WEDNESDAY REWIND - James and Michael Younger

Today I want to start a new series called Wednesday Rewind. I will run this segment about once a month as an alternative to Wednesday Review. I hope you'll enjoy this new segment.

I’ve been doing artist promotion since 1982. Thirty-five years of trying to get airplay for a band I believed in. Not necessarily as a fan, but as someone who believed the world needed to know how good these guys were. I’m talking about a 1980’s country group called James and Michael Younger.

I first met James and Michael Younger at Texas Dance Hall in Baton Rouge LA August 6, 1982. Then they were known as The Younger Brothers. I’ll explain when the group name change came about in a moment. I knew when my sister and I met the group they were special. Okay, the fact they were (and still are) cute, I loved their sound. They played a mix of 1960’s rock, classic country and gospel… the music these boys from South Texas grew up on.

Six months after leaving Louisiana I still had these guys on my mind. I cruised radio dials looking for stations playing their songs. Airplay was near non-existent. I couldn’t figure out why. I began buying singles and sending them to radio stations introducing them to air personalities I was getting to know through letters. Once settled in Central IL, I would call or drive to radio stations to talk with production managers and music directors. I’ve always had a knack for getting in doors and I’ve put that gift to use all these years.

Jerry (?), Rusty, James, Donnie, Michael, Tommy

The Younger Brothers aka James & Michael Younger

Even before I began a personal journey in promoting James and Michael Younger, I’d been interested in promotion. In high school I wanted to be an entertainment journalist. A school counselor basically told me to get a real job, that there wasn’t any career in being a writer or a journalist. I wanted to be the next Barbara Walters but apparently, that wasn’t considered a paying gig. So, even though I wasn’t going to make money doing this, I had – and still have – a passion for doing my part in helping entertainers reach more potential fans.

While James and Michael were good about answering my questions and making time for me at shows over the years, their manager nor their label gave me a glance. If what I was trying to do would ever make a difference, we’ll never know. But I had fun trying!

James and Michael's last name is Williams. Their label wanted to name them the Williams Boys but the brothers were concerned there would be confusion with Don Williams’ band. They wanted their own identity. Shortly after, Don Williams’ band came to be ‘The Scratch Band’.  ‘The Younger Brothers’ name was short lived. Unbeknownst to them, a pop band (playing country music) from Pennsylvania had the same moniker. With that new knowledge in 1983, James and Michael Younger was born.

Long before they were any form of The Younger Brothers, they were part of a band called The Playboys of Edinburg. A garage band that began in the mid 1960s. In 1966 they were signed to Columbia. They had a hit written by James called ‘Look At Me Girl’, later to be recorded by teen idol Bobby Vee. POE had a nine-year run where they opened for folks such as Billy Joe Royal, Roberta Flack and Roy Orbison.

The Playboys of Edinburg

Look At Me Girl

The early 1970s brought about changes in their musical styles and personal lives and they disbanded. The brothers moved back to their country roots. James went solo for awhile in the south Texas area before moving up to Houston and encouraged Michael to join him as a duo.

James and Michael Williams

circa 1986

In 1981, they caught the attention of MCA promotion man, Danny O’Brian. They cut Lonely Hearts at the infamous The Woodlands studio. They would go on to release There’s No Substitute For You. In 1983, they released Somewhere Down the Line – my personal favorite.

One thing that did help with recognition was their song ‘Nothing But the Radio On’- a great song in its own standing but promotion is everything. In the world of music and entertainment, it's a constant struggle to reach the top with hundreds of record labels, thousands of artists and millions of listeners with different tastes. How does an artist or group get the attention?  If there's one thing MCA did right, producer Ron Chancey had the idea to drop the call letters for radio stations in the chorus of Nothing But the Radio On, replacing 'the radio' with station call letters. Seriously? What radio station is going to pass up free promo? The song was recorded once then the call letters for over three-hundred individual radio stations were dropped in, a project that took over sixteen additional studio hours. Having a song that promoted the radio station was a great gimmick for getting the air-play and helped this group gain notoriety. You could turn on your local radio station and here ‘nothing but WHBF on’ (Rock Island IL station in 1983) or whatever station you were listening to.

