Two Creative Masterminds behind Motown Records Success.

These two men with collaboration from The Funk Brothers, Detroit Symphonic Orchestra and The Andantes (Motown Records background singers) created "The Sound of Young America"





         Paul Riser

Russ Terrana was the Motown recording engineer who recorded and/or mixed down 89 number one records in America with the legendary Paul Riser conducted strings   arrangements on majority of the number one hit records.

Terrana also mixed and recorded three singles released by Motown Records in the UK during 1960s which made it to number one on the UK official singles Pop chart.

“Baby Love”, peaked at Pop number one on 19^th November 1964 (2 weeks), performed by The Supremes.

“Reach Out I’ll Be There”, peaked at Pop number one on 27^th October 1966 (3 weeks), performed by The Four Tops

“I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, peaked at Pop  number one on 26^th March 1969(3 weeks),performed by    Marvin Gaye. The song was also induct ed into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value.

Each of these above mention recordings sold in excess of quarter million copies in the UK during each particular chart run at the top of the UK Official Singles Chart listings.                         

                                                                     Russ Terrana             

                                     Researched and compiled by

                         Mr K Tomlin Music Historian

                      ©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline 2013

                         

Black Gospel Music Phenomenal Growth from 1996 to 1997 Part 2

                                   

 “Alone In His Presents” 

was CeCe Winans'    

first platinum certified album of her 
career  as a solo artist.  

Kevin Bond was appointed VP of A&R at Gospo Centric, a major black record producer and top studio musician responsible for many of Kirk Franklin’s gold and platinum records and other top selling black  gospel artists.  In 1997 we witnessed CeCe’s album “Alone In His Present” achieving certified gold for week ending 5^th July 1997 and finally certified platinum by 17^th December 2001 for over million copies sold in America. 

   

“God’s Property” album reached number one   on both the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop  Chart and the Billboard Top Gospel  Albums Charts in America. The album sold over three million copies in America.

This was the first gold certification by a black female artist since Kirk’s recording projects and “The Preacher’s Wife” featuring Whitney Houston on the soundtrack. “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack was certified double platinum by that time. “The Preacher’s Wife” is the only gospel soundtrack to be certified platinum in Europe for one million copies sold according to The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) with international office based in London England.

 In 1997 same time when black was having massive growth, Bob Carlisle, a white recording artist and songwriter achieved his first major success crossover hit  with the album  “Shade of Grace” which went to  number one for 11 weeks on the Top Contemporary Christian chart  and achieved double platinum  for over two million copies. In the live entertainment concert sector had tremendous success with The Tour of Life which was the most successful gospel tour of it time,  featuring Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond. Kirk’s “God’s Property” was number one for 10 weeks and  was certified platinum week ending 16^th August 1997,with Kirk’s “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” album at the number three position, for two weeks. Since “God’s Property” release, it was number one for 16 weeks out of 17 weeks on the Top Gospel Albums chart as of the 27^th September 1997 and finally by 20^th December 1997 remained at number one for total 28 weeks. 

In addition gospel tracks were beginning to have increase present on secular soundtracks participating gold and platinum albums certifications. For example CeCe Winans teamed up with Whitney Houston for a duet titled “Count On Me” on the “Waiting To Exhale” soundtrack mainly produced Babyface on his LaFace Records label (black record label) and distributed by Arista Records. The album sold seven million copies in America and over one million copies in Europe. On television, Shirley Caesar became the first gospel artist featured QVC Home Shopping Network in the month February 1996 an arrangement between Word Records’ parent company Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

Artist such as Fred Hammond also achieved major success during that period with his studio album entitled “The Spirit of David” (Radical for Christ), released on 20^th August 1996 and which become a gold certified album in 19^th September 2002 according to RIAA.   

Fred Hammond’s first studio 

album of his career 

to receive gold certification

in America.

The late Jheryl Busby, former President and CEO of Motown Records once quoted by saying, “Vicky Mack Latailade is the Berry Gordy of gospel music. Before anyone else, she had the vision to take gospel music into the mainstream, and her (Gospo Centric) company’s phenomenal success has led the way for an entire industry.” 

