Corbett80 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hello I broke my Ray Pettis - Don't Use Me on Exodus this weekend like a total moron. Anyone got a spare? Also I'm after a copy of The Soul Notes - Don't Make Me Beg on Way Out. Cash waiting Many thanks, Joel M. mulf@mgv.co.uk Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest in town Mikey Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Joel I found this article while trying to track down some stuff on the Dee Dee label. Ray Pettis, and Dee Dee owner the late Bobby Robinson were in a 50s harmony group called the Gems (not ours) in mid 50s Chicago. Hope it is of interest: The Gems were formed in Chicago in 1952. The original members were Ray Pettis on lead, Bob Robinson and David Taylor on tenor, Wilson James baritone, and the bass was Rip Reed. They secured a recording date with the newly formed Drexel Record company in Chicago in May of 1954. The label was founded by Paul King of that city, and Les Caldwell who was a formerly in regional sales for the King Record Company of Cincinnati. The first release for the label was The Gems recording of "Let's Talk About The Weather" and "Deed I Do" on #901. The very next record issued by the label featured The Gems on the old pop and R & B standard ballad "Since I Fell For You" on Drexel #902. The lead singer for this release was Dorothy Logan, who sang solo on the flip side. The "Weather" side for the Gems on #901 did well for the group in the Midwest, especially in the Chicago and Gary, Indiana areas for the home town guys. Early in 1955 The Gems recorded "Kitty From New York City" and "I Thought You'd Care" on Drexel #903. This side seemed to get lost in the rapid rise of the new sound in American music that was taking place at that time. The group on their next outing went back to a tried and true R & B standard, "Old Man River" and this was backed with "You're Tired Of Love" on #904. Once again a solid measure of success seemed to elude the group, but they were back with another Drexel release on #909 which paired "One Woman Man" and "The Darkest Night". There was some airplay and sales on this latest release but once again it was mostly confined to the Chicago area which was a common occurrence with small independent labels with poor distribution networks. There was one final recording by the group which came out in mid 1957 on Drexel #915 - "Monkey Face Baby" and "Till The Day I Die" which was a mostly unnoticed postscript for the Gems. The memory of The Gems has been kept alive by the fans of the sound of the R & B vocal groups, and this is why the music survives after all these years. The talent and the style of all those voices from that time in the past endures today and we remember the the songs of The Gems. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted July 12, 2005 Author Share Posted July 12, 2005 Thanks Mikey, much appreciated......really like Pettis's voice. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest HiTtHeBoNgO Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Thanks Mikey, much appreciated......really like Pettis's voice. link joel got how long will it last on way out if you want it ...andy Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted July 12, 2005 Author Share Posted July 12, 2005 Andy....sent you an email cheers for the reply btw Joel Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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