I kept up with the guys until my husband and I started a family in late 1987. James and Michael Younger disbanded about the same time. My last opportunity to hang with the band was at the Flywheel Club reunion in Macon Missouri. In an article written by Larry Nothnagels for the Clarence Courier, Mr. Nothnagels notes ‘they love being with fans and talking with them and the fans love them just as much.’

Why this group didn’t get more notoriety than others on the charts is perplexing. I have to wonder if MCA thought enough to sign them then why not give them the promotional push for a group they were vested in? Many of the radio stations personalities I talked to over the years said they didn’t get the airplay of others because they were not seeing promotional material come across their desk.

I often wonder how much more I could have done, what their path would have been had social media been available back then. I know that everything happens for a reason so I look back at my efforts as an education. Now I spend my days on social media as a street promoter for both established groups like the Oakridge Boys and the Bellamy Brothers as well as newer artists like the Scott Taylor Band, Jaryd Lane and Bri Bagwell. I am blessed to network with some of the largest promotional agencies across the country… and some of the smallest… but all who believe in the artists they represent.

James Williams

Michael Williams

Don Faires

Through it all, I still call James Williams a dear friend. Michael, too, though we don’t stay in touch as much. But reuniting with James ten years ago after a twenty-five year hiatus followed by Michael and Don (the band drummer) two years later was the culmination of a connection we had all those years ago.

Since disbanding, they've all gone on to do their own thing. They have done some reunions in South Texas with former members of The Playboys of Edinburg. Here's a short video from the first reunion in 2012. The video includes a photo array of the early days. Also, you'll see the boys still put on a great performance that gets the crowd on their feet.

Before I close today, I want to thank some people. Nancee Thomas - Lewis was (and still is) my best friend. We traveled to shows from Illinois to Missouri. She took all of the still photos I'm sharing today. Next,  'thewinner' on YouTube for posting many of the video clips I've used this week. I have the albums but wouldn't know the first thing about putting them on YouTube. Also to Phil Brown for the reunion video. Thank you both for providing the content. Please go check out his channel, hit likes and subscribe. 

I also must thank Val Curl. Val is a POE member who put me in touch with James, rekindling a friendship that began with a night out in Baton Rouge LA.

I look forward to looking back at other groups as well as individual artists. If there is someone you'd like to see me feature, please leave a comment below and I'll do my best. 

CountryBlessings!

OUT OF THE CHUTE - James Williams

Welcome to the first round of OUT OF THE CHUTE for 2018... and our new post header.

This picture is from www.pixabay.com and uploaded courtesy of CC0 Creative Commons

This week we welcome back a dear friend, James Williams

I've known James Williams for over thirty- seven years. When I got an email from him a couple weeks ago about a new CD he has out, I thought it was time we played catch-up and got some background on 'Summer of Love', which I will be posting a review for tomorrow. So, here we go!

Summer of Love has that very retro, psychedelic tone – different than what you’ve done in the past. Why this album? Why now?

My roots are in rock & roll as well as country.  I was just thinking back to younger days and started writing what I was feeling.  Channeling some of the groups back then and it sort of evolved.

Is your brother, Michael on this album as well?

Michael is on 2 songs that I included because they fit. “When I Think Of You” and “Son’s Of The 60’s”.

Michael (L) James (R) 

during their 1985 tour

Photo courtesy of Nancee Thomas Louis

The artwork on the cover is beautiful (reveal tomorrow during review). Many may not know that the artist, Don Faires was your drummer for a number of years. What was your thought behind bringing Don in on this project? And does he do any of the instrumentals?

Don is on 5 of the songs as the drummer.  He’s painting some great things and I used one of his paintings for the cover because it fit.

Don Faires - drummer

Circa 1985

You wrote all of the tracks on this album. How many of them are new and how many have been on hold in the binder waiting their time?

5 of them are brand new written in 2017 and 3 are in the past 5 years with 1 from the 80’s and 1 from the 70’s.

A couple of these tunes are just made for crankin’ up the volume. Pretty Woman’s Daughter is one of those. Where did this song come from?

I was just trying for a feel of Roy on this one.  Creating a story from nothing

One thing I noticed about this album is that your voice hasn’t changed in all the years I’ve known you. I could have heard any track and known I was hearing the same man who sang Somewhere Down the Line in 1985. I know you’ve not toured, but have done a couple of Playboys of Edinburg reunions. How have you kept your voice in tone all this time?