She is indeed one of the most outstanding entrepreneurial black women in the music industry internationally. The recording artist Kirk Franklin who she signed in the early 1990s has become the second best-selling gospel recording artist with 20 million units sold internationally behind Amy Grant ahead with 25 million units according to Gospel Music Association (GMA) based in Nashville, America. With this remarkable and phenomenal growth has helped the America gospel industry to experience a 41% growth from $381 million in 1995 to gross earning in excess of $538 million by 1996 in North America! No other music industry sector had experienced such tremendous growth in such a short time.

           The soundtrack was certified platinum in Europe according  to IFPI ( International Federation of Phonographic Industry) for over one million copies sold. The soundtrack was recorded and released LaFace Records

                 Written,researched and compiled 
                          by Kevin Tomlin Music Historian

         

           

            

       

Black Gospel Music Phenomenal Growth from 1996 to 1997 Part 1

Prior 1996, industry growth in gospel music industry was estimated at $381 million in 1995.

From 1996 to 1997 the gospel music industry in America experienced a 41% growth compared to 1994 and 1995 when other music industry sectors such as Rock and Pop were experiencing periods of no growth and low sales with the closing of many music divisions across the industry while at the same time the gospel sector generated over half billion dollars in revenue which prompted the big six major records companies at the time to purchase several gospel labels for bigger market shares and revenue.

One of first major black solo artist to experience gold certification during the phenomenal growth of 1996 to 1997 was Donnie McClurkin with his self -title studio album “Donnie McClurkin”.

To understand the tremendous growth level witnessed by the gospel music sector need to a look how record executives were using industry professionals from the urban market to promote gospel recording projects and to expand their customer base(mainly church goers) into secular market. Also labels were spending more money on marketing and promotion. Many albums from black and white artists were beginning to sale over 400,000 units on average. 

                                                                                              

                                                                                                  

                                                 Donnie  McClurkin’s solo to be certified 
                                                  gold in 1996 for over half million units 
                                                      sold in America according RIAA.

                                                                                                                                                 

 Hardliners such as Dottie Peoples and Canton Spirituals averaged about 100,we take a look at Sparrow Communication Group a division of EMI Christian Music Group having six albums from artists on it roster to achieved gold certifications. These are: Carman’s “R.I.O.T”; Andy Griffith’s “I Love to Tell the Story” and “Precious Memories”; BeBe and CeCe Winans’s “Relationships”; “Amazing Grace: A Country Salute To Gospel” and finally “WOW 1996”. This was the most any Christian music company has received in one year!                                                 

                                                                               

     

                           Kirk Franklin’s album “Kirk Franklin and The Family” 
                            became the second live gospel album since Aretha Franklin’s
                          “Amazing Grace” album to go platinum according to 
                            RIAA (Record Industry Association of America).

Another label to experience phenomenal growth was Gospo Centric a black owned label based on the West Coast with the album entitled “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” recorded by Kirk Franklin and The Family that actually went to number one on the Top Contemporary Christian chart for week ending 1^st February 1997 for two solid weeks (total of 38 weeks on chart). Kirk Franklin and The Family was the only black recording act at that time to have two gold albums certifications on the charts at the same time in one year in from 1996 to 1997. The Gospo Centric label was voted as the number one top gospel label and distributing label in America.

                                     “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” album, recorded by
                                       the Kirk Franklin and The Family 
                                     was number one  for over 19 weeks on the 
                                     Top Billboard Gospel Albums chart 
                                      listings in  The album became  their  
                                    second platinum certified according to RIAA.

At the same time EMI Christian Music Group was celebrating the successes of Bill Gaither’s projects: Bill Gaither & Homecoming Friends; videos series, which achieved gold, platinum and multi-platinum status for 19 titles in excess of three and half million units sold, while “The Preacher’s Wife” (Arista 18951) soundtrack at was number one on Billboard R&B chart for 20 weeks, week ending 26^th April 1997. 

                       Written,researched and compiled 
                                    by Kevin Tomlin Music Historian 

               

                                   

 “Alone In His Presents” 

was CeCe Winans'    

first platinum certified album of her 
career  as a solo artist.  

