September 17, 2025 • 40 mins
We're talking with Entertainer Shirley Brown on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:21):
Never they.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
In the.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Thingthing decays and ready all in tim show Joe, let's go.
(01:14):
Bet just then we'll make your day right.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Here, wrongaud I.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Listen to what to say. You know it's time of
the belt.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Just show temple the belt of Joe.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
We are rocking and rolling on this Wednesday, September seventeen,
twenty twenty five. Enjoyed this fabulous day to day. We
are hoping us talk to our next special guests. But
in the meantime, you know what time it is. It's
lunchtime in the city. And that's where I have to
(02:33):
talk about my favorite place. It's the Rocking Tier of
Memphis fifteen forty two Elvis Presley, where we rock with
the best soul food in town, best entertainment around.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You can dine in, oh you can.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Take out nine zero one four two five five two
six four nine zero one four two five five. If
two six four will get you in to the rocking
chair of Memphis, you can get food like catfish, buffalo, fish,
fried chicken, baked chicken, pot roast, smothered pork chop, fried pork,
(03:16):
chopped hamburger, steak, smoke turkey, necks pot, roast Miss and
Fay muss chit lips.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
They let them chicken chit lits. Yeah. I was talking
to miss Anne Sunday.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
She said, yeah, they still buying them chittens and an
assortment of vegetables and desserts. Yeah, you can dine in
or you can take out. The Rocking Chairs open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday where we rocked with the best entertainment around,
(03:51):
best soul food in town. And talking about entertainment, it's
karaoke night on a Wednesday at the Rocking Chair. Doors
will open up at six pm, so you can come
on out and do a little singing.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah you can.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And on the Saturday very well.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Now Tomorrow Thursday, Yeah it's gonna be Throwback Thursday with
Disco Hound, Spanish Fly, what a bunch of folks, what
special guest happening Throwback Thursday on Tomorrow and Friday entertainment
as well. So we always rock, Yeah we do. We
(04:33):
rock with the best entertainment in town, best soul food around.
It's the Rocking Tier of Memphis. Fifteen forty two Elvis Presley.
Dine in or take out, give them a call nine
zero one, four two five five two sixty four. That's
nine zero one four two five five two six four.
(04:57):
And when you go there, y'all, you know what to say.
Tell them that BEV Johnson sent you to the Rock
and Chair of Memphis. Yeah, fifteen forty two Elvis Presley,
All right, we're groobing.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I told you all that I had a very special
guest this hour. I'm excited to talk to this person.
But wait before I get to you, I'm gonna do this,
so'll y'all are know who my very special guest is.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Hello, masspect to Barbara. Barbara, this is Shirley. You might
not know who I am, but the reason I'm calling
you is because I was going through my old man's
pockets this morning and I just happened to find your
name and number. So woman to woman, and I don't
(06:16):
think it's being any more than fat and to call
you and let you know where I'm coming from. Now, Barbara,
I don't know how you're gonna take this, but whether
you be cool or come out of a bag on it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You see, it really doesn't make any difference.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
But it's only fat that I let you know that
the man you're in love with his mind, from the
top of his head to the bottom of his.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Feet, the bad he sleeps in, and every piece of
food he eat. You see how I make it possible.
The clothes on his back, I buy him, the car
he drives.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
I pay the note every month.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I think y'all have figured it out how much I love?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, you figured it out?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
What what?
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Mamad maama, If you've ever.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
That is my sister friend, none other than Miss Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Good afternoon, my sister friend, Shirley Brown.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
How are you? I'm fine, Beverly. Good afternoon, Darling. How
are you?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I'm fabulous. I'm fabulous.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Well we know that for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
How has it been going, sister?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
So far?
Speaker 7 (07:41):
So good?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Bedly, We can't complain and wouldn't change a thing.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I know, we wouldn't change a thing, A thing, A
thing a thing. So I'm excited because, let me tell
y'all one of the reasons I'm excited. I'm talking to
shirt always because I just I just love this sister.
But I'm gonna be with Shirley this weekend.
Speaker 8 (08:03):
What yay?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
We are going to be at the annual Delta Blues
and Heritage Festival in Greenville.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Missiles Real, Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Charley, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I am too bad. I can't wait to see you.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Been a long time. I'm excited just to see my sister.
And we's gonna be doing it together.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We are we are and and and and and Shirley.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
I'm so glad that you said, you said, yes, that
you you want to get out because people love you,
Shirley Brown, and they want to see you perform.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
I know, everybody say, where is she? What's your I'm coming,
I'm here and I've been doing things. Everybody wonder why
are you what you're doing? Are you still?
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I am greatly still doing this what I do and
I'll always do this bad God say so that's right.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
That's right. And when we talk about you, you how
long have you been performing.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Shirley, I well, badly. You know, almost fifty We hit
in the Markle forty nine fifty years if you want
to add those years when I was a teenager.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
With Albert bous Boy King was my dad and management
and everything.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, I know, I'd love me some Abbat King.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah that was my pop, Pam, Yeah, that was your.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
Pappa, I know, I know and people don't know Shirley,
that you are right. You are right around from this area.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yes, I am. I was born in Westminshi South andk
so wow wow on sixteenth Street. That's my birthplace. So
I'm no newcomer to this area. I am a person
that was born in the mist.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I hear, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
And when we talk about well, let me ask this question, Shirley,
did you always know that you were going to be
a performer entertainer.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Well, that was the time when I just really came
to add to think that I would want to do this.
And as a young girl, I was teenager when I
was singing in places and it came to me that
I want to do this for the rest of my life.
I wanted this is what I know that I wanted
to do.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Good.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Yeah, And I think about all the fabulous Shirley, the
songs that you put out in your song but you
are so much noted for you are noted for a
sister that woman to woman and who everybody loves that
(10:53):
when they think about Shirley Brown, they say woman to woman.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
My goodness, yes they do.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
That is it. That is it?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
And And when when it came to do that song,
Uh did you? Were you reluctant or you wanted to
do it?
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Because you made it your own, sister, You made it
your own.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
And in particular, people are shocked to know that it
was written by Henderson Big Penn, James Banks and the guys.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
It was not a song written by me, right right.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
And when I.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Heard that, the guys amout saying that, yeah, you know,
I never saw a song like that, you know. And
I had been singing for many years prior to coming
to Stacks, and when we got there, that was one
of the songs.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That Al Jackson all the guys said, Shirley, tried this
many it's gonna be great for you. And I said,
really me and I tried it out. When we tried
it out, and I said, wow, this is amazing that
I would be singing, you know, that guys could come
up with such a lyric and the monologu you know.
