll be able to share some of his new music with my readers. We got to talking about Scott's career after SRC. More to come on that story later....

Baker Knight (Scott Richardson Collection)

But Scott just taught me about Baker Knight.... and his song "Lonesome Town" Very interesting story.

Baker Knight

Baker Knight (July 4, 1933 - October 12, 2005) was an American songwriter and musician from Birmingham, Alabama. He was born Thomas Baker Knight Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama where he wrote music in his spare time.

Knight moved to Hollywood in 1958 in hopes of pursuing a career in acting, but was unsuccessful. He became friends with Eddie Cochran and Cochran's girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Seeley, who helped him find work as a songwriter.

Knight wrote "Lonesome Town", which became a hit for Rick Nelson in 1958, as did the B-side, Knight's "I Got a Feeling". Nelson continued to record Knight's songs, many of which became hits. Read more HERE

Scott R told me that "Lonesome Town" was a favorite song of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Paul chose the song for the funeral of his beloved wife Linda. Paul did record "Lonesome Town" Here is a video of him performing it. Love it but still like Ricky's version best.

Scott collaborate with Baker Knight for over 4 years on his biography " A Piece of the Big Time" and Scott feels that his work with Baker and "Lonesome Town" was a very important part of hiw own musical journey.