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Music Forte's first ever Award of "Song of the Year" and "Group of the Year" for 2006-2007 was determined by Music Fans Worldwide, the Musicians, and Artists who are members of Music Forte (now numbering over 40,000). A record 200,000 plays happened here for "The Medallions" and Hank Ballard's "Annie Had A Baby" on July 3, 2007. Congratulations from everyone at Music Forte, and our affiliates Worldwide! We hope this First Award to experienced "Independents" like the Medallions inspires everyone to continue to make a difference with their music and art. |
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The Medallions were originally formed in Los Angeles, California in 1954, with 16 year-old Vernon Green singing and writing original songs like "Buick '59" (five years ahead of it's time because he wanted the song to have a 5-year shelf/radio play life). He also wrote "The Letter" (B side to "Buick '59"), and by 1959 "Magic Mountain". These songs charted well on the West Coast, and in several Eastern cities. The Medallions were the first "vocal group" to sign with Dootsie William's Dootone Records in July of 1954. Mr. Green passed away on Christmas Eve of 2000.
This modern, but "authentic" sound has been "reconstituted", beginning with eleven fresh digital recordings just completed in July of '07 at the O.C. Recording Company in Orange County, California.
The Medallions new rollicking arrangements of great songs are refreshing, and the re-invention of what the original song-writers and composers had in mind, gives "new life" to a band that is as "Bad as any, on any Bandstand". The Medallions return is a project to honor the "teenage songwriters" and this amazing sound.
"The first eleven songs are what helped shape and form the "collective consciousness" that a few years later was called "Rock and Roll".
Songs by a 14-year old Don Julian (the first man to integrate his group, "The Meadowlarks" with a singer from another race).
A young Hank Ballard, and early Lowman Pauling are a few of the genius' that will be featured  on the upcoming LP and possible vinyl release of The Medallions new album titled, "Watcha Gonna Do?" says Jeff Wilson, of Edwards & Wilson Entertainment, Inc. Las Vegas, Nevada.
The tune, "Gee" (written by William A. Davis and Morris Levy) was the 1stsong EVER to cross-over from black-owned stations to commercial radio in 1954. The lyrics "reelin", "rollin" and then "rockin" can be heard here first. On "Ookey-ook" at 2:13 seconds into it you hear "Rock and Roll" from side to side. "Tick Tock" says at the beginning "She can Rock 'em, and Roll 'em, and wrap 'em up too!"
The history of "Let's Go" is worth a digital download for the mere fact it was BMI registered under several titles including "Thrill On The Hill", and just "Thrill" because the lyrics, "We gonna have a whole lotta fun... We gonna greet the rising sun. All night long... We gonna ball, until we hear your Mama call" got this song banned many times, in many markets, by the "Thought Police" of that time. Hank Ballard's up-beat, "Annie Had A Baby" also was restricted inferring (by some) the song was about prostitution because of the lyrics.
It was also about the "sound". It was called Rhythm & Blues, Jump Boogie, it was called Doo-Wop... but it was really Urban at the time, and exciting.
According to Louie Martinez, Musical Director and Arranger, and keyboard player who sings lead and back up, "We have twenty-two more tunes in production, and are releasing the first single with an "A and B side" like the ol days, in about forty-five days".
The Medallions hope you enjoy this project as more 2-track monaural recordings are brought forward to the "Digital World". Stay tuned to have fun, dance again, and party all night long!
- MusicForte.com |
