Do-Wop in London

Subject: RE: Do-Wop in London
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 23 Aug 02 - 03:14 AM

Jerry, I tried singing "Where could I go but to the Lord?" last night and all I got was balnk looks--and, more to the point, blank voices. They mst be a lot of heathens in Bedford!

Sorry Hollowfox--you can have your thread back now!

Steve

Subject: RE: Do-Wop in London
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Aug 02 - 07:23 AM

Tell ya what ya wanta do, Steve: Rhythm and blues, like Soul came out of the gospel groups singing in black churches. That basic four-part harmony is still being sung in many black churches. Admittedly, some of the larger churches are into Mass Choirs and have a whole battery of guitarists, organists, pianists, drummers and keyboard players, but many black churches still have a smaller group that sings regularly. This Sunday, my quartet is singing at a concert in a store front church in New Haven, CT. There'll be several small groups singing there from area churches. I've written gospel for my group, and some of it has harmonies and chord prgressions straight out of old rhythm and blues... In The Still Of The Night, and The Great Pretender. The white gospel quartets, called "Southern Gospel," are more barbershop quartet grounded. They'd be fun to sing in, too, but I love rhythm and blues more, so I prefer the black gospel sound.

All this said, from what I hear from my friends in England, there may not be a lot of black churches in London. I only spent one day there, four years ago, so I wasn't seeking out black churches. But, there's a fine tradition of harmony singing in England, so there must be people somewhere who want to sing together. Just hard to find them...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Do-Wop in London
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 22 Aug 02 - 03:48 AM

I know a tear would glisten
If once more I could listen
To the gang that sang "Heart of my heart"

Who says nostalgia isn't what it used to be?

I tried to raise some interest in starting up a close harmony outfit here at the Open University, with absolutely no response. ... a voice crying in the wilderness. Or the chapel ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Do-Wop in London
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 11:39 PM

Dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, dip
Dip, dip, dip, dip, dip, dip,
Get a job

It's a little far for me... otherwise, I'd be there. Fred Paris, lead singer for the Five Satins (In The Still Of The Night) is a close frined of a neighbor of mine.

My doo-wop collection overshadows my folk music collection. :-)

Ten Pound Radio

"It wasn't all that long ago,
When we listened to the radio
We all knew the songs by heart
And everybody sang their part
And every corner had a group
We sang Searchin' and Alley Oop
And even though those days are gone
I still like to sing those songs

Now when you walk down town at night
Underneath the street lamp light
Any kids you're like to see
They won't be working on their harmony
Oh, no, they'll all be listening to a Ten Pound Radio
And even though they know the song, they never even sing along
Oh, no, they'll all be listening to a Ten Pound Radio
And even though they know the song, they never even sing along
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

by Jerry Rasmussen

Jerry

Subject: Do-Wop in London
From: Hollowfox
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 06:40 PM

Hey, all you English fans of American '50's music, there's going to be a festival the weeknd of 6 October with one of my workmates in it. He's a member of the Edsels (hit: Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong), and they're coming to the Four(?) Hemsby Rock 'n' Roll Weekend at Four Green Acres, Oxted. Jeffrey Willis is the producer of the festival. I have no other details at the moment, but it should be a good time.