Sunday, November 05, 2006
LOU RAGLAND
Singer, guitarist, song writer, record producer and studio engineer Lou Ragland is a hero on both the Northern Soul and Funk scenes around the world. Ever since copies of his 1967 Amy 45 "I Travel Alone" found their way across to the UK in the early 70’s, this has been a highly prized, costly and much sought after record. Luckily for Lou, at about the same time as his old release was finding favour on the UK Northern Soul scene (this was in 1973), Warner Brothers released his cut "Since You Said You'd Be Mine". This new release was instantly taken to the hearts of his new fans and Lou’s cult status in soul circles was already beginning to be established.
Born and brought up in Cleveland, Ohio, Lou’s introduction to the music business was via the Sahibs vocal group. When they broke up, Lou took up playing the guitar. When only 16, he joined a band that secured a local club residency (at the Music Box) and also backed local singer Kim Tolliver. Despite his young age, Lou soon became leader of this outfit, Lou Ragland & the Bandmasters. He would be with the band for 7 years and it was with this outfit that he made his 1st recording in 1961, “Never Let Me Go / Party at Lester’s” (the 45 being released on Way Out in 1962). In 1965, Lou had a short stint as lead singer with Billy Ward & the Dominoes, but he wasn’t content just being a performer. He would hang out in Cleveland recording studios to learn the tricks of that trade and this paid off when he was appointed staff engineer at Way Out Records (1965 to 1967). Here he would work from 8am to 8pm as engineer (and then producer) on sessions for the Springers, Norman Scott, the Sensations, Bobby Wade, the Boss Singers & Fred Towles. Lou cut "I Travel Alone" at Way Out in 1967 and this was leased out for release on Amy Records. At the same session, backing tracks were laid down that would be used for a later 45 release by the Al Serafini Orchestra & the Sir Alberts (“Hey, Soul / Lil Rosey”). In 1969, Lou cut a 45 that was released on Way Out under the name Volcanic Eruption (“Red Robin / I’ve Got Something Going For Me”). That same year he founded Saru Records and cut the likes of Michael Bell and the Out Of Sights. He also became good friends with Arnie Rosenburg at Agency Recording and so suggested that the Imperial Wonders record there. Lou worked on the group’s track “Just A Dream” which was released on Daywood in 1969. He had become an established figure on the Cleveland soul scene and this status ensured he kept busy. In 1968 he had been appointed road manager for the O’Jays (a position he held for 2 years) and he would open the show for the group on most of their engagements.
By 1970, funk was on the ascendancy and via his live work plus solo and group recordings he soon established himself as just about the top local exponent of this music style. His 1971 single on Co-Co Cleveland, “Good For The Gander / We Had True Love ” was followed later that year by the 7 track ‘Hot Chocolate’ album. The group established a solid reputation and were kept busy with live work for months on end. Coming off a long tour in 1973, the group went into Cleveland’s Agora club where a live recording of their current stage show was made.
They then went into the studio to cut one of their best original songs “Since You Said You’d Be Mine”. A local music business entrepreneur got hold of a copy of the cut’s master tape and shopped it to Warner Brothers Records. They like what they heard and licensed the track but released it just using Lou’s name. By this time, the successful UK Hot Chocolate group were looking to break into the US market and it is thought that this is the reason WB used just Lou’s name. To overcome the confusion that would have ensued, the American group were paid to change their name. They adopted Seven Miles High as their new identity but some bad feelings built up over the next months and so Lou split from them to go solo again. In 1974, he started a new record label, SMH, and released the single “What Should I Do / Understand Each Other”. However Lou had become accustomed to being in a group and so in conjunction with Norman Scott, he formed Wildfire. This group had a single released on SMH in 1975 titled “Tend To Your Business” (Norman Scott being featured on lead vocals). Before long Lou was back in the studio cutting himself again. This time he assembled many of Cleveland’s top musicians (including members of the Dazz Band, S.O.U.L., 9th Street Exit and True Movement) and the ensemble cut enough tracks to fill a proposed album. This LP ‘The Conveyor’ was released on SMH in 1978 and it contained 8 tracks including the original (longer) cut of “Since You Said You’d Be Mine” and a reworking of “What Should I Do”. Lou continued to work with other artists, one of these being Jan Jones whose “Independent Woman” was released on his Great Lakes record label in 1979.
