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On April 29th I had a very great pleasure of hanging out with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, in Macon, GA.
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It was the dream of a young twentyish me to make a statement. I didn't have a background in or come from this great business oriented family, all I had was the desire. No one understood, not even me, and to this day I cannot explain why a kid with nobackground in business wanted one of his own. Hell, I didn't even have anyone to get answers from, but that didn't matter because to me I could be rational with myself, or so it seemed. Today I wouldn't advise anyone to do what I did.Was I confused? Are you kidding, I knew exactly what I was doing. I wanted a business, and no one could tell me that it was something I couldn't have. So when I finally decided to do it, I did it. Something I'll never regret. The year is 1973. I have agood paying job, a nice apartment with a cool roommate(Jerry Allen Jr.), a good running car, always in the right places with the right people, and all the girls friends a single guy could want(my favorite was Celestine "peewee" Crawford), but that wasn'tgood enough. You see everyone in my circle had that. I wanted something more, something different.
My mind is made up to do it. To figure out what is the most lucrative type of business that I could involve myself in that would give me more bang for the buck? After many sleepless nights of trying to figure this out my friend and I go to the BerkeleyCommunity Theatre in Berkeley, Calif. to see George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic (this is before the mothership), and I knew. MUSIC!!! But building the business around music at the time seemed far fetched because any dummy could see the type of moneyone would need. But after seeing that show I would let nothing stop me from making the dream a reality.
Research!
Yes the big "R", the insane part of any venture. The pages upon pages of who, what, when, where, why, and how much. The local library had all the information for free, and I spent countless days and nights putting that information together. The light wasso bright at the end of the tunnel that I even moved out of my nice apartment into a hotel closer to the library so I wouldn't have to go so far to do my research. You know what's funny, I can't sing, I knew no singers, and I didn't sing in the choir,but have always had this tremendous ear for music. The research is going great, also I'm finding out every person and organization's name in town and the surrounding community that I could safely approach with a package of this type when finished. Thefew people that knew what I was up to tried to be supportive, but you would eventually find out who was laughing behind your back, friends are really sometimeeee! But it just made me work harder. I think choosing the company name was one of the hardestthings to do, I must have went through three(3) dozen choices.
My Presentation
All the i's have been dotted, all the t's have been crossed, but all I get is someone telling me you can't do this, or you can't do that. One prospect even went so far to tell me that I was to young to tell someone how to make money. This really dampenedmy spirit. Back to the drawing board. There was no venture capitalist groups then, and with the banks, I didn't have any type of past business background, and wouldn't qualify anyway. But I kept plugging away.
From an Unlikely Source
Invited to make a presentation at a private residence. With the formal stuff over, we get down to business. My wife and I would like you to answer a few questions regarding some proposed concerts you have planned. A mutual friend has complimented yourefforts. The proposal was handed out, they followed along with my presentation. They were impressed, much more then whats covered here, but because of space limitations I'll just touch key points.
Question:
Answer:
- How close and are you prepared to do a show, and with what group?
Question:
- My research is done, the budget is prepared, and the group is called "Raw Soul"
Answer:
- How long before we see a profit
- Thirty days
, as the financing is put on the table, and the terms are not bad either.
Meeting the BAND
Raw Soul was a group that was playing at our local community college(Contra Costa College, San Pablo, Calif.). When I first heard about the band, each person described the music in a different way. But it was always about how this band could sure getdown. Was it more than one group? I had to find out. I went to see for my self. What I found was that everyone described how the music made them feel, whether they were dancing, or just listening. I stayed the for the whole time they played and reallyenjoyed myself. The music just had that raw flavor, that captured the inner feeling that makes you enjoy. The guys in the Band performed flawlessly, and that Frankie Beverly sure could sing. Yep, thats right Frankie Beverly.
Immediately I introduced myself to the band, and what followed would launch the music career that I had been working toward. Frankie was pretty cool at that time, sorta laid back, devoted to his music, and like I said the boy could sing. This was myfirst association with any type of band and its music. A strange sort these musicians, you wouldn't think a voice needed that much attention. Show you what I knew.