(12:02):
And we went on to do it and the rest
was history.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Rest is history because that's the number one bum song.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
They so bad, you know, I do, sister, you know
I did.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, It's one of the greatest songs, but one of
the ones that I think really brought me here brought
me to this place of knowing that you know, we
don't do this. You know, my first song with him
was that song. And my first song out of the
box was a million seller.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Isn't that something?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
And I was the last one at Stack's we put
the padlock on the door.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
What I didn't know that, Shirley.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
Yeah, me and little Milton.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Wow, now that's some history.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh yeah, well, many many things I've written in my
upcoming book, Reflections of the Journey be the name of it.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Oh, I love that. So you're writing your story.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, my story, and I believe it'd be just as
good as that anybody's hit the record the book.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, well, I can't wait to read that, bab I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Gonna I didn't want to tell you a shock. I
am going to be talking so much about you bad Oh, Shirley.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
And Bobby o J.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I just cannot, you know, say you now all of it?
But you guys look out. Yeah, it's gonna be there.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
With a bonus.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I couldn't. I mean, why wouldn't I have to. It's
a musk.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
It is a musk. It is a musk, and you
need to you need to tell your story.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Oh man, I got a story, were all in there bad,
you'd be going like what, no, Yeah, you know, I
want to tell it like it is the truth, yeah,
and how it all happened, and the where and the
place and people and time and just the struggle and
the goodness of it. You know, all of us gonna
(14:08):
be told the truth, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Yeah, And that's going to be great. That's gonna be great.
Surely you think so, yes, ma'am, I do, I do.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
I know it.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I already know it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
It's gonna because I wanted to be. I wanted to
be and I've never had a novel a book before,
and this is my I should have been before now,
but you know, anytime it's better than no time. And
I should have already been done with this. But my
you know, my ghost writer in Los Angeles that happened
meet and we're gonna we're gonna look at next year
(14:43):
middle of next year for the release of it.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Oh great, great, I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Reflections Reflections of the journey.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Reflections of the journey. And when it comes out, you know,
you have to be on the show to.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Talk about it, yes, and well, you know I want to,
I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
One of the things when I think about you, Shirley,
and one of my favorite songs of you, I love
woman to woman, but I love Shirley when you leave
the bridges.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Standing, leave the bridge standing.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
That's that's one of my favorites. You like, I leave
the bridges standing.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Because one day it may pass this way again. Yes, ma'am,
what a truth told.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
It is it is.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
It is of all the songs that you've done, Shirley,
what is your favorite?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And that's a question that is difficult to answer. So
many songs that I've recorded, and you got a love
for all of them, you know, you just don't you
become the person this is for that and this, you know.
But I love all of my songs, but my particularly
like some of the ballads you know, just I can't
(16:01):
name or I have so yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
But I love the fact that I had many writers
that was particularly able to find me in the songs.
A lot of times when you're getting songs they're just
not fitting for you. But the writers like Homer Banks
and Less the Snail, Chuck Brooks, people in Jackson, Mississippi,
(16:27):
Presurick Knight, they were there for me. And those were
professional people when.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
I came to the label, so I mean, they caught
me just at the right time, and I come in
having the opportunity to have songs from those professional writers. Yeah,
and I began to write myself.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I say, well, and you need to start.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
And it was a while before I began to write
something for myself. A lot of the songs I did
help write, but nobody wasn't me help or write, but
soil I just had to take my space and go
on and began to write some things myself. But all
the songs I've written, I feel that we're great songs.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
From those guys that are going on now. But they
left great songs in my you know, in your repertoire
and trying to figure of that. Yes, yes, and and
and you know what, surely you and I.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Love when you say the ballots even I love to
leave the bridge is standing. But also another favorite of
mine was it ain't no.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Fun, Oh girl, be quiet.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Ain't no fun being loved by your sin.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
When one you loved somebody here. That was the one
that came out the door first.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
With the Woman the Woman the album, I think that
was the first single off of that album. After the
Woman the Woman and then we dropped it Ain't No Fun.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It was a and B side during those times they
had A and B side of songs or the single,
and that was the flip side of Woman's a Woman,
It Ain't No Fun.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, yeah, I remember.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Well, you know when you say that, you're right, because
forty five they did have flip sides, and they would
have one be one hit.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
In the next turn it over to be another hit.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yah See.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
We got out on the highway and did a holy
dance where they jopped Ain't.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
No Fun and we just got out on the way
to the airport. I believe we're doing this when we
heard on the radio, first let me out, We got out,
jump me and my job. We just did the holy
bump on the inter state.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yes, yes, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Like you said, your your repertoire is simply fabulous, and
and you do. You did a lot of balance, but
also surely not only that doing R and B, you've
also done.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Some gospel, gospel jazz. I was. I had jazz gigs
back in the day.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I was singing a lot of the Nancy Wilson, a
lot of the down in Washington and during the time
that was very properlar for you know, to do jazz
orientity because jazz was popular then from the women, and
I had gigs that required just you know, jazz in
(19:21):
the evening with Charlie Brown, and I would do a
lot of gigs.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You know, it was just to do in those days.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Yes, yeah, do you miss those days, Shirley?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
I do, and I certainly do bad.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
I missed the timing of how you know, you could
just those songs like the jazz and like the R
and B, and you could just sing anything that you
wanted to and it would be you know, I always
wanted to record a jazz song, where I never got
the opportunity to. But I missed the days when you
could just be versatile in your repertoire. And you you know,
(20:00):
it was okay to me that you were just step
to one genre of music, you know.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
Yes, yeah, Well hold on, Shirley, I need to take
a break. I want to continue to talk to you
some more. Can you hold on pay for Just hold on, sweetheart.
We are talking, as I say, miss woman to woman,
Miss Shirley Brown, and we're excited because I'm going to
tell you what we're doing this week in we are
doing something that's coming up down in the Delta, and
(20:32):
a question or two you may have for Miss Shirley Brown.
We do invite you to call five three five nine
three four two one eight hundred and five zero three
nine three four two eight three three five three five
nine three four two, or you can email me your
question at Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia dot com. iHeartMedia dot com.
(21:00):
Listening to the Heart and Soul of Memphis, The Beb
Johnson Show on dou w d i A.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
It's the Queen of Talk, Your girlfriend and Mine, Beb
Johnson on w.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
D i A The Bev Johnson Show.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You're listening to the Bev Johnson Show. Here's Bev Johnson
and we're.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Talking with the fabulous Miss Shirley Brown. Entertainer extraordinaire. Shirley,
I got a surprise for you. Just hold on and listen.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
W d I A high caller.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Good morning, ladies, and good morning the diva Girlie Brown,
the love of my life.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Mister Larry Dotson. What's up, Larry?