In 1980 Lou relocated to Las Vegas (via LA) and he has since become a regular feature in the area’s casino lounges. Here he has performed with the Ink Spots and Touch of Silk. He has also made numerous additional recordings featuring both himself and other artists. In 1982 he put out a 45 on his new Casino label, Lou Ragland & Great Lakes Orchestra “Didn’t I Tell You”. Shortly after he made this available, he was booked by Edwin Starr to tour the UK on the RicTic Revue. Lou fetched copies of his recent release with him on his visit to England. This proved to be a wise move as the track immediately established itself as another favorite with his British fans. In 1986 Lou worked on a number of gospel albums for Spirit Records with his own album ‘Prime Time Gospel’ featuring a number of good tracks (“Born Again”, “Welcome To Heaven”, Thank You Father”). This release was followed in 1988 by his ‘Romancing You’ EP (Casino Records) which included “Making Love” which soon went big on the UK 2-Step scene. He then undertook a second UK tour in 1990, playing events such as the Caister & Morecambe Weekenders plus gigs in London, Bradford & Worksop. In 1995, he put together the ‘Sound of Vegas’ CD project. This CD featured tracks from his daughter Cozzetta, Bobby Jonz, Ken Gold and Lou himself. His ‘Until I Met You’ CD was issued in 1996 and more recently he has recorded the reformed Soul Notes. On his 2 previous UK visits, Lou’s showmanship and professionalism were much in evidence and he regards these trips as being high points in his long music career. To say that he is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to perform here once again is truly an understatement.......
The above formed the programme bio on Lou published for the Midnight Hour Soul Weekender, held in Prestatyn, North Wales in March 2006.
For information on this soul weekender visit........
http://www.soul-weekenders.co.uk/
JOHN SMITH
Born and brought up in Cleveland, Ohio, Lou’s introduction to the music business was via the Sahibs vocal group. When they broke up, Lou took up playing the guitar. When only 16, he joined a band that secured a local club residency (at the Music Box) and also backed local singer Kim Tolliver. Despite his young age, Lou soon became leader of this outfit, Lou Ragland & the Bandmasters. He would be with the band for 7 years and it was with this outfit that he made his 1st recording in 1961, “Never Let Me Go / Party at Lester’s” (the 45 being released on Way Out in 1962). In 1965, Lou had a short stint as lead singer with Billy Ward & the Dominoes, but he wasn’t content just being a performer. He would hang out in Cleveland recording studios to learn the tricks of that trade and this paid off when he was appointed staff engineer at Way Out Records (1965 to 1967). Here he would work from 8am to 8pm as engineer (and then producer) on sessions for the Springers, Norman Scott, the Sensations, Bobby Wade, the Boss Singers & Fred Towles. Lou cut "I Travel Alone" at Way Out in 1967 and this was leased out for release on Amy Records. At the same session, backing tracks were laid down that would be used for a later 45 release by the Al Serafini Orchestra & the Sir Alberts (“Hey, Soul / Lil Rosey”). In 1969, Lou cut a 45 that was released on Way Out under the name Volcanic Eruption (“Red Robin / I’ve Got Something Going For Me”). That same year he founded Saru Records and cut the likes of Michael Bell and the Out Of Sights. He also became good friends with Arnie Rosenburg at Agency Recording and so suggested that the Imperial Wonders record there. Lou worked on the group’s track “Just A Dream” which was released on Daywood in 1969. He had become an established figure on the Cleveland soul scene and this status ensured he kept busy. In 1968 he had been appointed road manager for the O’Jays (a position he held for 2 years) and he would open the show for the group on most of their engagements.
