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Topic: Artist of the day(3/24/04)-Ritchie Family

DJ Timmy Richardson
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Member # 60

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From 1965 to 1972, Cassandra Ann Wooten and Gwen Oliver, who met in their school glee club, were part of a group called "Honey & The Bees", an R & B quartet with Nadine Felder and Jean Davis based in Philadelphia, which nurtured an abundance of musical activity and talent.

Both women agreed, recalling with amusement some of their earliest experiences and memories of boys, out on the corner, fighting over who was going to sing bass or tenor, while the girls were singing in each others' living rooms or on the front steps, getting each "doo-wa-doo" down pat. "While we used to practice," recalled Gwen, "our parents used to say: 'Oh no, not tonight; you can quit early tonight, you poor girls.' " All that practice paid off though, when "Honey & The Bees" met with minor success with regional hits like: "That's What Boys Are Made For," "Better Come Get It" and "It's Gonna Take A Miracle." Did Cassandra and Gwen get swelled heads? Not exactly when you consider they were too busy putting up with a few unexpected surprises they came up against in the cruel, heartless world.

"One time in Bristol, Pennsylvania" reflected Cassandra, "we worked this rinky-dink club and weren't really getting paid much money. The club owner, for some odd reason, thought he was paying us grand-theft cash. We hadn't brought a public address system since we were accustomed to working in clubs which had one, but the owner thought we had come unprepared. He started fussing and saying things like "Yeah, everytime I hire you professional groups and pay you all this money I get all these problems." He started ranting and raving to the point where he wanted to fight us-four girls - but we didn't want to 'cause he was around 70 years old! Though his wife tried to calm him down, he said he was going to get a gun and blow us away! So we got up on stage, of course, and started singing without microphones. We were glad to do it-man, were we scared!" They also remembered the good times, particularly the days that they appeared at the Uptown Theatre, the Philadelphia equivalent of New York's Apollo Theatre which broke in so many contemporary disco artists. "It was the best place to be in the whole world" claimed Cassandra.

When the Ritchie Family surfaced in 1975 with "Brazil", which contained impressive remakes of "Peanut Vendor", "Frenesi" and the title cut, many thought they were merely newcomers who hopped aboard the disco bandwagon in pursuit of quick bucks. Not so. In actuality the "Sweethearts of Sigma," Carla Benson, Evette Benton, and Barbara Ingram did the vocals on this album. But they were session singers, so 3 new girls were recruited to the Ritchie Family after the "Brazil" album.

The three new girls were Gwendolyn Oliver, Cheryl Mason Jacks, and Cassandra Ann Wooten. After the group "Honey & the Bees" disbanded, the disillusioned Gwen and Cassandra joined the Philadelphia School Of Performing Arts, where they met Cheryl, asking her to join them in doing studio work for Ritchie Rome.

The second album was "Arabian Nights" which included the hit medley "The Best Disco In Town" and was a concept album on side 2 with an "Arabian Nights" medley. Ritchie Rome created "The Ritchie Family." He and Jacques Morali arranged, co-wrote and produced the albums "Brazil," "Arabian Nights," and "Life Is Music" which defined the Ritchie Family sound. They used to travel around the disco circuit with their Arabian Nights costumes to perform excellent shows after this album was released.

The third album was "Life Is Music" which featured the album title and a song popular in discos called "Lady Luck."

In 1977 producer Jacques Morali took total control of "The Ritchie Family" with his new partners: Henri Belolo, Phil Hurtt, and Horace Ott. The Ritchie Family's fourth album "African Queens" was released. Many consider "African Queens" to be their consumate album. The changes had only begun though, 20th Century out-T.K. Marlin in, Richie Rome out-Henri Belolo in. Sadly it seems the changes were more than any of the parties involved could handle. Consequently, "African Queens" was to be the final effort for Gwendolyn, Cheryl and Cassandra.

1978 brought new girls to the banner of "The Ritchie Family," who were Ednah Holt, Dodie Draher, and Vera Brown, with a completely new sound. This line-up released "American Generation" for T.K.-Marlin before the next evolution of the Ritchie Family. T.K. Marlin out-Casablanca Records in.

In 1979, a soundtrack of a French film by Jean Yanne “Je Te Tiens, Tu Me Tiens Par La Barbichette” was released in which the Ritchie Family performs in the movie. Then the Ritchie family released "Bad Reputation" for Casablanca Records with Vera Brown taking Ednah Holt's place. From the album "Bad Reputation" came the single "Put Your Feet to the Beat."

Ednah Holt is replaced after this project by the much stronger vocalist Vera Brown, who becomes the group lead singer from than on. With Vera they release the album Bad Reputation. Ednah forms a new group Ednah Holt & Starluv (3 women) and they release People Come Dance.

In 1980, the Ritchie family released "Give Me A Break" for Casablanca Records, after they appeared in the movie "Can't Stop The Music."

In 1982, the Ritchie Family's eighth album "I'll Do My Best" was released on RCA Records. Jacques Morali out, Jacques Fred Petrus (and Mauro Malavasi) in. Casablanca out, RCA Records in. "I'll Do My Best (For You Baby)" was the first time The Ritchie Family enjoyed airplay and clubplay simultaneously in several years. And yet another series of changes were in the air.

In 1983 "All Night, All Right" was the last album released by The Ritchie Family on RCA. Dodie Draher was replaced by Linda James. A new producer, Gavin Christopher, was able to pull one more single out of the group. 7 talented women, 4 record labels, 5 production teams and The Ritchie Family was over! In reviewing their music you can hear their musical evolution and witness the results of all these changes.( The Girl Groups Fan Club)

[ March 24, 2004, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: DJ Timmy Richardson ]

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cyberJAMZ 4/24/07

"When you
knew what you knew you did what you did...but when you knew better..you did better" Winfrey

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Mike Johnson
Super Star Member +
Member # 467

posted

What's amazing about this story is the fact that Ritchie Family did not have the commercial success as other dance-oriented artists of the 70's/early 80's, yet they still managed to get eight albums out of their recording career. Unthought of in today's music scene. If you're not out front and center, it's two, maybe three albums and then you're history.

"I'll do my best for you baby....." [finger]

[ March 24, 2004, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: Mike Johnson ]

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DJ Timmy Richardson
Administrator
Member # 60

posted

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Johnson:
What's amazing about this story is the fact that Ritchie Family did not have the commercial success as other dance-oriented artists of the 70's/early 80's, yet they still managed to get eight albums out of their recording career. Unthought of in today's music scene. If you're not out front and center, it's two, maybe three albums and then you're history.

"I'll do my best for you baby....."

Agreed.

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cyberJAMZ 4/24/07

"When you
knew what you knew you did what you did...but when you knew better..you did better" Winfrey

IP: Logged

kelvy
Platinum Member
Member # 969

posted