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  JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5891 Registered: 4-2004 |
After Kent Washburn left Motown, he helped set up Em-Kay (MK) Records in LA in 1979. I believe that there were about 10 x 45 releases on the label. ........... some of the cuts released on the label were as shown below ...... I have no details on any release # 1001 / 2 / 3 -- perhaps the 1st release on the label was #1004. EM1004 is from the Hypnotics "Don't Burn No Bridges / One Way Ticket" (& I guess was cut in the mid 70's: perhaps even with a Reprise release in mind). EM1005 was another Hypnotics 45, the B side of which was titled "The Lone Ranger" EM1006 was by Act 3 & titled "Got to Get Away" EM 1007 was by Love Set & titled "I Wanna Be Fully Loved / Just Keep on Lovin Me" EM1008 was by the Charles Drain Revue: "I Could Stay Allnight" EM1009 ......................I don't have the details of EM1010 was by Otis Williams: "I Got to Have You / Take Me Back". I had a copy of all the above 45's in my hands about 25 years back. They had been sent to an ex Motown employee by Kent Washburn himself. What happened to these 45's after that time, I do not know -- I guess they were eventually sold onto a UK collector. I guess Otis Williams is the guy who had been lead singer with the Charms from 1953 (Deluxe) through to 1966 (Okeh) and beyond. The Charles Drain Revue was obviously the group led by Charles Drain which in the mid 70's had also been based out of St Louis (as were the Hypnotics). Born in Mississippi, Charles moved to Chicago where he sang back-up before joining the Tabs (VeeJay in 62, Wand in 63). He went solo and cut for Checker in 67 and also for Top Track in the 60's ("Stop and think about it baby"). In the 70's he relocated to St Louis and secured a deal with RCA in 75. He cut & RCA released an album; "Dependable'. A cut off this LP that escaped on 45 is his MS dancer "Is This Really Love" (written by Michael Lovesmith & produced by Michael along with Kent Washburn). I guess his Emkay cut ("I Could Stay All Night") was also recorded in St Louis at about the same time. The Hypnotics were from St Louis & had 45's on Reprise (thru Warners) in 73 -- "Danger, She's A Stranger", etc.). This song was written by James Thompson who had come out of the Voicemasters (on Bamboo) & wrote numerous songs recorded by Mel & Tim on Bamboo. He was also a member of the Hypnotics. Anyone know anything about the other artists; Act 3 & the Love Set ?? Anyone here got any of these 45's ?? | ||
tom_moulton (tom_moulton) 6-Zenith Username: tom_moulton Post Number: 1589 Registered: 6-2005 |
I swear I mixed a record in 1975 with that same title Is This Really Love for RCA. It was a beautiful song very melodic. I will have to check the old archives and see. I am glad to know more about the Hypnotics. They had a popular dance track of a cover version of the Doobie Bros. Listen To The Music I also have their other Reprise single. Dam good records and Great Production. | ||
mike s (mike_s) 6-Zenith Username: mike_s Post Number: 1633 Registered: 4-2004 |
Anyone know anymore on Kent Washburn? I know he produced High Inergy's You Can't Turn Me Off for (presumably) Gwen Gordy Fuqua's production company Gwen Glenn which was a big hit on Gordy in 77. But didn't know of earlier work... | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5893 Registered: 4-2004 |
Kent W also worked on the Major Lance LP released by Motown. | ||
FRANCIS T (francis_t) 5-Doyen Username: francis_t Post Number: 246 Registered: 4-2004 |
The Love Set issued a 45 on RCA Touch and go lover/I can,t do it on RCA (PB10241).Produced and arranged both sides by Kent Washburn and Michael L Smith.Both sides published by Gold Forever Music Inc.Released circa 1975. Both sides have an Invictus feel, and if I remember rightly received plays at the UK soul venue Blackpool Mecca. regards francis t | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5894 Registered: 4-2004 |
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JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5895 Registered: 4-2004 |
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JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5897 Registered: 4-2004 |
Tom M, .... you can listen to the above track on youtube .... go to ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =tJAOONWG3N0 Is this the song that you mixed back in 1975 (thats when this track was released) ??? | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5899 Registered: 4-2004 |
A Love Set RCA track ("Touch and Go Lover" I presume) was included on an Argentinian compilation LP released on RCA Victor back in 1975 (titled 'Soul Explosion Vol.2').  | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5903 Registered: 4-2004 |
There's a list of Kent Washburn's work on Discogs ..... http://www.discogs.com/artist/ Kent+Washburn ... but its not complete .... only his Charles Drain cuts are listed as RCA releases he was involved with, nothing else. It seems he only worked with High Inergy & Major Lance whilst at Motown. There is an additional album though; from 1990 on A&M by Rodney Friend. No mention of his Emkay stuff either (I guess those 45's must be rare !!!) | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5904 Registered: 4-2004 |
