One Record

For most of his fans, Gino Washington’s music is defined by the upbeat and exuberant rock ‘n’ roll classics he cut as a black teenager in Detroit with an all-white band from the suburbs that was even younger than he was. But the real Gino Washington story begins just after that, in the aftermath of 1964’s chart-topping “Gino is a Coward”, when a Vietnam draft notice came and took it all away.

The Volumes scored a hit with their very first record, “I Love You” in 1962. The teens were barely out of high school and about to embark on a decade-long recording career that would take them from harmony-heavy doo-wop to prim and polished northern soul. Founder and lead vocalist Eddie Union takes us through the highs and lows of becoming an overnight sensation and navigating the treacherous music bu...

The list of artists with both Fortune Records and Motown on their discographies is exceptionally short, and of those there is certainly no vocalist as rousing and powerful as Gino Parks. But despite his natural talent, his music career was relatively brief and without the success or accolades it deserved. On this episode, Gino takes us through his auspicious beginnings with Andre Williams, his happens...

Before the Marvelettes, the Vandellas, and the Supremes, it was Bobbie Smith & the Dream Girls who were onstage and on rotation in Detroit. The group’s lead voice and star-power belonged to a teenager named Elma Holman, soon known from the 20 Grand to the Apollo Theatre as Bobbie Smith. The Dream Girls cut nine singles between 1959 and 1962. Bobbie did two more on her own—most notably 1964&#...

On this inaugural episode we interview 83-year-old soul singer Willie Jones about his early years on the Chitlin’ Circuit, his influence on an entire generation of Motown stars, the making of his 1959 record “Fast Choo Choo”, and staying out of trouble on Hastings Street in Detroit.

Produced by Mike Dutkewych. Mastered by David Jerkovich. Interview conducted by Mike Du...