Speaker 7 (22:31):
I am, well, well, well, that might I say, It's
been a great, wonderful interview. Shirley, your articulate as always.
I gotta just say, look, look, look, maybe we can't
talk back and forth, but I just want to hear, Shirley,
I bring your greetings. Also from the other guy who's
the love of your life, Brandon, how do you want
me to tell you hello? And for all eyes watching,
(22:55):
all ears listeners, I just want to I'm not gonna
give too much away Shirley, but Shirley and I are
gonna be traveling a whole lot together before me and
a whole lot in twenty twenty six. That's all I
can say right now.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
That the best voice I've ever ever heard, and this
is one of the best duets I've ever done. Was
the song I did with Sheerley, and I almost had
that twist.
Speaker 8 (23:17):
I armored to do it.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
It was called we Can't Stay Together, but we Can't
Stay Apart. I couldn't even sing we were so I
couldn't do my part. Good for just being mes marized
by her on that on that floor recording, I'll let
y'all talk that much.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Well, Well, Larry Dotson Senior, we appreciate you, and we
know the voice of the Arcades, the original voice of
the Arcades.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
But I tell you that guy yeah and We're gonna
be Larry. I'mna be waiting for that in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
You and Shirley, you gonna.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Hear about it.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
It's gonna be a lot of other folks too. But
that's all I can say. I can't let it get
out of the say.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Okay, don't let the cat out of bag. Love you, Larry,
be saved, be well.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
That was so nice, Shirley, Larry Dods. Did you hear, Larry?
Speaker 2 (24:07):
That's my dude, Barry Man. I just love all the
music man anticipation, I attitude. I did you know I
did one of the Barkade songs. What is the name
of the song that I covered of the Barcade anticipation?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Oh yeah, yeah, and that was a good one.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, they did well. It was Larry was at the
studio when I recorded. Winston produced it.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Yeah. Oh yeah, that's my boyfriend Wiston Stewart.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Oh mine too. Now watch out, well, let me tell.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
You this, Shirley.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
So, I don't know if you knew that Winston was
my boyfriend when I was fifteen years old.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Quinn, really, are you serious?
Speaker 5 (24:52):
I'm very serious, Winston, I tell you, yes, Winston Stewart,
my boyfriend when I was fifteen.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
No, sure enough, girl, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
Well that's dude.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
He's so talented and the first guy that I writ
started writing with on the serious note when we did
the album for Malaco, my first album, and it was
Winston that did the entire album by himself.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Yeah. Yeah, he's very talented and he surely and Winston
is our minister of music at our church, Mount Pisgou.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
I know he's in church very much.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Now.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Well, he's our minister of music at Mount Pisgos. Seeing
me church, Oh.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
My god, that's news. I didn't know. I have to
come and check you guys out. That's right, you're gonna
over there, and I'm come and do something.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
Okay, I'm gonna invite you. Hold on for a second, Shirley.
Some other folks want to talk to you. Let me
let them talk to you. We're talking to miss Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
W D I a HI caller. I call her Barbara Head.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yes ha to Sharn.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
How you doing?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
She's doing well? What do you have to say, Barbara?
Speaker 7 (26:14):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Sherid that this is Barbara. Okay, Shureley. It is so
strange that there's three songs on that album. It's a
true story about my entire life. Sheridan is my children,
stepmom and uh the one that he said, leave the
(26:35):
bridge is standing. Yeah, Uh, my children and daddy. We
went we went out that night. I hate I hate
hello on this and Sheriff end up married Sheridan, but
I got four kids by him. But we went out
that night and he said, I want you to listen
to a song. And uh, we played the song leave
the Bridge. And I didn't know I know that song.
(26:56):
I just knew a woman to a woman and uh
been the one hollo on my speak. Brother, I didn't
know nothing about leave the bridge is standing and not
listening to their son and not listening to son. And
we broke up. And I'm gonna tell you, woman to woman,
if you've ever been in love, and I'm gonna tell you,
I love that man. I love him. Okay, and now
me and him like brothers and sisters.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
He the one called and told me and said, guess
who want calling the bell? Sureley, Sureley, thank you so much.
You told my life though it I'm good. I'm the
church and that bell. Let me tell you about want
to Steward. What you weren't only one in love with once?
Because I when I started seventh grade, the Mayor Roads
and all them guys that Mary Road. When I've seen
Wants to store his brother named Michael, but when I
(27:40):
seen Wanting Steward, that what is the most housing black
man I've seen in my life. Thank you ladies, y'all.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Have bless that, and you too, Barbara, Hi captain.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
Thanks for taking my car.
Speaker 8 (27:54):
I don't want I don't know an can hear me?
But no knew But I knew her from twenty twenty
supper club. I was managing down there with Missus Detroit
William in the eighties. I had never seen them for
her on the radio. But then we made out the
coffee for and she came up and she and uh,
I didn't know well, but she came in a limousine
(28:15):
first time. We never asked somebody come come and lembozine
and here we didn't have a dressing room for it
was a trailer. Came up with a bus and all
the musicians everywhere. She brought in first class where we
had to do everybody behind her.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
Yeah right, she was she was uh, I mean, she
was young so.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Here's what happened. Uh, she came in and set the pace,
and we thank God for her coming in setting the
place where everybody else there has to bring it off
with the limousine stuff behind her. And then uh, she
did the thing for Kamada Harris out there with you guys,
was that I was playing mall. Whatever it was she
brought it, she got. We talked about it for weeks
(28:57):
that were not taking nothing from the rest of the entertainment.
But she named, well, you got a full show, a
full band, everything that you would have had to pay
good money for. So thank you, sir. And I want
to look forward to get the copy of your book
because I'm gonna be in there somewhere because one thing
that's gonna be a buster is gonna be a best song.
So do your thing be a queen. We've been looking forty.
(29:19):
Thank you very much from m everybody.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Thank you, welcome cash, thank you, thank you, Shirley. You
know these folks love you well. I love them back well, Shirley.
And Barbara said you told her life story from woman.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
A love story. Wow.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Yeah, yeah, and and and.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
And and people just remember you surely because and you're
right when you came out the sould, the soul, that
that little part you you turned it out, sister.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
But you out.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
In the park clang uh huh oh. Yeah we had
a ball.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
We had a ball. But but but but you are, Shirley.
