Robin Gibb died Sunday (5/20/12) after battling cancer and while recuperating from intestinal surgery, family spokesman Doug Wright announced.  He was 62. 

http://goo.gl/b0dBC

Tom and George had breakfast with Ronnie Dove one morning on one of their recent trips. Here's a picture of Tom and Ronnie.

Hi Topshelfers.  Here is a great picture of Tom and George DJing at the wedding they attended last week.

Donald "Duck" Dunn, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs and contributed to such classics as "In the Midnight Hour," ''Hold On I'm Coming" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," died Sunday at 70.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501368_162-57433388/bass-player-donald-duck-dunn-dies-in-tokyo/

Bobby Thomas has passed away, May 3rd, 2012.

Bobby was the lead tenor of the Vibranaires/Vibes in 1954.  He continued his vocal career into the 90's.  Please see Marv Goldberg's article for more information about Bobby's career and that of the Vibranaires.  He had a voice very much like Sonny Til's.  In fact, he took Sonny's place as lead of the Orioles after Sonny's death.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Vibranaires/vibranaires.html

In memory of Bobby, here are two from 1954.

On Chariot Records we will rock to "Stop Jiving Baby".

On After Hours Records we have the classic "Doll Face".

R.I.P., Bobby Thomas

 

Hi Topshelfers.  Hope you’re having a great Spring.  Here are the May birthdays and anniversaries for Topshelf Oldies listeners and chatters.  If you want to be added to my list and you’re a regular chatter or listener, please let me know in the Topshelf Oldies chatroom.  I would be happy to add you.  I’ll be back at the end of May with my June post.  Summer will be here soon!!  Have a great month, everyone!!!

May 12 - Earl and Marsha (Anniversary)

May 27 - Alex

May 27 -  Mike and Barb (Anniversary)

May 28 - Rick and Deb  (Anniversary)

May 30 – Dick Lillard

May 31 – Doris Flanagan (Flanno)

Very sad news to report.  We lost a very good friend of TopShelf Oldies and member of the Four Epics, JImmy Mullen.  After a long illness, Jimmy passed away this Wednesday, April 4th.  Read more about Jimmy and the Four Epics here:

http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/4epics/page2.html

and let us pay tribute to the man with the best known Four Epics tune, "Again", from 1963, and a song by a later group with Jimmy and Jack McKnight as the nucleus, Exodus, from 1972, "M and M".

 

 

Here is Marv Goldberg's article on the El Venos
http://www.uncamarvy.com/ElVenos/elvenos.html

In Memory of Leon Daniels here are both sides of their 1957 Vik Records release.  Leon Daniels and Anna Mae Jackson (aka Anne Keith) share the leads on

"My Heart Beats Faster"
and
"You Must Be True" (note: Mis-labeled by Vik. S/B "You Won't Be True")

Rest In Peace, Leon Daniels

Jimmy Ellis, the soulful lead singer of the Trammps, whose 1970s hit “Disco Inferno” was immortalized in the film “Saturday Night Fever,” died on Thursday in Rock Hill, S.C. He was 74.  The cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease, Erika Stinson, his daughter, said.
{...}
James Thomas Ellis II was born on Nov. 15, 1937, in Rock Hill, S.C. He sang gospel as a teenager in St. Mary’s Church, graduated from Emmett Scott High School and left for Philadelphia to sing with R&B groups like the Volcanoes and the Exceptions, who had a popular single called “Down by the Ocean.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/arts/music/jimmy-ellis-74-lead-singer-in-dance-band-trammps.html?_r=1