By 1970, funk was on the ascendancy and via his live work plus solo and group recordings he soon established himself as just about the top local exponent of this music style. His 1971 single on Co-Co Cleveland, “Good For The Gander / We Had True Love ” was followed later that year by the 7 track ‘Hot Chocolate’ album. The group established a solid reputation and were kept busy with live work for months on end. Coming off a long tour in 1973, the group went into Cleveland’s Agora club where a live recording of their current stage show was made.
They then went into the studio to cut one of their best original songs “Since You Said You’d Be Mine”. A local music business entrepreneur got hold of a copy of the cut’s master tape and shopped it to Warner Brothers Records. They like what they heard and licensed the track but released it just using Lou’s name. By this time, the successful UK Hot Chocolate group were looking to break into the US market and it is thought that this is the reason WB used just Lou’s name. To overcome the confusion that would have ensued, the American group were paid to change their name. They adopted Seven Miles High as their new identity but some bad feelings built up over the next months and so Lou split from them to go solo again. In 1974, he started a new record label, SMH, and released the single “What Should I Do / Understand Each Other”. However Lou had become accustomed to being in a group and so in conjunction with Norman Scott, he formed Wildfire. This group had a single released on SMH in 1975 titled “Tend To Your Business” (Norman Scott being featured on lead vocals). Before long Lou was back in the studio cutting himself again. This time he assembled many of Cleveland’s top musicians (including members of the Dazz Band, S.O.U.L., 9th Street Exit and True Movement) and the ensemble cut enough tracks to fill a proposed album. This LP ‘The Conveyor’ was released on SMH in 1978 and it contained 8 tracks including the original (longer) cut of “Since You Said You’d Be Mine” and a reworking of “What Should I Do”. Lou continued to work with other artists, one of these being Jan Jones whose “Independent Woman” was released on his Great Lakes record label in 1979.
In 1980 Lou relocated to Las Vegas (via LA) and he has since become a regular feature in the area’s casino lounges. Here he has performed with the Ink Spots and Touch of Silk. He has also made numerous additional recordings featuring both himself and other artists. In 1982 he put out a 45 on his new Casino label, Lou Ragland & Great Lakes Orchestra “Didn’t I Tell You”. Shortly after he made this available, he was booked by Edwin Starr to tour the UK on the RicTic Revue. Lou fetched copies of his recent release with him on his visit to England. This proved to be a wise move as the track immediately established itself as another favorite with his British fans. In 1986 Lou worked on a number of gospel albums for Spirit Records with his own album ‘Prime Time Gospel’ featuring a number of good tracks (“Born Again”, “Welcome To Heaven”, Thank You Father”). This release was followed in 1988 by his ‘Romancing You’ EP (Casino Records) which included “Making Love” which soon went big on the UK 2-Step scene. He then undertook a second UK tour in 1990, playing events such as the Caister & Morecambe Weekenders plus gigs in London, Bradford & Worksop. In 1995, he put together the ‘Sound of Vegas’ CD project. This CD featured tracks from his daughter Cozzetta, Bobby Jonz, Ken Gold and Lou himself. His ‘Until I Met You’ CD was issued in 1996 and more recently he has recorded the reformed Soul Notes. On his 2 previous UK visits, Lou’s showmanship and professionalism were much in evidence and he regards these trips as being high points in his long music career. To say that he is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to perform here once again is truly an understatement.......
The above formed the programme bio on Lou published for the Midnight Hour Soul Weekender, held in Prestatyn, North Wales in March 2006.
For information on this soul weekender visit........
http://www.soul-weekenders.co.uk/
JOHN SMITH
# posted by JRS @ 6:22 AM 
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Thank you for this detailed and informative post on the legend Lou Ragland. You have unearthed much local history I was not aware of and did a splendid job on the interview. Also thanks for visiting the CLESOUL blog and for leaving a comment. I have created a link to your blog as I think it would be indispensable to anyone interested in mine. most of all, thank you for your dedication to Cleveland's soul music.
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