You are first class.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Thank you bad.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
You are first class.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
You are too bad. You are too I'm so proud
of you and all the things. I ain't gonna get
into it, but Randy told me.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
All the things, you know, James Brown thing, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
You're my girl.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
I want to be just like you.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
No, I want to be like you.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
So that's why I'm telling folks, Shirley, y'all, y'all listen,
y'all need to come out Saturday.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
We will be in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
For the forty yeah, forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta Blues
and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Surely it's the forty eighth year they're doing that.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I've been doing that almost many years, and I had
not been yeah, the last few years, but I kicked.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
I was one that one of the ones that have
kicked that. They danced off, Yes you did back in
the day with myself. Johnny Taylor, Albull BB in those days.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So this is nothing new to us. You know, we've
been doing this for a while. This very very concert
right and you know what, Shirley.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
When I talked to Chauncey when of the guys down
there in Mississippi, he says, people are so excited.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
They're on their Facebook page.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
They are so excited they are waiting to see miss
Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
They've been talking about you.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It makes me feel good because it's been a while.
Beharsing the songs I think in my heart that they would.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Love to hear again. You know, it was back in
the day where he started right there in Greenville, Greenwood
and in that Mississippi area.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
You know, songs like.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Ye don't let them be surprised, but no.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
But but Chauncey said, rehearsing like dogs to get just
that tight timing and type of show.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Good so that I know they remember good.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Yeah, because he said, the people they are, they've been
all on this Facebook calling them so they they can't
wait to see Shirley Brown.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Man, I'm coming, I'm waiting. I'm you know.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
I love it the fact that you know, and I
haven't been doing many gigs, but you have to kick
it off now because we've got some things coming up thereafter.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But what a place to just kick off ed.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yes, it is, and you will be there, Shirley with
with with our friend mister Bobby.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Rush, Bobbie Rush and so many of them, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:21):
Willie Clayton, so many others gonna be there. We have, Shirley,
we have a good time down in that Delta.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I ain't girl, were just coming. We're just coming into
doing it. We're gonna do dog on thing now.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
We're gonna We're gonna do it, SINCETI.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Is that? That's that's right, Miss Shirley Brown is gonna
be there at the forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta and
Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Y'all, it's Saturday.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
The doors will open at twelve, and we're gonna be
out there at convention it Shirley, it's nice.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
You're gonna You're gonna have a good time. Shirley.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
I know I've been that done there, but they got
some things they've done since I've been there. You know,
the place it's you know, different, and I love it,
and I know all things are better for the better.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
Yeah, And as as you said earlier, Shirley, twenty twenty six,
we're looking forward to some things.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
You're going to be doing some things and we're going
to be hearing about it.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
We're coming with some product, you know, trying to work
on a couple of things now, but we're coming back.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So, I mean, you need a record.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
I do know that I need a record, but I'm
standing on what the people want still yet to this day, that's.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Right, and you don't need you got so many hitch sisters.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
And my son said, Mama, you got to do new.
I said, no, I don't have to do anything new.
What are you saying?
Speaker 4 (33:46):
You know, momy And he's younger talking about the young music.
And I don't have to change my things to do
with my people still love what I do, and I
love it that they do because I don't have to
run and make a record.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
They want the things that we've done it.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
Yeah, well, honey, all I can say is we don't
say singing you a singing sister.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
That take so bad? You know you, I know so Shirley,
the bad you know you sing too. Now, don't tell that,
make me tell tell it on you that don't tell it.
They was singing woman and her trying to be all
quiet about it. There no she can you down.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Well, thank you, sister. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Any other bad one day we will not we would
have to do that.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
And I'm gonna tell my audience Shirley sung at my wedding.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yes I did.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
You did, hirleye you sung at my wedding. You tore
it up.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Maybe you want to put me out the waiting.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
If folks start hollering and lapping on, gonna like.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
I want to.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
He was standing up. They gave you a standing ovation
at my will.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Man, I had a good time, and then I came
to before the wedding day before that when you prepping
and prepare. But I just know I had a ball
at their wad and I wasn't trying to have this
out in the club bout we had a bar.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
We did, we did, we did, we did, And I
thank you so much. And that's why I love you.
I love but again, I've always loved you. And surely
again we're gonna be looking looking for forward to your
book Reflection.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Of the Journey.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Look, I remember that's good that you don't remember Reflections
of the Journey's Small Girl.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Okay, thank you, but because I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (35:38):
That, yes, beb and I gotta see it and I
gotta say it. I'm saying it too, GARYL. I ain't
caring about it.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Okay, well say it.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
We need to saying the doge self. I'm killing it.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Well, we're saying it.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Any last word, Shirley, you like to say to our
listeners today, I.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Just want to say thank you, bab the w G
I a my favorite station where there was Bobby oj
and just you know.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
When I think of it and feel it that there's
no other place that I would call home in any
radio station in the entire country world. And you guys
are it, you know, and I'm proud of you. I'm
proud of everybody that's there at the station. I appreciate
how you treated me, guys down through the years, and
(36:27):
I appreciate the respect because I certainly respect WDIA as
any station that I've ever had an opportunity to know.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
And I'm glad that I'm a part of WDI am
part of this city, and people in this city love.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Me and I love them right back. And I'm excited
about coming back out I don't know what to do,
but I do know that I'm coming to do.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
It well, and we are waiting for you to do it. Sister.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I love you, and it's nobody can tell me no different.
This is the stationed in the entire world.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
W G.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
I a.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
Thank you, Miss Shirley Brown. I love you, ed can't
wait to see you on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Man, I can't wait to see you girl. We're getting
off socker in the subway.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
That's right, we are, Shirley. All right, sweetie, have a
good day and be saved.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Youto, Beverly. I love you, Memphis. Bye bye, take care
baby bye.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Ba you too. Bye bye.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
That's miss woman to woman, missus Shirley Brown. Yeah, we
will be Saturday again. It's the forty eighth annual Mississippi
Delta and Blues and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
We will be in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Yeah. Bobby Rushes on the show, the three time Grammy
winner Willie Clayton, Miss Shirley Brown, fp J l j
Echeles Ah, it's a bunch of folks. We have a ball,
the bodyguard and I. We will definitely be there to
see y'all at the forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta Blues
(38:09):
and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
The views and opinions discussed on the Bev Johnson Show
are that of the hosts and callers and not those
of the staff and sponsors of WDIA.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
I want to thank you callers, I want to thank
you listeners for joining us this day on the Bev
Johnson Show.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
We do, we really, really do appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
So until tomorrow, please be safe, keep a cool head, y'all,
don't let anyone still your joy until tomorrow. I'm Bev Johnson.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Y'all. Keep the faith.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Yeah they.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
SA S
Speaker 2 (40:12):
S S
Never they.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
In the.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Thingthing decays and ready all in tim show Joe, let's go.
