Don Juan Mancha - The Story by Rob Moss

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Fabulous article Rob,some of those photos are amazing.ps just been listening on a cassette tape an interview you arranged several years ago between Jack Ashford and Richard Searling,Top drawer.Keep up the good work, Chris Walker.

great info rob cheers

excellent piece once again ,thanks

Excellent read, thanks. Great photos and pleased to see a piccy of Jack Montgomery. Interesting that Don Mancha states he died from Diabetes complications. However in another article below by Robb, which has been clipped and doesn't now include the relevant part, Jay Davis (Montgomery's brother-in-law) intimated that he took his own life (shotgun or a shooter involved I think).

 

On 19/02/2013 at 22:34, Dave Turner said:

Excellent read, thanks. Great photos and pleased to see a piccy of Jack Montgomery. Interesting that Don Mancha states he died from Diabetes complications. However in another article below by Robb, which has been clipped and doesn't now include the relevant part, Jay Davis (Montgomery's brother-in-law) intimated that he took his own life (shotgun or a shooter involved I think).

 

It was the diabetes that caused the depression that resulted in his death. No one is sure about the actual circumstances. Jay recounted a conversation he'd had with him when he discussed how he would want to die. Very sad.

Great article, Rob. Nice, thorough job. Unusual that I didn't learn anything I hadn't known before from other sources, other than the fact that Mancha was his real family name, and that his family had Spanish roots. Nice to know, however, that what I did think was true is confirmed. Normally, I find that some of the long-time rumours going round were only conjecture.

Excellent and informative article Rob. Some great photos too.

Fabulous read!!

Great really enjoyed reading that . Thanks

Cracking article.

Excellent and informative article.

Thanks Rob.

Fabulous read Rob.

Really enjoyed this Rob

I used to talk to Don quite a bit after Eddie Singleton hooked us up. They had been friends since Eddie moved to Detroit after Shrine folded. He certainly had some stories to tell.

Thanks

Andy

Excellent article!

Cheers for that Rob. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Don Mancha's story.

Best

Kev

excellent read, a men who work with some talented artists.I enjoyed reading it

richo

Really interesting.

The Jack Montgomery story is slightly at odds with the interview Don gave to Soulful Kinda music some years ago. So piecing the two together, i think what happened was:

 

"Dearly Beloved" + "Do you believe it" + "Never leave me"  all cut at United Studios

 

Then 3 further sides cut in New York at scepter - "Dearly beloved" vocal retake + "Baby baby take a chance on me" + "Don't turn your back on me" .

 

Scepter issue "Dearly beloved" + "Do you believe it" in June 66

 

Baraccuda put out "Don't turn your back on me" early 67 with the instrumental of the Honeybees on the B side.

 

Johnny hawks "Baby baby Take a chance on me" to Revue who put it out early 68.

 

Make sense?

Top notch work , surprised to learn j m was only 19 tr old !!! When he recorded ,wow unbelievable , I'd have guessed late 20s even 30s he just sounds so mature . I've two lads 21 and 23 well into their music( all sorts) they both play in a band . I will play them j m records and watch their faces when I tell them he was 19 !! What a sad end for him however he died , so young . Just think what he'd have been like if they'd got him over here for some live performances !

Really interesting.

The Jack Montgomery story is slightly at odds with the interview Don gave to Soulful Kinda music some years ago. So piecing the two together, i think what happened was:

 

"Dearly Beloved" + "Do you believe it" + "Never leave me"  all cut at United Studios

 

Then 3 further sides cut in New York at scepter - "Dearly beloved" vocal retake + "Baby baby take a chance on me" + "Don't turn your back on me" .

 

Scepter issue "Dearly beloved" + "Do you believe it" in June 66

 

Baraccuda put out "Don't turn your back on me" early 67 with the instrumental of the Honeybees on the B side.

 

Johnny hawks "Baby baby Take a chance on me" to Revue who put it out early 68.

 

Make sense?

None of Jack's records cut in New York - all recorded in Detroit with the Funks.

None of Jack's records cut in New York - all recorded in Detroit with the Funks.

 

OK thanks for clarifying. I think I got the impression from the soulfulkinda music interview with Don which said "Don had recorded three tracks at Scepter and returned to Detroit to carry on with other projects, leaving Johnny Terry to deal with the finances from the New York end".

 

So I wonder what the sixth song he recorded was then?

 

Session 1: "Dearly Beloved" + "Do you believe it" + "Never leave me" 

Session 2: ??? + Baby baby take a chance + Don't turn your back on me

 

I want to get it right in the book.....Steve

great detective work again rob, you & rixy are like holmes & watson!. ive always had it drummed into me about great voices and jack montgomery sits alongside roy hamilton, ironic that they both had tragically short lives, the former moreso...should have been big stars...but to the northern scene they are and always will be.

Fascinating read. 

Didnt Ady Croasdale find an empty tape box from Scepter/Wand with an extra (unknown) track?