WAIT A SECOND (CHANCE) 

I’ve been writing this column for almost 7 months now and as I started to think about the column, I thought - what am I going to write about this week? Well, I remembered what my good friend and press agent George Dassinger said, “one day you’ll hit writers’ block”. He is absolutely right. I sat there blank and then, it happened. 

My phone rang and it was a dear friend, Chuck Barksdale of The Dells. You know from past columns, I love The Dells man. I’ve known these guys since I was a teenager and we stay in touch regularly. Chuck and I got to talking about all the forgotten black singing groups who never received the recognition they should have received. They got passed over somehow - by usually no fault of their own. At least, Little Anthony & The Imperial's got recognized. 

This conversation was a continuation of a talk we had about a month ago. Chuck called to congratulate me and The Imperials on our Rock HOF induction. Chuck asked me to include something in my induction speech. Quote: “we stand here tonight on the shoulders of giants” and I delivered it as promised that night of April 4th. 

Now, I feel this is a good opportunity to elaborate on that homage-filled statement. The “giants’ shoulders” are the singing groups who paved the way for groups like mine. Now, these groups are lost in time and circumstance. They are misplaced in music history. That’s a sad note – pun intended. I would like to try and rectify that oversight.  

I don’t think it was by chance Chuck called me that day. Maybe, I can document them and acknowledge their contribution to what we call modern “American music”. These groups were known world round for a time and they did more for peace than the whole United Nations combined in their day. The people were pulled into their singing and race took a backseat. It united people – all in the name of R&B and Rock & Roll.  

There are leaders of varying countries who tried to unite their people and many succeeded. But music and the “hit song” is an amazingly strong bond and Chuck and I are determined to make sure credit goes to where it is due. These “hit songs’ were gifts and groups like The Imperials and The Dells gave them “a face and personality”. You could say “hit songs” are God-given and not by chance, at all. After singing your favorite “hit song” life was a little better that day. We both felt that our destiny is to carry on the “blessing of song” to others. We still maintain it in our groups, now 40 or 50 years later. 

To those lost or forgotten singing groups, this is one lead vocalist who wants to thank you for paving the way. The Ravens, The Mills Brothers, The Orioles, The Flamingos (featuring Nate Nelson), The Spaniels (featuring Rookie Hudson), The Moonglows, The Harptones, The Five Keys, The Heartbeats, The Crows, The Eldorados, Frankie Lyman & The Teenagers, The Valours, The Cadillacs and oh so many other groups (that I can’t even begin to list them all) are the foundation. 

I bow to these pioneer groups and they made my life complete onstage. I want to see that they get their recognition, at the least, in a small way. They are remembered in spirit regardless and I should add to the list: The Whispers, The 5^th Dimension with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, The Shilites. Let’s not forget the “girl groups” either like: The Chantells, The Crystals featuring Darlene Love, The Shirelles, The Ronettes immediately come to mind. “Ladies and gentlemen, this column is for you”. 

There were so many groups and to see them drop by the wayside is unfair and narrow-sighted. My mind fails me since I know there are so many more un-named but right now, this all I can list for this column. More will follow in the weeks to come.  

As Chuck and I talked further, we wondered why there isn’t a Black Hall of Fame for singing groups only. For example, Little Anthony & The Imperial's are a part of the Long Island Singers HOF since we did some many gigs on LI. A “Black Singers HOF” is not that far-fetched. Chuck and I think with the right funding, it could happen. Where should such a Black HOF be? New York or Detroit or Philly, perhaps? Maybe, one day…… 

As we ended our talk, Chuck said that he forgot to ask the initial question we wanted to send my way. He is involved with a TV show being produced in LA called “Second Chance”. Chuck wants Little Anthony & The Imperial's to appear on “SC”. The premise of the show is to “rediscover groups” and with the help of the show, create a new awareness for new and old audiences alike. I think it is great idea. If Little Anthony & The Imperial's didn’t take our career into our own hands in the last year or two, we would be not on the verge of the career portal we have before us. There are so many other groups not as fortunate as us. “Second Chance” could be what David Letterman was to The Imperials and me. Stayed tuned and details to follow. 

A WALK IN NEVADA 

I walk every day and the sights I see are marvelous. No, I don’t peek in anyone’s windows or anything. I notice the beautiful cascades that surround Las Vegas. Growing up in New York City, I never thought I would ever find beauty in granite. Of course in the city, it is manufactured by man granite but here in Vegas as the sun sets in the West, it really is awe-striking to see. I walk along wondering what is on the other side of that mountain in front of me. The granite is so close I can touch it.  

My golf buddy, Pete Woods told me how beautiful the whole state of Nevada is. Beyond those mountains, he said, are some of the most beautiful breath-taking views you could ever feast your eyes on. If you go horseback riding or camping, these views are right in your lap. They are second to none. I used to dream about what was on the other side of the mountain. Now, I’m gonna go there. My wife and I plan to go exploring to see the “other side of the mountain”. See you in the wild and the beautiful.  

WHAT PRICE TIMES SQUARE 

Now that I have talked about Nevada, I have lean back on my other hometown, New York. Someone recently sent me an article saying that Mayor Bloomberg is changing Times Square into a pedestrian mall. What? There are bus lines that ran the length of Broadway and they are being eliminated. It’s just the beginning of the end. 

Car traffic will be diverted and it’s all in the name of “tourists”. I know tourism brings in lots of bucks into New York City but to turn Times Square into a pedestrian mall is a slap in the face to anyone who lives in the metropolitan area. Times Square is the heart of New York and now, it will become a pocketed income stream. 

I know people who work in the Times Square area and they avoid it. Go there at 4PM and it is “a city of tourists”. Residents and the day-to-day New Yorkers are being pushed onto the side-streets to hand over one of the city’s most famous addresses to tourists. 

I could see closing down Broadway for occasional day here and there but to make it non-traffic is a crime. It is probably a good business move for New York but for the people who live and work around Times Square, it is “the changing face of New York” taken to another level. It ain’t like the old times! 

I’m glad that I have my cherished memories of Times Square past and the “new Times Square” is not. My walks in Nevada seem a little “sweeter” today because of it. New York’s loss is Las Vegas’ gain. It’s funny how that worked out. 
 

MEET THE METS – THEY HAVE ME FRETTING 

I am a die-hard Mets fan and even as Times Square changes face, the NY Mets are plummeting or better yet, floundering. I’m depressed at how awful the team is playing. I watch the games almost daily and they just keep getting worse. The pitching is holding up but the rest of the team is not at the top of their game. Why? The guys in the front office might be missing it, pitch-by-pitch. 

Somehow baseball got into this “let’s buy the best players affordable”. That doesn’t always work out and the Yankees are no better, really because of it. When all else fails, go back to where it started. Go back to your farm teams and bring up qualified pitchers, who can pitch more than 7 innings, and new fundamentally trained love-of-the-game players. This is one of the Mets greatest strengths and the Yankees, to some degree. 

Call me “old school” if you will, but it worked before. I say “play ball” and try to be the team you are meant to be. That is the magic of the game – don’t you think so?