More on Louisiana Purchase from Dwight
I have again moved Dwight's comments to the main page for more to see. For newcomers to HOTG, Dwight is the drummer for Chocolate Milk out of New Orleans and contributes his inside recollections and perceptions here from time to time. His band recorded numerous albums for RCA in the 1970's and early 1980's, the earlier ones produced by Allen Toussaint. They also backed Toussaint on live gigs and contributed to other sessions at his Sea-Saint Studios during that period. Now, here's Dwight:
Dan, Dwight Richards here! Sorry I haven't contributed in awhile, but some other committments have been keeping me busy. It is no accident that you compare the sound of this band to my own group, Chocolate Milk. They are in fact all very good friends of ours. They also share many of the same influences. Louisiana Purchase is one of those New Orleans bands who may not have sold a lot of records but definetly added to the musical legacy of New Orleans funk. Their sound on records was probably similar to ours because, like Chocolate Milk, they wanted to appeal to a wider audience than just New Orleans. Also like us, their funky New Orleans roots always shone through no matter what. This band features a pair of brothers, Brennan Williams on drums and Warner on sax and keyboards. Warner was also a longtime keyboardist for Irma Thomas. Ronald Ernest (Shamika, as I know him ) is the brother of drummer Hermans Ernest. The New Orleans music community of the seventies was very tight knit. I even had a band together with Warner for a couple of years called the Enforcers ( a long story!). These guys are a few years older than me, but as I remember, they were originally two groups. the singing group was called Swiss Movement, and the band was Lousiana Purchase. Eventually some of the singers left and the remaining members were absorbed into Louisiana Purchase. Many of the members are semi retired (musicians never fully retire). Back to their sound, they featured horns and full orchestration, simlilar to Chocolate Milk. I have to leave right now but, I will write more later.
Great to have you back, Dwight. Thanks for the info. Cameron at Tuff City mentioned that the tape box had the name Swiss Movement on it, too. Does that vocal group have anything to do with a group that recorded for RCA in the early 1970's by that name? Look forward to your next installment.
posted by Dan Phillips @ 11:35 PM
24 Comments:
My dad was the horn player for Swiss Movement/Louisiana Purchase. His name is Emile Poree'. Seeing the names of his band members that I haven't seen since I was a little girl brings back a lot of memories. Boy did I have a crush on Warner. They were all very talented and I still remember some of their songs.
Thanks for the memories!
Thanks for the comment, Suzette. You can hear the Louisiana Purchase tracks that I've previously posted at the webcast site: www.hotg.org
Of course, there's over 12 hours of music streaming now, it could be a while before they roll around.
Also, I finally found a copy of the Swiss Movement LP and will feature some cuts at a later date. So check back.
Dan:
As a former road manager for the Swiss Movement and the Louisina Purchase, and brother to Warner and Brennan Williams. The Swiss Movement released their album in 1973 under RCA Records entittled "Its Time" members of the group were Ronald "Green Apples" Williams, Herbert "Super Chicken" Clifton, Johnny Hodges, and Arthur Booker.
As for the Louisiana Purchase, their last album entittled "Louisiana Purchase" was released on Basin Street Records.
Most of the members have moved after Katrina, and some are still here in New Orleans still playing the music they love.
For Suzette poree-williams, spoke with your dad several months ago as for Warner he is now residing in Memphis, TN.
Thanks for the information, Vaghn.
If you would like to talk more about Swiss Movement, please email me at the address on the left sidebar of the blog.
I am still planning to get to Swiss Movement - as I said above, I have their LP. What I don't have is enough time to cover all the music I want to! But, it's on the list.
On July 18, 2006, I did a post on a cut from the fine Louisiana Purchase LP on Basin Street Records (out of Chicago, not the New Orleans label). The post is titled, "Back To Louisiana Purchase" and can be found in the HOTG archives, also found on the left sidebar, for that date or by searching the google box on the blog main page or regular google.
The Louisiana Purchase cuts I've previously posted are still in rotation on the webcast: http://www.hotg.org/
I'm an original member of the Swiss Movement. My name is Herbert "Super Chicken" Clifton. By the way, Dwight was right. The Swiss Movement (vocal group) and the Louisiana Purchase (band) did work together. In fact, we were one organization with two names. But lets go back in time...
It all started in New Orleans, uptown on lyons street in Warner Williams living room. It was a neighborhood filled with music. The Nevilles lived around the corner, Robert Manuel lived up the street from them and Zia Modeliste and others nearby.
