I've been watching episodes of the Sopranos on DVD recently and got to thinking about Ian Levine saying in one of his threads that Simon Soussan had been on the run from the mob.

It got me wondering; has anyone any experience/stories of gangsters trying to 'muscle-in' on any soul nights, clubs or any activities connected to 'the scene' at any time?

From films, TV and books there are lots of stories about this being a problem over the years for 'general' night club owners, buissness owners etc, but has it ever been a problem for the NS/soul scene?

KTF.

Drew.

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Drew3

I've been watching episodes of the Sopranos on DVD recently and got to thinking about Ian Levine saying in one of his threads that Simon Soussan had been on the run from the mob.

It got me wondering; has anyone any experience/stories of gangsters trying to 'muscle-in' on any soul nights, clubs or any activities connected to 'the scene' at any time?

From films, TV and books there are lots of stories about this being a problem over the years for 'general' night club owners, buissness owners etc, but has it ever been a problem for the NS/soul scene?

KTF.

Drew.

No. Never saw anything.Never heard anything.Wasn't there.I was at home with the missus.

Close ya yap an' take the air, punk. Ya want the peepers all over us?

Close ya yap an' take the air, punk. Ya want the peepers all over us?

I thought this might be hard work. Should really be getting on with my work but I'm bored!!!!!

KTF.

Drew.

I thought this might be hard work. Should really be getting on with my work but I'm bored!!!!!

KTF.

Drew.

If i go dahhn ill do me bird quite like.

DJing record dealers are kin gangsters.....

not a gangster as such, but can anyone remember 'larry lighting' from derby in the 70t's ?.

he was a lad

YEP remember him well from Derby used to come to val finlayson s flat in manchester with Nobby Stephens

an Richard Dougless got some good fotos of him. i was goin wi val at the time

they had uually done a chemist by the time they got to us ,,,Larry was into every thing . believe he died couple of years

ago . Gave me my first black bombers . whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

I've been watching episodes of the Sopranos on DVD recently and got to thinking about Ian Levine saying in one of his threads that Simon Soussan had been on the run from the mob.

It got me wondering; has anyone any experience/stories of gangsters trying to 'muscle-in' on any soul nights, clubs or any activities connected to 'the scene' at any time?

From films, TV and books there are lots of stories about this being a problem over the years for 'general' night club owners, buissness owners etc, but has it ever been a problem for the NS/soul scene?

KTF.

Drew.

lots of record label owners from back in the day were gangsters, lots of stories from every US city probably.

I don't think Soul night takins have been worth their while.

However, I remember hearing recently about connections between the mob and Roulette records. I hadn't heard this before but I guess it's not surprising given the label's name. I think a lot of Chicago labels were effected too. I'd be interested to hear more about this.

I don't think Soul night takins have been worth their while.

However, I remember hearing recently about connections between the mob and Roulette records. I hadn't heard this before but I guess it's not surprising given the label's name. I think a lot of Chicago labels were effected too. I'd be interested to hear more about this.

What about labels such as Gamble or Triad?

Seriously though, I heard something about Vee Jay, and the story that the mafia coerced them to record white artists, and this is how the label got to release records by the Four Seasons and The Beatles. Apparently, Vee Jay went bust after the owner was imprisoned for embezzlement - can anyone confirm the story?

not a gangster as such, but can anyone remember 'larry lighting' from derby in the 70t's ?.

he was a lad

Oh dear me yeah,

A mate of mine had a T.Shirt with RAMS on it.

Larry pulled him at Wigan and said,

" if I ever see you again and you're not wearing that, you are a dead man"

He did go a funny colour

Tony

Maybe not a mobster, but I read something on the funk forum that's worth mentioning...

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/j...u_n_157361.html

Apparently he wrote Washington Smith's 'Fat Cat', a few things on Tuba records etc.

where do I start.....................I was an angel but some of the older blokes I mixed with back in Boro from 72 to 74 were nutcases, they hated the music however there was big money to be made which led to the occasional violent altercation sometimes on a Thursday night at Kings X ..bless em

Hm, I guess you all know that to get printed paper clean you either run a pup, restaurant, antique-shop ( incl. records... ), building company, recycling company, record company......or a country!

I've been watching episodes of the Sopranos on DVD recently and got to thinking about Ian Levine saying in one of his threads that Simon Soussan had been on the run from the mob.

It got me wondering; has anyone any experience/stories of gangsters trying to 'muscle-in' on any soul nights, clubs or any activities connected to 'the scene' at any time?