(01:14):
Bet just then we'll make your day right.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Here, wrongaud I.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Listen to what to say. You know it's time of
the belt.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Just show temple the belt of Joe.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
We are rocking and rolling on this Wednesday, September seventeen,
twenty twenty five. Enjoyed this fabulous day to day. We
are hoping us talk to our next special guests. But
in the meantime, you know what time it is. It's
lunchtime in the city. And that's where I have to
(02:33):
talk about my favorite place. It's the Rocking Tier of
Memphis fifteen forty two Elvis Presley, where we rock with
the best soul food in town, best entertainment around.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You can dine in, oh you can.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Take out nine zero one four two five five two
six four nine zero one four two five five. If
two six four will get you in to the rocking
chair of Memphis, you can get food like catfish, buffalo, fish,
fried chicken, baked chicken, pot roast, smothered pork chop, fried pork,
(03:16):
chopped hamburger, steak, smoke turkey, necks pot, roast Miss and
Fay muss chit lips.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
They let them chicken chit lits. Yeah. I was talking
to miss Anne Sunday.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
She said, yeah, they still buying them chittens and an
assortment of vegetables and desserts. Yeah, you can dine in
or you can take out. The Rocking Chairs open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday where we rocked with the best entertainment around,
(03:51):
best soul food in town. And talking about entertainment, it's
karaoke night on a Wednesday at the Rocking Chair. Doors
will open up at six pm, so you can come
on out and do a little singing.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah you can.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And on the Saturday very well.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Now Tomorrow Thursday, Yeah it's gonna be Throwback Thursday with
Disco Hound, Spanish Fly, what a bunch of folks, what
special guest happening Throwback Thursday on Tomorrow and Friday entertainment
as well. So we always rock, Yeah we do. We
(04:33):
rock with the best entertainment in town, best soul food around.
It's the Rocking Tier of Memphis. Fifteen forty two Elvis Presley.
Dine in or take out, give them a call nine
zero one, four two five five two sixty four. That's
nine zero one four two five five two six four.
(04:57):
And when you go there, y'all, you know what to say.
Tell them that BEV Johnson sent you to the Rock
and Chair of Memphis. Yeah, fifteen forty two Elvis Presley,
All right, we're groobing.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I told you all that I had a very special
guest this hour. I'm excited to talk to this person.
But wait before I get to you, I'm gonna do this,
so'll y'all are know who my very special guest is.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Hello, masspect to Barbara. Barbara, this is Shirley. You might
not know who I am, but the reason I'm calling
you is because I was going through my old man's
pockets this morning and I just happened to find your
name and number. So woman to woman, and I don't
(06:16):
think it's being any more than fat and to call
you and let you know where I'm coming from. Now, Barbara,
I don't know how you're gonna take this, but whether
you be cool or come out of a bag on it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You see, it really doesn't make any difference.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
But it's only fat that I let you know that
the man you're in love with his mind, from the
top of his head to the bottom of his.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Feet, the bad he sleeps in, and every piece of
food he eat. You see how I make it possible.
The clothes on his back, I buy him, the car
he drives.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
I pay the note every month.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I think y'all have figured it out how much I love?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, you figured it out?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
What what?
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Mamad maama, If you've ever.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
That is my sister friend, none other than Miss Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Good afternoon, my sister friend, Shirley Brown.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
How are you? I'm fine, Beverly. Good afternoon, Darling. How
are you?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I'm fabulous. I'm fabulous.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Well we know that for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
How has it been going, sister?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
So far?
Speaker 7 (07:41):
So good?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Bedly, We can't complain and wouldn't change a thing.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I know, we wouldn't change a thing, A thing, A
thing a thing. So I'm excited because, let me tell
y'all one of the reasons I'm excited. I'm talking to
shirt always because I just I just love this sister.
But I'm gonna be with Shirley this weekend.
Speaker 8 (08:03):
What yay?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
We are going to be at the annual Delta Blues
and Heritage Festival in Greenville.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Missiles Real, Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Charley, I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I am too bad. I can't wait to see you.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Been a long time. I'm excited just to see my sister.
And we's gonna be doing it together.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We are we are and and and and and Shirley.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
I'm so glad that you said, you said, yes, that
you you want to get out because people love you,
Shirley Brown, and they want to see you perform.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
I know, everybody say, where is she? What's your I'm coming,
I'm here and I've been doing things. Everybody wonder why
are you what you're doing? Are you still?
Speaker 7 (08:52):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I am greatly still doing this what I do and
I'll always do this bad God say so that's right.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
That's right. And when we talk about you, you how
long have you been performing.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Shirley, I well, badly. You know, almost fifty We hit
in the Markle forty nine fifty years if you want
to add those years when I was a teenager.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
With Albert bous Boy King was my dad and management
and everything.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, I know, I'd love me some Abbat King.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah that was my pop, Pam, Yeah, that was your.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
Pappa, I know, I know and people don't know Shirley,
that you are right. You are right around from this area.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yes, I am. I was born in Westminshi South andk
so wow wow on sixteenth Street. That's my birthplace. So
I'm no newcomer to this area. I am a person
that was born in the mist.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I hear, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
And when we talk about well, let me ask this question, Shirley,
did you always know that you were going to be
a performer entertainer.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Well, that was the time when I just really came
to add to think that I would want to do this.
And as a young girl, I was teenager when I
was singing in places and it came to me that
I want to do this for the rest of my life.
I wanted this is what I know that I wanted
to do.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Good.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Yeah, And I think about all the fabulous Shirley, the
songs that you put out in your song but you
are so much noted for you are noted for a
sister that woman to woman and who everybody loves that
(10:53):
when they think about Shirley Brown, they say woman to woman.
Speaker 7 (10:57):
My goodness, yes they do.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
That is it. That is it?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
And And when when it came to do that song,
Uh did you? Were you reluctant or you wanted to
do it?
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Because you made it your own, sister, You made it
your own.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
And in particular, people are shocked to know that it
was written by Henderson Big Penn, James Banks and the guys.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
It was not a song written by me, right right.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
And when I.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Heard that, the guys amout saying that, yeah, you know,
I never saw a song like that, you know. And
I had been singing for many years prior to coming
to Stacks, and when we got there, that was one
of the songs.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That Al Jackson all the guys said, Shirley, tried this
many it's gonna be great for you. And I said,
really me and I tried it out. When we tried
it out, and I said, wow, this is amazing that
I would be singing, you know, that guys could come
up with such a lyric and the monologu you know.