More on Kent's later work is included here .... From the walls of her father's church to a recording studio at Motown Records, the penetrating voice of Vernessa Mitchell rings clear. Born into a family of ten, Vernessa was determined to make her mark. She hit stardom at a young age with her sister Barbara and two other teenage girls. They called themselves High Energy. Berry Gordy of Motown spotted their talent and signed them to a recording contract during the late '70s. Their first album went gold and produced the hit single "You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On). "Their fame was affirmed by invitations to appear on American Bandstand, Soul Train and television shows hosted by Merv Griffin, Dina Shore, and Mike Douglas. However, in mid-success Vernessa decided to leave the group and Motown. "The Lord spoke to me and said 'It's time to leave all of this'." .... After leaving Motown, Vernessa joined Dr. Wayne Davis' World Won For Christ Ministries in California. There, she gained a solid foundation in the Word. "God told me I couldn't sing about a man I didn't know about," she explains .... She became a staff member and served with Dr. Davis' ministry ten years. Meanwhile, KENT WASHBURN, who'd produced Vernessa during her Motown days, had given his life to Jesus Christ. He found Vernessa, told her about his change of heart and convinced her to sign with his label Command Records. She released two critically-acclaimed albums with Command, the Grammy and Dove Award-nominated "This Is My Story: and "Higher Ground." "I praise God that he sent me the same professional people and expertise I had at Motown; only now, we are all serving the Lord." Later, she recorded with the Nicholas Family and co-wrote and sang the lead on the hit song "I Gotta Tell Somebody." | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5905 Registered: 4-2004 |
More on the gospel work Kent was involve with .... Date of Publication: June 1, 1983 Date of Creation: 1983 Song Title: For By Grace by P. Nicholas, R. Friend, K. Washburn. Message Records MGN-1002 Appears on: Words Can't Express. Copyright Claimant: Highest Praise Publishing Authorship on Application: words & music: Philip W. Nicholas, Rodney Friend & Kent Washburn. Performer: Nicholas. Names: Philip W. Nicholas B: 1954 Rodney Friend B: 1957 Kent Washburn B: 1942 Highest Praise Publishing (79 documents) Date of Publication: June 1, 1985 Date of Creation: 1985 Song Title: Stop Your Searchin' (Try God) by P. Nicholas, R. Friend, W. Bickelhaupt, K. Washburn. Command Records CRN-1003A Appears on: Dedicated. Copyright Claimant: Highest Praise Publishing Authorship on Application: words & music: Philip Nicholas, Rodney Friend, Kent Washburn & William Bickelhaupt. Performer: Nicholas. Date of Publication: April 1, 1986 Date of Creation: 1986 Song Title: I Put My Trust In Thee by R. Friend, K. Washburn. Command Records CRF-1005 Appears on: Worthy. Copyright Claimant: Highest Praise Publishing Authorship on Application: words & music: Rodney Friend, Kent Washburn. Performer: Rodney Friend. Names: Kent Washburn B: 1942 Rodney Friend B: 1957 Highest Praise Publishing (79 documents) | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5906 Registered: 4-2004 |
... and making a bit of a jump, I guess this is also the same Kent Washburn .... I (Dale Roark) went off to Oklahoma State University and wasn’t active in music my freshman year but right before the end of the winter semester I was approached by Kent Washburn to join the “Shadow Lake 8” for the summer gig in Noel, Missouri. The band had been a staple at OSU for years with graduating members being replaced by new, younger talent. They also needed a guitarist so I introduced him to Archie and his mother agreed to let the young sixteen year old join the band. The drummer quit the first week there and Denny was contacted and drove out the next day. The band at that point consisted of: Kent Washburn – Tenor Sax and Band Leader Amos Ming – Alto and Baritone Sax plus flute Terry Mead – Trumpet and Valve Trombone Bing Vasser – Trumpet Bill Schooler – Piano Archie Barnes – Guitar Denny Freeman – Drums Dale Roark – Electric Bass During the winter of 1963, Kent’s younger brother, Gary, replaced the piano player with his brand new Hammond B-3 organ and the dynamics of the group started to change. A demo tape was made at the Tulsa University ballroom. Single mike, no mixing, direct to tape and later cut as a demo. “Splankie” shows off Denny’s mastery of Big Band Jazz. “From the Heart” (a Ray Charles number from his "Genius Plus Soul = Jazz" album) shows off Archie and Denny’s 10th grade musician skills. Denny was a huge jazz fan and his talents are present in his kicks and comping abilities. Archie shows a sophistication that few rock and roll musicians could conceive at such a young age. It also allows comparison between Gary’s “All Skate” tone to the later recordings as he finally mastered the tone controls of his B-3. He was also in high-school at the time. That next summer we played at Rockaway Beach, Missouri. It is a resort town of about a hundred people just a few miles from Branson. The club was huge by that day’s standard and probably held a couple of thousand people. The group tightened up quite a bit but I quit the following fall for personal reasons. I was replaced by Bill Hieronymus and the following summer they toured the Florida night club circuit as “The Jades”. The band pretty much stayed together for several more years. I had moved to Memphis and was the leader of a group called The Escapades. We were under contract with Sun records and Kent contacted me during the summer of 1966 about cutting a record at Sun. The following four Jades tunes were the result: Rainbow Riot – A Bill Doggett tune the band used as their theme song High Heel Sneakers – Kent and Archie doing the vocals I Got a Woman – Gary Washburn rockin’ on his B-3 including the bass pedals Come and Take Me Baby – An original with Archie Barnes vocal and local Memphis back up singers Bing Vasser had left the band prior to this but the rest of the musicians were together. I substituted on bass for Bill who couldn’t make the session. The group stayed together a little while longer but then went their separate ways. Amos Ming – became an accountant in Nashville with Brenda Lee as one of his clients Kent Washburn – moved to the West Coast and became a Christian Record Producer Gary Washburn – became a music professor at the University of Hawaii | ||
JSmith (jsmith) 6-Zenith Username: jsmith Post Number: 5941 Registered: 4-2004 |
I have just been contacted by Kent Washburn. After a Japanese record collector had got in touch with him a few times (to obtain copies of records he had put out on his old labels), Kent decided to google his name & thus found this thread on SDF. I am asking him some more questions about his music career & so anticipate being able to shed more light on his Em-Kay label release (& more) in the near future. I have also suggested he join SDF, which he may do in the near future. |