From films, TV and books there are lots of stories about this being a problem over the years for 'general' night club owners, buissness owners etc, but has it ever been a problem for the NS/soul scene?

KTF.

Drew.

There was someone who will remain nameless, in case he's still about; that did a bit of the 'muscle' in the 90's (I'm sure some on here will know to whom I refer....)

As far as the NS music scene stateside, I did hear that Solid Soul ie George Lemons, was only set up to launder money....

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Trevski

I seem to recall being told that Maurice Levy of Roulette Records was a mobster, and that Calla Records is named after one of his trusted sidekicks, (Nate ?) who got his own label as a "gift". Not so much "sleeping with da fishes", as "sleeping with Jean Wells"

Got a feeling Nat Tarnapol (sp?), Brunswick boss and Jackie Wilson's manager, was "well connected"......

not a gangster as such, but can anyone remember 'larry lighting' from derby in the 70t's ?.

he was a lad

yep remember that fooker alright,gazza from goole give a right old biffing........so did WILKY from corby's mate snotty.....what a shame,think he's dead now

what about SMOKEY from st helens.....dodgy......or big ROBBOfrom wolverhampton....dodgy,but ok....or TERRY TOMPSON...dodgy,but ok

NOWADAYS...........they're all gangsters lol

There was someone who will remain nameless, in case he's still about; that did a bit of the 'muscle' in the 90's (I'm sure some on here will know to whom I refer....)

As far as the NS music scene stateside, I did hear that Solid Soul ie George Lemons, was only set up to launder money....

Would this be the same " gentleman " who relieved people of their " entertainment smarties " ?

Malc Burton

what about big TONY PARKER......NOW HE'S A CROOK

what about big TONY PARKER......NOW HE'S A CROOK

he is

tell em about the story

abington park junction and a tate & lyle sugar bag mate?

DJing record dealers are kin gangsters.....

Many moons ago in the mid 60ts a mob had threatened to torch our club but the owner refused and he shut it down rather than give in to the bastards, spent just about every night for about 3 years in that club

Well wee wee'd off I was

I don't think Soul night takins have been worth their while.

However, I remember hearing recently about connections between the mob and Roulette records. I hadn't heard this before but I guess it's not surprising given the label's name. I think a lot of Chicago labels were effected too. I'd be interested to hear more about this.

I think it's probably common knowledge Dave, but when Pete Lawson and I interviewed Rosetta Hightower from The Orlons (in a backstreet pub in Tooting) she was avident that Cameo and Parkway were funded by gangsterish illicit money.

Kev

never told this story before...me and four older blokes went over to Leicester one Wed night in 1972 to score 3000 Blues... the boys had saved £300 for big score

Cut a long story short we had two guys in the pub, one guy in the car, one guy out of the way with a bat and me as a watcher near the pub entrance.

It was my job to go into the pub and make sure there was only two guys in the pub, non in the bogs or outside in the car park, seemed ok so I gave the thumbs up after clocking the two blokes and exchanging nods etc..

TR AND ED went in with me hanging about near the door... I clocked this shoe box on the table and me thinks if the Old Bill turn up now we've had it, after about 5 mins voices were raised and turned round to see this Leicester bloke stand up and put both hands on this table giving it the big one.." f*** off its 10 a quid, thats what we agreed and thats what I want"

Next thing I knows all hell lets loose, TR is telling me to move,move. move and I look across to this bloke with his left hand pinned to a table with a 10" knife, ED runs past me with a shoe box and I'm thinking....wtf while looking at this guy 3m away from me wailing with blood gushing out of his hand.

We had a fucking good weekend though...

As far as the NS music scene stateside, I did hear that Solid Soul ie George Lemons, was only set up to launder money....

read a few years back on SDF that the Lemons brothers (george included) end up buying Terra Sirma studios, defaulting on the payments for the builiding and stealing the recording equipment within... I believe all of them ended up in prison for mudering a police officer in a gunfight in Detroit in the eighties.

YEP remember him well from Derby used to come to val finlayson s flat in manchester with Nobby Stephens

an Richard Dougless got some good fotos of him. i was goin wi val at the time

they had uually done a chemist by the time they got to us ,,,Larry was into every thing . believe he died couple of years

ago . Gave me my first black bombers . whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

not a gangster as such, but can anyone remember 'larry lighting' from derby in the 70t's ?.

he was a lad

at second time of asking............

How very dare you besmirch the good name of these three fine Derbians !!

Nobby & Richard are today fine pillars of society still regularly see them.........not sure about Larry. Last saw him about 12 months ago - believe your quoting his demise possibly somewhat premature but I stand to be corrected.