Thank you.  I really haven’t done anything special.  I sing songs with my kids and when I write one I sing it to get it down.  When the Playboys did shows ,1 in 2012 , 1 in 2014 and 1 in 2016 we practiced a lot to get our chops up for singing 3 sets.  Sometimes I will sing at a writers night here in Nashville.  So I have kept pretty active for an old voice.

You probably know I wasn’t going to let you go without asking this next question. Is there more of a country type album down the line?

I have enough songs already recorded for a country CD, but I’ll have to see. I’m still writing all the time.

As an artist management/ promoter, can you share a bit of your marketing strategy for this 

album?

I really did this for me.  But then I thought about all of our friends from where I grew up you know high school and all.  I thought they would like to remember back then too.  So I put it on face book and friends have shared the info, but nothing extensive yet.

While I don't have any clips of the new CD, I thought I'd share a YouTube upload from 'the winner'. Somewhere Down the Line was the inspiration for my first published novella.

Tomorrow, I'll share my review of Summer of Love then follow up on Wednesday with a look-back

HOW THE 'COUNTRY ANGEL' CAME TO BE

My story began long before the tag 'Country Angel' became a part of my life. I lived for the radio for as long as I can remember. Nerdy as this will sound, as a young girl I used to pretend to program the playlists on the stations I listened to. Often times, I would be thinking of a song, turn on the radio and the song would either be playing or would come up next. Freaky, right?

For my thirteenth birthday my natural mom sent me a transistor radio. Remember those?

I would burrow beneath the covers at night with my ear pressed to the speaker as I drew in AM stations from all across the country. Two of my favorites were WLS - Chicago and WSM - Nashville 

As I drifted off to sleep, I'd sometimes remember to turn the radio off so the batteries didn't die before morning. We only went to town once or twice a month and I didn't want to be without batteries. Though the 9-V did last longer than the AA other items required.

Radio tunes got me through some tough times over the next few years and I identified with a lot of the songs on the country stations. Cheating and lonely housewives seemed to be a recurring theme. After a failed marriage I moved to Baton Rouge with my sister, her husband and two kids. She got me a job where she worked at Dixie Electric Co.  I loved my job. Friday nights we'd find a club to hang out and Saturdays there was usually a live broadcast remote somewhere. I loved remotes. They often gave me the opportunity to be on-air and talk to other folks who got where I was coming from.  At one point I even applied to a broadcasting school in Denver. But life intervened and I never got that far. 

When my brother-in-law was sent to Diego Garcia unaccompanied, we moved to Virginia, where my sister and the kids would live during his deployment. Somewhere along the trip from AR (we had back-tracked so Dan could see his family before deploying) and Rapidan VA I talked with a truck driver on the CB. He tagged me The Country Angel.. and the moniker stuck. Somewhere I still have the license plate bar I had custom-made years later.

My next stop was back in IL. I made friends with program directors and air personalities at WXCL - Radio in Peoria. I'd stop by remotes and often get to help out. I was even privileged to attend some of their company events. There was a real camaraderie. Whether it was at the station, a concert or other events I felt at home with everyone and in the business.

To back track a minute, while in Baton Rouge I met The Younger Brothers. They would later become known as James & Michael Younger as a result of a name dispute. The group and I connected several times over the years. What they didn't know until eight years ago was that when they handed me singles I was hocking them around to radio stations in my area, pushing for airplay. James told me the last time we met at his house if he'd known that he'd have put me on the payroll because their label was doing jack! I guess you could say that period in the mid-1980's is when Country Angel Promotions began. 

I designed posters and promoted a lot of local groups for free access to their shows. They were small time but I was cutting my teeth on something I knew was my soul. 

Most of the time when I attended shows, I went with my photographer, Nancee Thomas (Lewis). She worked for a local promoter and we got our tickets for working the phones. We had a great partnership until she decided to move to Nashville. From there I was on my own and often handed tickets from the station or I'd get a front row ticket last minute because single seat were easy to grab. 

One of the most memorable I obtained on my own was a meeting with the late Faron Young. He was everything they said he was... and a lot more no one every talked about. He was a kind, gentle guy just trying to be himself while pleasing everyone else. That's a tough tight rope to walk. He gave me the nickname Pooh Bear. The day he died, I began collecting Pooh Bears. 