(12:02):
And we went on to do it and the rest
was history.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Rest is history because that's the number one bum song.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
They so bad, you know, I do, sister, you know
I did.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Yeah, It's one of the greatest songs, but one of
the ones that I think really brought me here brought
me to this place of knowing that you know, we
don't do this. You know, my first song with him
was that song. And my first song out of the
box was a million seller.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Isn't that something?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
And I was the last one at Stack's we put
the padlock on the door.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
What I didn't know that, Shirley.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
Yeah, me and little Milton.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Wow, now that's some history.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh yeah, well, many many things I've written in my
upcoming book, Reflections of the Journey be the name of it.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Oh, I love that. So you're writing your story.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, my story, and I believe it'd be just as
good as that anybody's hit the record the book.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, well, I can't wait to read that, bab I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Gonna I didn't want to tell you a shock. I
am going to be talking so much about you bad Oh, Shirley.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
And Bobby o J.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I just cannot, you know, say you now all of it?
But you guys look out. Yeah, it's gonna be there.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
With a bonus.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I couldn't. I mean, why wouldn't I have to. It's
a musk.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
It is a musk. It is a musk, and you
need to you need to tell your story.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Oh man, I got a story, were all in there bad,
you'd be going like what, no, Yeah, you know, I
want to tell it like it is the truth, yeah,
and how it all happened, and the where and the
place and people and time and just the struggle and
the goodness of it. You know, all of us gonna
(14:08):
be told the truth, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Yeah, And that's going to be great. That's gonna be great.
Surely you think so, yes, ma'am, I do, I do.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
I know it.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I already know it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
It's gonna because I wanted to be. I wanted to
be and I've never had a novel a book before,
and this is my I should have been before now,
but you know, anytime it's better than no time. And
I should have already been done with this. But my
you know, my ghost writer in Los Angeles that happened
meet and we're gonna we're gonna look at next year
(14:43):
middle of next year for the release of it.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Oh great, great, I love that.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Reflections Reflections of the journey.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Reflections of the journey. And when it comes out, you know,
you have to be on the show to.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Talk about it, yes, and well, you know I want to,
I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
One of the things when I think about you, Shirley,
and one of my favorite songs of you, I love
woman to woman, but I love Shirley when you leave
the bridges.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Standing, leave the bridge standing.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
That's that's one of my favorites. You like, I leave
the bridges standing.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Because one day it may pass this way again. Yes, ma'am,
what a truth told.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
It is it is.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
It is of all the songs that you've done, Shirley,
what is your favorite?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And that's a question that is difficult to answer. So
many songs that I've recorded, and you got a love
for all of them, you know, you just don't you
become the person this is for that and this, you know.
But I love all of my songs, but my particularly
like some of the ballads you know, just I can't
(16:01):
name or I have so yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
But I love the fact that I had many writers
that was particularly able to find me in the songs.
A lot of times when you're getting songs they're just
not fitting for you. But the writers like Homer Banks
and Less the Snail, Chuck Brooks, people in Jackson, Mississippi,
(16:27):
Presurick Knight, they were there for me. And those were
professional people when.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
I came to the label, so I mean, they caught
me just at the right time, and I come in
having the opportunity to have songs from those professional writers. Yeah,
and I began to write myself.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I say, well, and you need to start.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
And it was a while before I began to write
something for myself. A lot of the songs I did
help write, but nobody wasn't me help or write, but
soil I just had to take my space and go
on and began to write some things myself. But all
the songs I've written, I feel that we're great songs.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
From those guys that are going on now. But they
left great songs in my you know, in your repertoire
and trying to figure of that. Yes, yes, and and
and you know what, surely you and I.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Love when you say the ballots even I love to
leave the bridge is standing. But also another favorite of
mine was it ain't no.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Fun, Oh girl, be quiet.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Ain't no fun being loved by your sin.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
When one you loved somebody here. That was the one
that came out the door first.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
With the Woman the Woman the album, I think that
was the first single off of that album. After the
Woman the Woman and then we dropped it Ain't No Fun.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It was a and B side during those times they
had A and B side of songs or the single,
and that was the flip side of Woman's a Woman,
It Ain't No Fun.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, yeah, I remember.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Well, you know when you say that, you're right, because
forty five they did have flip sides, and they would
have one be one hit.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
In the next turn it over to be another hit.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yah See.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
We got out on the highway and did a holy
dance where they jopped Ain't.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
No Fun and we just got out on the way
to the airport. I believe we're doing this when we
heard on the radio, first let me out, We got out,
jump me and my job. We just did the holy
bump on the inter state.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yes, yes, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Like you said, your your repertoire is simply fabulous, and
and you do. You did a lot of balance, but
also surely not only that doing R and B, you've
also done.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Some gospel, gospel jazz. I was. I had jazz gigs
back in the day.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I was singing a lot of the Nancy Wilson, a
lot of the down in Washington and during the time
that was very properlar for you know, to do jazz
orientity because jazz was popular then from the women, and
I had gigs that required just you know, jazz in
(19:21):
the evening with Charlie Brown, and I would do a
lot of gigs.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You know, it was just to do in those days.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Yes, yeah, do you miss those days, Shirley?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
I do, and I certainly do bad.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
I missed the timing of how you know, you could
just those songs like the jazz and like the R
and B, and you could just sing anything that you
wanted to and it would be you know, I always
wanted to record a jazz song, where I never got
the opportunity to. But I missed the days when you
could just be versatile in your repertoire. And you you know,
(20:00):
it was okay to me that you were just step
to one genre of music, you know.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
Yes, yeah, Well hold on, Shirley, I need to take
a break. I want to continue to talk to you
some more. Can you hold on pay for Just hold on, sweetheart.
We are talking, as I say, miss woman to woman,
Miss Shirley Brown, and we're excited because I'm going to
tell you what we're doing this week in we are
doing something that's coming up down in the Delta, and
(20:32):
a question or two you may have for Miss Shirley Brown.
We do invite you to call five three five nine
three four two one eight hundred and five zero three
nine three four two eight three three five three five
nine three four two, or you can email me your
question at Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia dot com. iHeartMedia dot com.
(21:00):
Listening to the Heart and Soul of Memphis, The Beb
Johnson Show on dou w d i A.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
It's the Queen of Talk, Your girlfriend and Mine, Beb
Johnson on w.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
D i A The Bev Johnson Show.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You're listening to the Bev Johnson Show. Here's Bev Johnson
and we're.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Talking with the fabulous Miss Shirley Brown. Entertainer extraordinaire. Shirley,
I got a surprise for you. Just hold on and listen.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
W d I A high caller.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
Good morning, ladies, and good morning the diva Girlie Brown,
the love of my life.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Mister Larry Dotson. What's up, Larry?
