https://youtube/watch?v=PknNSZtLEUU DADDY G a/k/a GENE BARGE - TENOR SAX Local Norfolk, Va. group the Church Street Five had combined with a musician known as Daddy G (Gene Barge) to produce a song they called “A Night With Daddy G.” When Bonds recorded his version of it, backed by the Church Street Five and Daddy G, it was re-titled “Quarter To Three.” Studio owner Frank Guida helped to produce the tunes and the talent for the sound that is now known internationally as the “Norfolk Sound.” Described by some as “aurally dense,” the sound was born out of Guida’s need to compensate for less than state-of-the-art recording conditions in his Church Street and Sewells Point Road studios. To add depth and interest to the tunes, he layered the sounds, double-tracked the vocals, and added background clapping and voices to give the music a spontaneous party-like sound. The name Daddy “G” has been credited to Gene Barge and Frank Guida (studio producer for the Church Street Five), but actually it is a tribute to evangelist Bishop “Daddy” Grace, who’s fiery sermons inspired the sound Frank Guida wanted to capture to back Gary Anderson (aka Gary U.S. Bonds). His studio band was named after the Church Street address of Daddy “G”’s church, located at the corner of Church Street and Princess Ann Roads in Norfolk, Virginia. Guida’s impeccable studio band was led by Earl Swanson - sax, with Gene Barge - sax, Leonard Barks - trombone, Emmett “Nabs” Shields and later Melvin Glover - drums, and Ron “Junior” Farley - double bass, plus Willie Burnell - piano, and occasionally augmented by Wayne Beckner or Eric Sauls - guitar. This was the Church Street Five. Gene Barge attended Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. He wanted to become a professional football player. He also started playing clarinet in the school band. After serving time in the Air Force’s Air Cadet Training Program he moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, near the end of World War II. Barge then enrolled in West Virginia State College in 1946. Although his initial major was architecture, he switched to music and then to sax and soon became lead soloist in the jazz band. He graduated in 1950 and moved to Norfolk in 1951. In 1955 he made a single for Chess Records which peaked at #100 on the R&B charts. Barge began to tour with the Turbans and Ray Charles. He released a second single titled “A Night With Daddy G.” Lyrics were soon set to the melody and “Quarter To Three” became a number one gold single. More hits followed from the union of Barge and Bonds. Barge was also employed as a band instructor and English teacher in Suffolk, Virginia, as the hits climbed the charts in 1961 and 1962. He left teaching in 1964 to take a position as a producer, arranger, sax player, and musical contractor for Chess Records. He worked with Little Milton, Billy Stewart, the Dells, Fontella Bass, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, and the Radiants. Barge also did session work for the Chi-Lites and Jackie Wilson, who appeared on Brunswick Records. He was hired by Stax Records in 1971 to direct their gospel division. In 1974 he joined pianist Marvin Yancy and produced demos for Natalie Cole. In 1977 Barge found himself in the movies. He appeared in Chain Reaction (1996), The Fugitive (1993), Under Siege (1992), The Package (1989), Above the Law (1988), Code of Silence (1985) and Stony Island. In 1982 he joined the Rolling Stones European Tour. Gene Barge continues as a general manager of the gospel label, ThisIt Records, and a 24-track recording company, CRP Studios. As of 2004, Gene Barge is also the producer of and player with the “Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings” (Big Twist’s former band the “Mellow Fellows”). Discography: 1965 Dance with Daddy “G”—Checker 1996 Dance with Daddy G—Plus
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 13:51:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015