Frankie liked my approach and agreed to do a number of shows that I would produce if the money was right. I put the needed information together, got me a swat type van for the bands equipment and hit the road. We played shows in every city that I couldbook a small room. I would use local bands for an opening act. They would play for me like this for almost a year. Frankie was also in search of that record company break, we both had that dream but Frankie was way ahead of anything I was doing. Frankiebooked a gig at a club in San Francisco called the Scene, where a beautiful young lady that we would come to know as Cass saw the guys playing. She would tell Jan, her sister, who was the wife of Marvin Gaye. You've read Maze featuringFrankie Beverly's press releases. Add my sentence. A Major Success Story Was Born.
The Tour
To be considered was overwhelming, to be ask to carry out the duties of Stage Manager for the Band, was out of this world. The company I had started was put on hold while I experienced the road. Yes I was pleased at what I had accomplished. Someunfinished business had to be wrapped up before leaving. I had just finished recording my first Gospel Album "Rejoice, Voices of St. Johns Baptist Church of Richmond, Calif. with noted Motown Producer Harvey Fuqua and saw this as a way todistribute the albums to record stations nationwide. This was perfect timing.
Additionally, Frankie would hire two more people for the road, Michael Lowry as Light Director, and Vernon Jones as Road Manager. We go into the studio as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly recording the album of the same name. You knowthe one, Happy Feelings, While I'm Alone, Lady of Magic, Look at California, Color Blind, You, and Time Is On My Side.
Happy Feelings Add the necessary logistics, itinerary, incidentals, and we head for the road. The date May 1976. To see our Country, listen to good music, and get paid for it, Thrilling is the best way to describe what being on the road was like. The feeling, all theseyears later is still etched in the monolith of my soul. City after city, state after state, east coast, west coast, the south, the north, and in-between. For this to be occurring was indeed a dream come true. We kicked all over the country.
We arrive back home in, I think, September, It taken me a full month to unwind. By the way the album went gold before we made it home. We had worked hard for that accomplishment. The bells and whistles were going off at Capital Records, and by allaccounts Frankie was pleased. He had rocked the establishment. He and the Band were getting their just rewards. For us guys, being associated with the baddest band in the country made us realize just how fortunate we really were.
Golden Time of Day
We prepare to do the second album. Frankie decides to record the album in Golden Colorado. So I get the equipment ready and head there. For two years in rehearsals and on stage I had listened to the band play the music that Frankie is so well known fornow. But with the new album was I in store for what the future was about to be like. Golden Time of Day would capture the masses with seven of the most beautifully composed songs ever heard. Those songs Travelin Man, Song For My Mother, Your Not TheSame, Workin Together, Golden Time Of Day, I Wish You Well, and I Need You would catapult the band to superstar status.
Listen to RealAudio clips of the band. To get the RealAudio plugin for your browser go to the download page and follow instructions. Happy listening!Golden Time of Day I was along for the ride of my life and enjoying every beautiful moment. I have had the opportunity to be in some of the most beautiful places in the Country, stopping the vehicle just to gaze at the splendor of the land. I have seen the faces of thepeople when they were pleased, and wanting more. All because of a guy named Frankie Beverly , with a band called Maze .
What you might ask what is all of this for? Well, you have had the opportunity to read about his success over the years, now I hope you've enjoyed my story. Over the years with their successes, people who knew my story have wanted me to say this negative or that negative aboutthe BAND! But these were my friends, They had given me the opportunity to see what other people only dream of. Everything changes, but friends stay friends. I give the guy all the respect in the world. He stayed true to his commitment.
Enjoy the Music. I Still Do.
Michael Burton
I was along for the ride of my life and enjoying every beautiful moment. I have also had the opportunity to be in some of the most beautiful places in the Country where I would stop the vehicle just to gaze at the splendor of the land. But it was thefaces of the crowds of people that heard the music and felt the band that I will never forget. I was a witness to History ( ). Thanks Frankie Beverly for the experience!
Frankie Beverly & Myself circa 1994 Las Vegas
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Last Update: 06/08/2007
Web Author: Michael Burton Sr.
Copyright �2001 by Michael Burton International - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
