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Gene and Kenny Gamble, co-creator of "The Sound Of Philly" go back to his record store at Broad and South, and a mutual friendship with legendary Philly Clothier Benny Krass. He loved music and dancing, and helped Kenny get a good start in the recording end and me a good start in my stage wardrobes.It was great to be able to take part in ceremony placing placques on Broad Street for dear friends Charlie Gracie and Billy Paul, and the Mashed Potatoe girl herself, Dee Dee Sharpe (Gamble). I wrote a song for her called "My Star" in my producing days.
"I've got your big and shiny photograph...with your funny little autograph..but now baby, I gotta' see..If you're ever gonna' notice me?" c.1962
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Same out fit we wore on the Victory Tour on today.. I WORE IT IN HONOR OF THE MICHAEL TERRY AND I LOVED AND KNEW ON THE DAY OF HIS MEMORIAL. THE MIRACLES HE HELPED US CREATE IN VISITING TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THE 'GLOVE' HAD VAST HEALING POWER THAT DOCTORS DID NOT UNDERSTAND. WE WILL MISS HIM DEEPLY.jonathon 'sugarfoot' moffett, our friend and MJ's long-time drummer, will now he heard (and seen) in the "THIS IS IT" MOVIE laying down the final beats MJ ever danced to the night before he died. Sugar said he danced like he was 12..and did not understand his death.
WE HAVE MET SOOO MANY GREAT PEOPLE ON THIS TRIP. THE GUYS FROM THE GROUP 'THE MAINE', TONY TARANTINO, (WHO WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND TAKING PART IN A RED CARPET SEMINAR WITH, ALONG WITH OUR OLD FRIEND BILL HOOEY, WIL WHEATON AND ADAM JACKSON,(SOUL-PATROL" BROTHERS, ) family members, and of course..RIO SOUL..whom we share more than a home with..THANK YOU ALL. "Harry The K" is "Outta' Here!" Irreplacable!!!!
We replaced a picture that showed Gene MC'ing a concert.
Gene Arnold MC'd shows at The Spectrum in Philly starting in 1969, with Hendrix,Chicago, and so many more. Here, he's back introducing Nazz, Charlie Gracie, MFSB, The Orlons, and The Soul Survivors at the Spectrum in 2007 for the Thrill Show.Of course Gene no longer "works" at this, and it is just plain fun to do it for such long-time friends as these.
Sad to see it go. The black and white picture below is of Gene introducing Jimi Hendrix at the venerable arena.
The Flyers used to come on after Giant Gene's AM Underground on WCAM, with the late, great Gene Hart doing the play by play. Both Gene's worked together at Aquarama as well....
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Gene with Mitch Shecter, of the RIP CHORDS! Thier story goes back to Giant Gene's dance concert and record hops in the 60's when Gene gave Mitch's young band, THE LEGIONS, a chance to play many of his gigs and Be-In's. They reuinited through Facebook. Gene is still friendly with folks from two other Philly bands he helped get started, Stone Dawn (George Manney) and Marc Berman's young Philly rockers. Marc is now "The King Of Atlantic City"
IF YOU EVER SEE THE RIP CHORDS BOOKED TO PLAY IN YOUR AREA, GO! they are totally awesome and will bring the beach right to your feet, and take you a ride ride in their little Cobra so you'll n e v er be "shut down"! Be sure to bring your "Fuzzy Dice"! MUCH MORE ON THE RIPCHORDS AND CHARLIE GRACIE'S NEW CD WITH YOUR FAVORITE A L L TIME ROCK STARS ON OUR NEW SITE AT;
http://phillysoundsat.weebly.com/ (copy and paste the sire into your browser, as this will not link directly.)
Gene recently narrated the story of a deaf baseball player, Dummy Hoy, in the Hollywood feature made about him, and how hand-signals in baseball were born. Gene and Terry were both recently in the new Tony Luke Film "The Nail", (now on Showtime", and another Philly Film Festival entry, "No Boundaries." Lot's of great movies being made here in Philly but we seem to have better luck in Hollywood as far as getting cast in them.
Look for a new film in which my original radio partner and still good friend RJ Ron Joseph talks about the Dick Clark bandstand music monopoly. It's called "Wages Of Spin." Be sure to hear RJ's DISCO USA EVERY FRIDAY NITE AT 7 on CRUISIN 92FM 92.1, and on the web.
I will also be featured in a new film called "Pioneers Of The Philly Sound", a documentary by award-winner George Manney
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Above is a pic of Giant Gene backstage at Philadelphia's Arena before introducing The Doors. He has also MC;d Jimi Hendrix at The Spectrum and two more time since.
Terry and I were in the great STAND UP FOR CANCER TV AND MOVIE SPOTS as background actors, and this month will be in Tim and Eric's Awesome Job series on the Cartoon Network.
We were also background in "The Nail" with Tony Danza, "No Boundaries," a love story, and on 'THE ONION'network in a great McCain spoof.
Good friends all over the world need to be recognized..Lee Roy Brown, the great Photoshop artist in London has done wonderful things for our site.
Kay Wheeler, an early Elvis girlfriend has a great site at www.Kaywheeler.com
One of our oldest friends is Charlie Gracie..Philly's original rocker. Visit him at www.charliegracie.com
Lot's more coming soon.This site, and hearing from you on our facebook page that Rio set up for us is phenomenal therapy for me. Thank you all.
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Gene presents Gloria Gaynor with her Disco Hall of Fame Certificate. He has played her music since 1971, when he and Ron Joseph (RJ) had a dance TV show on TV 29 every saturday. RJ and Company STILL is in re-runs on The Nostalgia Channel, and has been since 1979.
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Gene mc's Charlie Gracie's 50th Anniversary Concert. He presented him with his Philly Rock Hall Of Fame certificate, and Charlie also was given a Proclamation from the City of Philadelphia and an award from WIP radio.
On October 23, 2008, a plaque on Philadelphia's "Walk of Fame" for Charlie was dedicated, along with one for other old friends Billy Paul and Dee Dee Sharpe. The late Tammi Terrel was also honored with a plaque.I was pleased to be involved, and to ask Charlie about his Beatles and "British Invasion" fans..such as The Beatles, Stones, Graham Nash, Van Morrison, etc., so that the Philly "Soul" crowd and my fellow www.soul-patrol.net" members who were not familiar with him or his music had an idea of why Charlie was being honored. Long time Philly radio legend and old friend Jerry Blavat was the MC, and I appreciated his nice intro of me.
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