Of course you forgot to mention the Fourth Muskateer .........Fiak.

All legends indeed and others who I wouldn't dare mention. I had the pleasure of chauffering them all over the place but enough of that.

Interesting you mentioning Val - was good friends with her when at Manchester Polytechnic early 70s remember her taking me along to Sale for the Thursday night session.

Some other interesting characters from up that way including Hyde's finest PP, as well as Brian Lester (?) from Dunkinfield who I spent many a night verballing with at Wigan and Tommy & Hilda you lived down the road in Clyde Road Didsbury as I recall.

Enough of the rambling ..........

EVERYONE AS THE RIGHT TO MAKE MONEY-EVEN GANGSTER`S.

Going to the casino with the darlington bus ,boro bus and the mad house there called the newcastle bus was A BIT LIKE WATCHING A SEVENTIES VERSION OF ADULTHOOD LOL,the boro lads and lassess were probably top of the bill when it came to pushingTHEIR LUCK lol,I look back and think how did i survive it I was only 14-15 at the time.

BAZ A

at second time of asking............

How very dare you besmirch the good name of these three fine Derbians !!

Nobby & Richard are today fine pillars of society still regularly see them.........not sure about Larry. Last saw him about 12 months ago - believe your quoting his demise possibly somewhat premature but I stand to be corrected.

Of course you forgot to mention the Fourth Muskateer .........Fiak.

All legends indeed and others who I wouldn't dare mention. I had the pleasure of chauffering them all over the place but enough of that.

Interesting you mentioning Val - was good friends with her when at Manchester Polytechnic early 70s remember her taking me along to Sale for the Thursday night session.

Some other interesting characters from up that way including Hyde's finest PP, as well as Brian Lester (?) from Dunkinfield who I spent many a night verballing with at Wigan and Tommy & Hilda you lived down the road in Clyde Road Didsbury as I recall.

Enough of the rambling ..........

wasn't besmirching anybody, just asked the question, did anybody remember him. time must be playing tricks on me, maybe he was a good lad after all.

at second time of asking............

How very dare you besmirch the good name of these three fine Derbians !!

Nobby & Richard are today fine pillars of society still regularly see them.........not sure about Larry. Last saw him about 12 months ago - believe your quoting his demise possibly somewhat premature but I stand to be corrected.

Of course you forgot to mention the Fourth Muskateer .........Fiak.

All legends indeed and others who I wouldn't dare mention. I had the pleasure of chauffering them all over the place but enough of that.

Interesting you mentioning Val - was good friends with her when at Manchester Polytechnic early 70s remember her taking me along to Sale for the Thursday night session.

Some other interesting characters from up that way including Hyde's finest PP, as well as Brian Lester (?) from Dunkinfield who I spent many a night verballing with at Wigan and Tommy & Hilda you lived down the road in Clyde Road Didsbury as I recall.

Enough of the rambling ..........

Hello who ever you are yes .....Tommy and Hilda not to gether now he disapeared years ago yes remember fiak .so you must know

others like, paul pleva, matchie dave owen toney davison, have seen val recently not in the best of health she was top dancer

sorry if i,m wrong about larry some one told me he was dead , i would love to see nobby& richard again,tell them was askin about them

and give them my best

Steve

Hello who ever you are yes .....Tommy and Hilda not to gether now he disapeared years ago yes remember fiak .so you must know

others like, paul pleva, matchie dave owen toney davison, have seen val recently not in the best of health she was top dancer

sorry if i,m wrong about larry some one told me he was dead , i would love to see nobby& richard again,tell them was askin about them

and give them my best

Steve

Steve - will mention you to Nobby at work tomorrow, and Richard when I next see him.

I keep trying to pesuade them to come to the Wheel with us for a Friday or Sunday session but they won't have it.

Matchie came down to Derby to DJ for us at the Inner City Soul Club middle of last last year, and I met Tony at Wendy Scott's funeral last January along with Gill & Richard Hill. Not seen Pleva since he 'lodged' at Richard Douglas's house many moons ago.

regards Graham

Can defo say that some of those geordie boys sailed close to the wind at wigan, couple of em recruted myself and mick corrigan at a very tender age to run a few errands shall we say.It was a good education but the pay was shit .

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Soultown andy

at second time of asking............

How very dare you besmirch the good name of these three fine Derbians !!

Nobby & Richard are today fine pillars of society still regularly see them.........not sure about Larry. Last saw him about 12 months ago - believe your quoting his demise possibly somewhat premature but I stand to be corrected.

Of course you forgot to mention the Fourth Muskateer .........Fiak.