Kevin Bond was appointed VP of A&R at Gospo Centric, a major black record producer and top studio musician responsible for many of Kirk Franklin’s gold and platinum records and other top selling black  gospel artists.  In 1997 we witnessed CeCe’s album “Alone In His Present” achieving certified gold for week ending 5^th July 1997 and finally certified platinum by 17^th December 2001 for over million copies sold in America. 

   

“God’s Property” album reached number one   on both the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop  Chart and the Billboard Top Gospel  Albums Charts in America. The album sold over three million copies in America.

This was the first gold certification by a black female artist since Kirk’s recording projects and “The Preacher’s Wife” featuring Whitney Houston on the soundtrack. “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack was certified double platinum by that time. “The Preacher’s Wife” is the only gospel soundtrack to be certified platinum in Europe for one million copies sold according to The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) with international office based in London England.

 In 1997 same time when black was having massive growth, Bob Carlisle, a white recording artist and songwriter achieved his first major success crossover hit  with the album  “Shade of Grace” which went to  number one for 11 weeks on the Top Contemporary Christian chart  and achieved double platinum  for over two million copies. In the live entertainment concert sector had tremendous success with The Tour of Life which was the most successful gospel tour of it time,  featuring Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond. Kirk’s “God’s Property” was number one for 10 weeks and  was certified platinum week ending 16^th August 1997,with Kirk’s “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” album at the number three position, for two weeks. Since “God’s Property” release, it was number one for 16 weeks out of 17 weeks on the Top Gospel Albums chart as of the 27^th September 1997 and finally by 20^th December 1997 remained at number one for total 28 weeks. 

In addition gospel tracks were beginning to have increase present on secular soundtracks participating gold and platinum albums certifications. For example CeCe Winans teamed up with Whitney Houston for a duet titled “Count On Me” on the “Waiting To Exhale” soundtrack mainly produced Babyface on his LaFace Records label (black record label) and distributed by Arista Records. The album sold seven million copies in America and over one million copies in Europe. On television, Shirley Caesar became the first gospel artist featured QVC Home Shopping Network in the month February 1996 an arrangement between Word Records’ parent company Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

Artist such as Fred Hammond also achieved major success during that period with his studio album entitled “The Spirit of David” (Radical for Christ), released on 20^th August 1996 and which become a gold certified album in 19^th September 2002 according to RIAA.   

Fred Hammond’s first studio 

album of his career 

to receive gold certification

in America.

The late Jheryl Busby, former President and CEO of Motown Records once quoted by saying, “Vicky Mack Latailade is the Berry Gordy of gospel music. Before anyone else, she had the vision to take gospel music into the mainstream, and her (Gospo Centric) company’s phenomenal success has led the way for an entire industry.” 

She is indeed one of the most outstanding entrepreneurial black women in the music industry internationally. The recording artist Kirk Franklin who she signed in the early 1990s has become the second best-selling gospel recording artist with 20 million units sold internationally behind Amy Grant ahead with 25 million units according to Gospel Music Association (GMA) based in Nashville, America. With this remarkable and phenomenal growth has helped the America gospel industry to experience a 41% growth from $381 million in 1995 to gross earning in excess of $538 million by 1996 in North America! No other music industry sector had experienced such tremendous growth in such a short time.

           The soundtrack was certified platinum in Europe according  to IFPI ( International Federation of Phonographic Industry) for over one million copies sold. The soundtrack was recorded and released LaFace Records

         Written,researched and compiled 
               by Kevin Tomlin Music Historian

         

           

            

       

Paul Riser String Arrangements On Luther Vandross and Anita Baker Albums:

Giving You The Best That I Got is the third studio album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was Baker's first and only number one Pop album in the US, the second number one R&B Album, and was certified triple  platinum in 1989 by the RIAA  for over three million copies sold.

  

Never Too Much is the debut solo album by Luther Vandross released in 1981. It peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200 (then known as Pop Albums), peaked at number one  on the Billboard Soul R&B Albums Charts , and was certified  double platinum by the RIAA for two million copies sold in America.