Time travel to almost eleven years ago. I'm retired and able to devote time to music. I spend my days networking with amazing artists and promoters. I have Duane Allen from The Oak Ridge Boys to thank for hooking me up with Webster PR. My other real gratitude goes to Howard and David Bellamy. I'd met them a couple of times in Peoria over the years. The first year we moved down here, they were playing locally and I scored an interview. As I sat on the bus waiting for them and visiting with their wives, David came out of the back. His first words were 'what are you doing here?' I guess south central MO was the last place he thought our paths would cross. I never missed one of their Central IL shows and we often chatted as the crew loaded the gear afterwards. He had remembered me from all those years ago in Peoria. We now have each other's numbers so that eight years don't go buy without us connecting again. 

Since Duane's assistance I've met some amazing people out of Nashville as well as being able to make my own connections in the Texas and Bluegrass communities. And while I'm not making a killing at this biz, I'm doing what I love, building a resume so that maybe someday, someone will note the value of what I do. 

Until then, CDs appreciated, interview grants invaluable.

Country Blessings!

Out of the Chute with James Williams

Back in March, I had the amazing opportunity to connect with James Williams. We hadn’t spoken in over twenty-five years. I first met James as part of the group, James and Michael Younger (they were The Younger Brothers then before legalities forced them to modify their name to James and Michael Younger), at a place called Texas Dance Hall (Baton Rouge LA) in 1982. Their single, Nothing But the Radio On, was climbing the charts. I spent six years following the career of James and his brother Michael, Don Faires, Tommy Kotzur, Keith Medley and Jim McCord before life interfered and we lost touch. Since their two LIVE cassettes are a staple in my truck (and sorely in need of replacing and yes, 25 years later I’m still playing them- that’s quality!)  I never stopped wondering what happened to them. I knew each of them had gone their separate ways. Through periodic internet searches I finally came up with a hit, leading me to this moment.  
Thanks Val for your help. I couldn't have done it without you!


 Over time, I’ll introduce you to everyone and a special group called The Playboys of Edinburg. But today is all about my friend, James Williams.. of Williams Productions and Promotions.



How much time elapsed between 87/88 when James and Michael Younger Disbanded and you moved into what you’re doing now?
We quit the road in 1988 and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I thought about going back out on the road as a single.” But as chance would have it, something else came along for James Williams. His first promotions gig was with a twins duo from extended family. He worked with them from the beginning. When asked to carry his involvement into promotion, James said ‘well, I guess I could. I could give it a shot. Probably do as good as some other people that we hired to promote us’.” 

“I remember sitting on the bus telling Michael ‘You know if we could find one guy who does what he says he’s gonna do, he’d be worth his weight in gold’. So about ten years ago I decided that I might be doing this for a long time so I’d better get serious about it. So I’m pretty ingrained in what I’m doing and working with a lot of good acts.”

Aside from doing what you say you’ll do, what do you think are some of the similarities in the way you guys were handled and what you offer?
It was easier back then to get a record on the billboard charts. You could have about five stations and have a record on the charts. It’s not as easy now. There’s a whole lot more records that released. There’s not as many independent promoters here in Nashville as you might think. There’s only about 15 or so that are out there all the time. Of course, on the labels, they have their in-house teams and stuff. I work with a lot of independent acts. 

It’s relationships. It’s always been relationships. I’ve gotten to know a bunch of DJs out there and industry people. When I’m working your record we’re going to get you ads. I can’t guarantee #1s but I can guarantee they’re going to get played and they’re going to hit the charts and move up. And however it does is based on whatever it’s compared to at the time. Use to be a record would last 15 weeks. Records are lasting 30 weeks now. They’re getting their money’s worth.

How do you define your artists’ music?
Every artist is different. Some are more contemporary. Some are more traditional. Oriented. Some more rock. It just depends on the age of the artist. Your older artists are going to be more traditional. That’s where there heart is.