All legends indeed and others who I wouldn't dare mention. I had the pleasure of chauffering them all over the place but enough of that.

Interesting you mentioning Val - was good friends with her when at Manchester Polytechnic early 70s remember her taking me along to Sale for the Thursday night session.

Some other interesting characters from up that way including Hyde's finest PP, as well as Brian Lester (?) from Dunkinfield who I spent many a night verballing with at Wigan and Tommy & Hilda you lived down the road in Clyde Road Didsbury as I recall.

Enough of the rambling ..........

AHH!...FIAK not forgotten at all .....remember coming out of the CATS one night and there was one hell of a fight going on...between mr fiak and others and john manships little band of brothers, poke,butch (not dobson) and co......this was the night little willie from wednesfield got stabbed in the leg.....happy days

yep remember that fooker alright,gazza from goole give a right old biffing........so did WILKY from corby's mate snotty.....what a shame,think he's dead now

Hi ya Terry

yes mate i was there at cleethorpes that night that our mutual friend from Goole sorted Larry out

and it was,nt pretty

Steve

Hi ya Terry

yes mate i was there at cleethorpes that night that our mutual friend from Goole sorted Larry out

and it was,nt pretty

Steve

hello my friend how are ya......see ya soon and gazza somewhere

hello my friend how are ya......see ya soon and gazza somewhere

will be at midd sat mate are you goin

Steve

not a gangster as such, but can anyone remember 'larry lighting' from derby in the 70t's ?.

he was a lad

I remember him Mick , I used to go down Direby on a Sunday night and meet up with him and his mates K O'reilly, Mart Conway , Herbie and Judson in The Roebuck , used to be a right laugh as well as a big pisstake on there behalf about Forest.

Yes Larry died a few years ago

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by MAK

Steve - will mention you to Nobby at work tomorrow, and Richard when I next see him.

I keep trying to pesuade them to come to the Wheel with us for a Friday or Sunday session but they won't have it.

Matchie came down to Derby to DJ for us at the Inner City Soul Club middle of last last year, and I met Tony at Wendy Scott's funeral last January along with Gill & Richard Hill. Not seen Pleva since he 'lodged' at Richard Douglas's house many moons ago.

regards Graham

I wonder if Rip Roper and Tony Rossa fall into this catergory Graham ?

apparently one or two run into bother with the Welsh mafia...they were making offers you couldn't understand

sorry mike. i have just returned from a couple of days in your fair country (south) and had a great time.

shane

apparently one or two run into bother with the Welsh mafia...they were making offers you couldn't understand

sorry mike. i have just returned from a couple of days in your fair country (south) and had a great time.

shane

Taffia

huh huh

Edited January 22, 200916 yr by familytree

apparently one or two run into bother with the Welsh mafia...they were making offers you couldn't understand

sorry mike. i have just returned from a couple of days in your fair country (south) and had a great time.

shane

Shane a blast from the past,hey-up lad we miss your jokes

You think i'm f**ckin funny huh? Do I amuse you? Do you think i'm here to f**ckin amuse you?

No mate...was just wondering how much you wanted for the Harrold Burrage

Close ya yap an' take the air, punk. Ya want the peepers all over us?

quality !

Would this be the same " gentleman " who relieved people of their " entertainment smarties " ?

Malc Burton

Then sold 'em again!

Might be..... ?

The best was RS. We used to empty his pockets of cash and give it back to him the next morning at Wigan. In the background was MS and PW shouting 180 from record sales. And then PW was suddenly hitting a Wigan RL player over the head with a chair, Happy Days, Ady

I've been watching episodes of the Sopranos on DVD recently and got to thinking about Ian Levine saying in one of his threads that Simon Soussan had been on the run from the mob.

It got me wondering; has anyone any experience/stories of gangsters trying to 'muscle-in' on any soul nights, clubs or any activities connected to 'the scene' at any time?

From films, TV and books there are lots of stories about this being a problem over the years for 'general' night club owners, buissness owners etc, but has it ever been a problem for the NS/soul scene?

KTF.

Drew.

Hi drew have u been in the army at anytime , Thanks andy c

One of Randy Cozens' main interests was the Mob and he often spent his hols in NYC hanging out in mob areas. He once introduced himself to John Gotti's brother which is a pretty dangerous thing to do! He had lots of original books and documents on the Mafia and gangsters.

id rather av the gangstes,than some of these bloody clicks, they do more damage wiv der tounges,than the mob cudwiv ther tommys,,,,,ha.easy burt. pete s.will mail about sum records iv found.cheers.