                                         
                                                                                                                               

Larry Gold- The Man With Classical Touch.

Larry Gold- The Man With Classical Touch.

Born in Kensington,North Philadelphia, in 1948 of Jewish parents. Larry started to play professionally with the cello in this early teens as soloist for the Philadelphia Orchestra. By the mid 1960s he began to play at the supper club the Latin Casino for house band in the city of Philadelphia, where he did supported for such artist as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr.

As the 1960s progressed , session work began to be developed at Cameo Parkway Records studios,he started play behind such acts as Chubby Checker and Dee Dee Sharp. Larry stared to work for three music visionaries: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell who were the architect of the “Philadelphia Soul and R&B Sound.”

In the early 1970s, Gamble and Huff established Philadelphia International Records under written by CBS Records with the legendary CliveDavis as CEO at the time. From that moment on he played on almost every hit record that came out of PIR (Philadelphia International Records) from 1971 to the early 1980s. On such acts as: Teddy Pendergrass, The O 'Jays, Three Degress, Billy Paul,MFSB,Jones Girls and Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes.
For Thom Bell production activities he did session work for The Spinners The Stylistics and The Delfonics to name a few.

As we fast forward to 1990s , he opened his own full-time recording studio in 1996 to meet the needs of the of the increasing list of clients coming to his assistance for strings arrangements in the Philly classic tradition.Some of the many string arrangements that Larry has done include The Roots’ Grammy winning single “You Got Me” (featuring Erykah Badu); and Jennifer Lopez’s number one single “If You had My Love.” Larry arranged, conducted, and played cello for Jay-Zs performance on MTV Unplugged with the Roots. Since the 21st century Larry as written, conducted and arranged strings for Carvin Haggins and Ivan Barrias ,Andre Harris and Vidal Davis ,Rodney Jerkins ,Kirk Franklin,James Poyser, and ?uestlove.

Michael Jackson's the tenth and final studio album “Invincible” was recorded at Larry's studio with Rodney Jerkins, Andre Harris and Vidal Davis involved in the production end of the recording with legendary studio engineer Bruce Swedien.

Paul Riser Creative Impact with Strings and Horn Arrangements.

Paul Riser

Paul Riser, probably the most prolific arranger of hit songs of all time.
Chief architects for strings and horn arrangements at Motown.
Among Riser's biggest hits as an arranger are, "My Girl" (The Temptations),
"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations), for which he won a Grammy
Award, both versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin
Gaye)(Gladys Knight & The Pips), "My Cherie Amour," (Stevie Wonder),
both versions of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross) (Marvin Gaye &
Tammy Terrell), "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight & The Pips) and "Tears
of A Clown" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles). He is also composer of "What
Becomes of The Brokenhearted" (Jimmy Ruffin).

Also outside the Motown organisation he achieved hits records for such artist as
“Car Wash” (Rose Royce) Certified gold and platinum by RIAA and BPI
"Never To Much" (Luther Vandross), Certified gold and platinum by RIAA
"Two Hearts" (Phil Collins) Silver certification by BPI
“Believe I Can Fly" (R. Kelly). Certified gold and platinum by RIAA and BPI

His arrangements is also heard on recording projects for such artist as
The Carpenters,
Carly Simon,
Quincy Jones, T
The Doobie Brothers,
Tom Jones,
Natalie Cole,
Pharoah Sanders,
Kiki Dee,
Johnny Mathis,
Patti LaBelle,
Stephanie Mills,
Anita Baker,
Roberta Flack,
Michael McDonald,
Aretha Franklin,
Mary J. Blige.

As we fast forward to the 1990s and the early 21st century, we witness other great achievements by Paul Riser, callobarating with R. Kelly on the album “Chocolate Factory” which has sold 2.5 million copies in America since its release in 2003.
He was responsible for the string arrangement on Keith Washington’s R&B number one single; “Kissing You”(1991) , extracted from the gold album “Making Time For Love” on the Qwest label.He is one of few arrangers to have achieved hit records over four decades.
BPI (British Phonographic Industry) RIAA (Record Industry Association of America)

                                         ©RCMMUSIC Ltd 2009-2013