Do you think Nashville is sacrificing it’s roots for the numbers?
That’s a good question. We talk about that with DJs every day. Whether they ought to have a contemporary chart and a traditional chart. So many fall in the cracks. It depends on the artist. If enough of those artists would cut that kind of stuff, radio would play it because they’d have to. I think the pendulum swings back and forth. I’ve seen it swing both ways, and you have too, where it’s more contemporary like the Garth Brook Days. How do you define Taylor Swift’s music? It’s not country, it’s not pop. She’s communicating with every girl out there. And they’re playing it on country and they’re playing it on pop. 

If you were to record and tour again, what would you do differently and why?
What would I do differently? You know, I think first and foremost I would have a great business manager and money/ investment in place to take care of you so you can do your craft, do your business, and be an artist instead of trying to make a living. Write and do the best recording you can do and surround yourself with the best musicians you can get and support. Just go out there and try to keep a pulse on what’s happening. You don’t want to be behind but you don’t want to be too far ahead either.

And you don’t want to lose your self-esteem at the same time
Right. Go out there and compete and be relevant to what’s happening in country music. But you have to have your business together. We never had the correct management to get us where we needed to go. That’s crucial. I realize that now in retrospect. Having correct management and investment. Any major artist that’s happening out there nowadays, to start, has had an investor. It’s a business. I try to tell people, you don’t get a KFC franchise just because you’re a good cook. It’s a business and you have to have money to make money. And you have to treat it as a business.

We always did things, the right things,  as far as treating radio good and being accessible and trying to be a good show. But that’s not all of it.

Do you miss touring and performing?
Every once in awhile… probably 10 years ago or so, I felt like it would be fun to do it again. But as time goes on you realize the sacrifice… when the sacrifice is greater than the reward it’s time stop.

After the James and Michael thing, did you think about going back to Texas? 
It’s a strange thing. Ever since I moved here, I’ve never felt like it was permanent. Now all of my kids are here. All of my (immediate) family is here – five kids and five grandkids. I have a brother and sister still in TX around San Antonio. So that’s my only connection to Texas now. I’d like to go back to visit. But I don’t think I’ll ever move back.


NOTE:I want to thank James for an unforgettable afternoon. For me, our visit was more about reconnecting than the questions I asked. This post is a small part of our long conversation. I covered a lot of material that day and will be sharing it over a period of time. Today was all about James Williams – the Promoter. Please check out his website. He represents some talented people in the business. If you’re looking for someone who will do right by you in this business, give him a call. 

Follow-Up:
Aside from his promotional work, James still keeps in touch with the roots of his music, the band that started it all … The Playboys of Edinburg. That article is for another time. However, I do want to give you a sneak peak at an awesome YouTube video compiled from a reunion concert in South Padre Island, TX on June 23, 2012 . The original members of The Playboys of Edinburg got together with approximately 300 of their family and friends for an unforgettable bash marking nearly fifty years of music.

Country Blessings!

Looking Back

When I think Texas music, I not only think of the current artists I listen to like W.C. Jameson, Mike Blakely, Thomas Michael Riley and Jake Martin to name a few, but the good ole boys like Willie Nelson, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. But last week, another group came to my mind and I began searching for them. They were moderate chart artists with MCA back in the early 1980's. James and Michael Younger.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, don't feel bad. A lot of people don't recognize them. But they were two of my favorite people - well, their entire band, The Younger Brothers (until a conflict with another band came about). Nothing But the Radio On was one of their bigger songs. Country station call-letters were dubbed into the lyrics on records (remember those) sent out to radio stations across the country.

I first met the guys in Baton Rouge LA in 1982 at a little place called Texas Dance Hall. Always having a knack for getting back stage, the guys gave me a brief interview. I wrote articles on the guys for local papers where ever they were to perform and caught them on the road several times over the course of their career.

Then I put my budding freelance career on hold to be a full-time mom and the guys dropped off the recording radar soon after. Often times over the past twenty years I've wondered 'where are they now?'. I even played a couple songs of theirs to Mike Blakely because his music reminded me a lot of them. James (Williams) Younger and Mike Blakely are both extremely talented song writers and their styles are similar. I thought it would be cool if I could get them together sometime. I'm still waiting.

So last week I did the Google thing again. This time I came up with a lead. Not only did I find James and Michael but that they had a Texas music life before MCA picked them up as a country band.

For now, I'll leave you with this thought and see if it rings a bell...

The Playboys of Edinburg (Texas, not Scotland).

Country Blessings

Kelly