Speaker 7 (22:31):
I am, well, well, well, that might I say, It's
been a great, wonderful interview. Shirley, your articulate as always.
I gotta just say, look, look, look, maybe we can't
talk back and forth, but I just want to hear, Shirley,
I bring your greetings. Also from the other guy who's
the love of your life, Brandon, how do you want
me to tell you hello? And for all eyes watching,
(22:55):
all ears listeners, I just want to I'm not gonna
give too much away Shirley, but Shirley and I are
gonna be traveling a whole lot together before me and
a whole lot in twenty twenty six. That's all I
can say right now.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
That the best voice I've ever ever heard, and this
is one of the best duets I've ever done. Was
the song I did with Sheerley, and I almost had
that twist.
Speaker 8 (23:17):
I armored to do it.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
It was called we Can't Stay Together, but we Can't
Stay Apart. I couldn't even sing we were so I
couldn't do my part. Good for just being mes marized
by her on that on that floor recording, I'll let
y'all talk that much.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Well, Well, Larry Dotson Senior, we appreciate you, and we
know the voice of the Arcades, the original voice of
the Arcades.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
But I tell you that guy yeah and We're gonna
be Larry. I'mna be waiting for that in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
You and Shirley, you gonna.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Hear about it.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
It's gonna be a lot of other folks too. But
that's all I can say. I can't let it get
out of the say.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Okay, don't let the cat out of bag. Love you, Larry,
be saved, be well.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
That was so nice, Shirley, Larry Dods. Did you hear, Larry?
Speaker 2 (24:07):
That's my dude, Barry Man. I just love all the
music man anticipation, I attitude. I did you know I
did one of the Barkade songs. What is the name
of the song that I covered of the Barcade anticipation?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Oh yeah, yeah, and that was a good one.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, they did well. It was Larry was at the
studio when I recorded. Winston produced it.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Yeah. Oh yeah, that's my boyfriend Wiston Stewart.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Oh mine too. Now watch out, well, let me tell.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
You this, Shirley.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
So, I don't know if you knew that Winston was
my boyfriend when I was fifteen years old.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Quinn, really, are you serious?
Speaker 5 (24:52):
I'm very serious, Winston, I tell you, yes, Winston Stewart,
my boyfriend when I was fifteen.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
No, sure enough, girl, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
Well that's dude.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
He's so talented and the first guy that I writ
started writing with on the serious note when we did
the album for Malaco, my first album, and it was
Winston that did the entire album by himself.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Yeah. Yeah, he's very talented and he surely and Winston
is our minister of music at our church, Mount Pisgou.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
I know he's in church very much.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Now.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Well, he's our minister of music at Mount Pisgos. Seeing
me church, Oh.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
My god, that's news. I didn't know. I have to
come and check you guys out. That's right, you're gonna
over there, and I'm come and do something.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
Okay, I'm gonna invite you. Hold on for a second, Shirley.
Some other folks want to talk to you. Let me
let them talk to you. We're talking to miss Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
W D I a HI caller. I call her Barbara Head.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yes ha to Sharn.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
How you doing?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
She's doing well? What do you have to say, Barbara?
Speaker 7 (26:14):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Sherid that this is Barbara. Okay, Shureley. It is so
strange that there's three songs on that album. It's a
true story about my entire life. Sheridan is my children,
stepmom and uh the one that he said, leave the
(26:35):
bridge is standing. Yeah, Uh, my children and daddy. We
went we went out that night. I hate I hate
hello on this and Sheriff end up married Sheridan, but
I got four kids by him. But we went out
that night and he said, I want you to listen
to a song. And uh, we played the song leave
the Bridge. And I didn't know I know that song.
(26:56):
I just knew a woman to a woman and uh
been the one hollo on my speak. Brother, I didn't
know nothing about leave the bridge is standing and not
listening to their son and not listening to son. And
we broke up. And I'm gonna tell you, woman to woman,
if you've ever been in love, and I'm gonna tell you,
I love that man. I love him. Okay, and now
me and him like brothers and sisters.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
He the one called and told me and said, guess
who want calling the bell? Sureley, Sureley, thank you so much.
You told my life though it I'm good. I'm the
church and that bell. Let me tell you about want
to Steward. What you weren't only one in love with once?
Because I when I started seventh grade, the Mayor Roads
and all them guys that Mary Road. When I've seen
Wants to store his brother named Michael, but when I
(27:40):
seen Wanting Steward, that what is the most housing black
man I've seen in my life. Thank you ladies, y'all.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Have bless that, and you too, Barbara, Hi captain.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
Thanks for taking my car.
Speaker 8 (27:54):
I don't want I don't know an can hear me?
But no knew But I knew her from twenty twenty
supper club. I was managing down there with Missus Detroit
William in the eighties. I had never seen them for
her on the radio. But then we made out the
coffee for and she came up and she and uh,
I didn't know well, but she came in a limousine
(28:15):
first time. We never asked somebody come come and lembozine
and here we didn't have a dressing room for it
was a trailer. Came up with a bus and all
the musicians everywhere. She brought in first class where we
had to do everybody behind her.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
Yeah right, she was she was uh, I mean, she
was young so.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
Here's what happened. Uh, she came in and set the pace,
and we thank God for her coming in setting the
place where everybody else there has to bring it off
with the limousine stuff behind her. And then uh, she
did the thing for Kamada Harris out there with you guys,
was that I was playing mall. Whatever it was she
brought it, she got. We talked about it for weeks
(28:57):
that were not taking nothing from the rest of the entertainment.
But she named, well, you got a full show, a
full band, everything that you would have had to pay
good money for. So thank you, sir. And I want
to look forward to get the copy of your book
because I'm gonna be in there somewhere because one thing
that's gonna be a buster is gonna be a best song.
So do your thing be a queen. We've been looking forty.
(29:19):
Thank you very much from m everybody.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Thank you, welcome cash, thank you, thank you, Shirley. You
know these folks love you well. I love them back well, Shirley.
And Barbara said you told her life story from woman.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
A love story. Wow.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Yeah, yeah, and and and.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
And and people just remember you surely because and you're
right when you came out the sould, the soul, that
that little part you you turned it out, sister.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
But you out.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
In the park clang uh huh oh. Yeah we had
a ball.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
We had a ball. But but but but you are, Shirley.
You are first class.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Thank you bad.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
You are first class.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
You are too bad. You are too I'm so proud
of you and all the things. I ain't gonna get
into it, but Randy told me.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
All the things, you know, James Brown thing, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
You're my girl.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
I want to be just like you.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
No, I want to be like you.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
So that's why I'm telling folks, Shirley, y'all, y'all listen,
y'all need to come out Saturday.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
We will be in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (30:30):
For the forty yeah, forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta Blues
and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Surely it's the forty eighth year they're doing that.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I've been doing that almost many years, and I had
not been yeah, the last few years, but I kicked.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
I was one that one of the ones that have
kicked that. They danced off, Yes you did back in
the day with myself. Johnny Taylor, Albull BB in those days.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So this is nothing new to us. You know, we've
been doing this for a while. This very very concert
right and you know what, Shirley.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
When I talked to Chauncey when of the guys down
there in Mississippi, he says, people are so excited.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
They're on their Facebook page.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
They are so excited they are waiting to see miss
Shirley Brown.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
They've been talking about you.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It makes me feel good because it's been a while.
Beharsing the songs I think in my heart that they would.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Love to hear again. You know, it was back in
the day where he started right there in Greenville, Greenwood
and in that Mississippi area.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
You know, songs like.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Ye don't let them be surprised, but no.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
But but Chauncey said, rehearsing like dogs to get just
that tight timing and type of show.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Good so that I know they remember good.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
Yeah, because he said, the people they are, they've been
all on this Facebook calling them so they they can't
wait to see Shirley Brown.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Man, I'm coming, I'm waiting. I'm you know.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
I love it the fact that you know, and I
haven't been doing many gigs, but you have to kick
it off now because we've got some things coming up thereafter.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But what a place to just kick off ed.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yes, it is, and you will be there, Shirley with
with with our friend mister Bobby.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Rush, Bobbie Rush and so many of them, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (32:21):
Willie Clayton, so many others gonna be there. We have, Shirley,
we have a good time down in that Delta.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I ain't girl, were just coming. We're just coming into
doing it. We're gonna do dog on thing now.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
We're gonna We're gonna do it, SINCETI.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Is that? That's that's right, Miss Shirley Brown is gonna
be there at the forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta and
Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Y'all, it's Saturday.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
The doors will open at twelve, and we're gonna be
out there at convention it Shirley, it's nice.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
You're gonna You're gonna have a good time. Shirley.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
I know I've been that done there, but they got
some things they've done since I've been there. You know,
the place it's you know, different, and I love it,
and I know all things are better for the better.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
Yeah, And as as you said earlier, Shirley, twenty twenty six,
we're looking forward to some things.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
You're going to be doing some things and we're going
to be hearing about it.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
We're coming with some product, you know, trying to work
on a couple of things now, but we're coming back.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So, I mean, you need a record.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
I do know that I need a record, but I'm
standing on what the people want still yet to this day, that's.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Right, and you don't need you got so many hitch sisters.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
And my son said, Mama, you got to do new.
I said, no, I don't have to do anything new.
What are you saying?
Speaker 4 (33:46):
You know, momy And he's younger talking about the young music.
And I don't have to change my things to do
with my people still love what I do, and I
love it that they do because I don't have to
run and make a record.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
They want the things that we've done it.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
Yeah, well, honey, all I can say is we don't
say singing you a singing sister.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
That take so bad? You know you, I know so Shirley,
the bad you know you sing too. Now, don't tell that,
make me tell tell it on you that don't tell it.
They was singing woman and her trying to be all
quiet about it. There no she can you down.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Well, thank you, sister. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Any other bad one day we will not we would
have to do that.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
And I'm gonna tell my audience Shirley sung at my wedding.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yes I did.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
You did, hirleye you sung at my wedding. You tore
it up.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Maybe you want to put me out the waiting.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
If folks start hollering and lapping on, gonna like.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
I want to.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
He was standing up. They gave you a standing ovation
at my will.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Man, I had a good time, and then I came
to before the wedding day before that when you prepping
and prepare. But I just know I had a ball
at their wad and I wasn't trying to have this
out in the club bout we had a bar.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
We did, we did, we did, we did, And I
thank you so much. And that's why I love you.
I love but again, I've always loved you. And surely
again we're gonna be looking looking for forward to your
book Reflection.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Of the Journey.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Look, I remember that's good that you don't remember Reflections
of the Journey's Small Girl.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Okay, thank you, but because I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 4 (35:38):
That, yes, beb and I gotta see it and I
gotta say it. I'm saying it too, GARYL. I ain't
caring about it.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Okay, well say it.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
We need to saying the doge self. I'm killing it.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Well, we're saying it.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Any last word, Shirley, you like to say to our
listeners today, I.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Just want to say thank you, bab the w G
I a my favorite station where there was Bobby oj
and just you know.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
When I think of it and feel it that there's
no other place that I would call home in any
radio station in the entire country world. And you guys
are it, you know, and I'm proud of you. I'm
proud of everybody that's there at the station. I appreciate
how you treated me, guys down through the years, and
(36:27):
I appreciate the respect because I certainly respect WDIA as
any station that I've ever had an opportunity to know.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
And I'm glad that I'm a part of WDI am
part of this city, and people in this city love.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Me and I love them right back. And I'm excited
about coming back out I don't know what to do,
but I do know that I'm coming to do.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
It well, and we are waiting for you to do it. Sister.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I love you, and it's nobody can tell me no different.
This is the stationed in the entire world.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
W G.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
I a.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
Thank you, Miss Shirley Brown. I love you, ed can't
wait to see you on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Man, I can't wait to see you girl. We're getting
off socker in the subway.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
That's right, we are, Shirley. All right, sweetie, have a
good day and be saved.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Youto, Beverly. I love you, Memphis. Bye bye, take care
baby bye.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Ba you too. Bye bye.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
That's miss woman to woman, missus Shirley Brown. Yeah, we
will be Saturday again. It's the forty eighth annual Mississippi
Delta and Blues and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
We will be in Greenville, Mississippi.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Yeah. Bobby Rushes on the show, the three time Grammy
winner Willie Clayton, Miss Shirley Brown, fp J l j
Echeles Ah, it's a bunch of folks. We have a ball,
the bodyguard and I. We will definitely be there to
see y'all at the forty eighth annual Mississippi Delta Blues
(38:09):
and Heritage Festival.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
The views and opinions discussed on the Bev Johnson Show
are that of the hosts and callers and not those
of the staff and sponsors of WDIA.
Speaker 5 (38:25):
I want to thank you callers, I want to thank
you listeners for joining us this day on the Bev
Johnson Show.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
We do, we really, really do appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (38:40):
So until tomorrow, please be safe, keep a cool head, y'all,
don't let anyone still your joy until tomorrow. I'm Bev Johnson.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Y'all. Keep the faith.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Yeah they.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
SA S
Speaker 2 (40:12):
S S
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