We were first called the Astronauts, and then the Orbiteers, The United Sound Company and finally The Swiss Movement and The Louisiana Purchase. We had pretty good success at home in New Orleans, playing the hottest clubs and enjoying a huge fan base. But we wanted to spread our wings, travel a bit and gain more exposure. So in 1970, we left New Orleans and moved to Detroit. There we began touring with The Temptations for about 4 years, sharing the stage with Gladys Knight and The pips, Martha & The Vandellas, The Barkays, etc.
When not on tour with the Tempts, we played the club circut in Detroit, Los Angelas, Toronto, Ottawa, London, Montreal Canada. We also worked at The Apollo Theater several times along with Kool & The Gang, The Originals, Wilson Picket and others. But we always found time to come back to New Orleans.
Along the way Swiss Movement recorded for RCA and Casablanca Records. The Louisiana Purchase recorded for Basin Street records.
After leaving the group in 1980, I decide to make Toronto, Canada my new home. My son Da-Rell Clifton and I, have a music production studio. The name of the company is Super C Music.
We can be reaced at supercmusic@hotmail.com
By the way, Da-Rell and I are collaborating on some tracks with Warner and Tank of the Louisiana purchase.
Well that's it for now.
Herbert "Super Chicken" Clifton
P.S. Shout out to Booker, Warner, Tank, Ringo, Emile, Swiss, Shamika, and Chuckie. What's up Vaughn?
I was married to Ronald "Green Apples" Williams during the 70's and the band and vocal group lived with me on DeSoto Street in Detroit when they first moved to Detroit under contract to the Temptations. What a great time it was! Hello to all members...long time!
Best to All,
Ann (Williams) Bedingham
Hi everyone, my name is Rhonnie Williams and I am the son of Ronald "Green Apples" Williams. I remember being influenced by you guys when I was a little kid (I am a musician as well). I remember spending summers in Detroit (Hi Ann!) and these are some of my fondest memories. I miss my pops.
Shout out to Warner, Chicken, Booker, Tank and all the fellas! You guys can reach me at greenapples.seed@gmail.com.
Hi,
My husband and I are both native New Orleanians and love Chocolate Milk. We were wondering if there was ever a drummer in the group by the name Royal Dixon?
Hi everyone, it is good to here all the great memories of Louisiana Purchase. My daddy was one of the lead singer Doni Whitlow. As a little girl I remember going to some of the concerts and sitting back stage, being at band practice with them and just enjoying the sound of the many voices. Unfortunately we lost him in 2006. Every now and then I listen to "babys love" and it just brings me back. I believe That song came out the year i was born, I also can remember when i was little he taught me that song word for word.
Thanks for taking me back.
-Anastasia Whitlow- (Tess for those who know me)
Great thread over several years (!) from band members, family, and friends of SM/LP. Glad you all found some connections here.
I realize that my Swiss Movement and next Louisiana Purchase posts are WAY behind schedule now!! As they say in Jamaica, soon come.
I'm not sure if this is a different site or not. I posted a comment on the other site.
I remember Super Chicken from the original group. The live band was awesome. What was the names of the original members. I remember Jimmy, Emile and Ed 'Swiss' Stanley. Who were some of the others?
Same site, anon, just different posts. I think you are referring to the members of Swiss Movement, an earlier vocal group. As Dwight puts it, some of the members of SM later joined LP, as they have New Orleans connections. I have the Swiss Movement album on RCA, but can't access it right now for the names, as I'm not at home.
.....and don't forget to read the comments of Herbet 'Super Chicken' Clifton above, as well as Vaghn Williams who already reminded us about the names of the other members of SM. They have very nicely sketched out a brief history of the bands, which, as I say, I need to work up into a new post on both groups.
For a few more details on Louisiana Purchase see my posts,"Funky Funky (Tuff City Side)" from July 15, 2007, and "Back To Louisians Purchase", from July 18, 2006. And look for more from me on this subject by summer.....
My dad played with Swiss Movement and his name is Atwood Tank Jone and my uncle Robert Slob Jones. I remember their hit Separate Rooms, going to concerts and most of all meeting the Temptation and Betty Wright. My dad post songs often inbox and i'll send the links. aghmediagroup@gmail.com
Thanks, agh. I've probaly gotten more comments on the Louisiana Purchase posts than any others. Big band with lots of family members and fans still interested in them. Tells me I need to get to work on another one!
I always appreciate any information or additonal music on these artists.
I remember going to see Swiss Movement in Detroit and Toronto. They were awesome. I think the year was in the mid 70s. There was a guitar player (I think bass)by the name of Swiss (that's what they referred to him as), and he was originally from New Orleans. I hope the guys are still playing because they were a great group of musicians back-in-da-day.
My dad was the key board player "Tank". I remember a concert they did with Betty Wright and I met her. I remember how the woman would fall out crying...
My dad Atwood Jones "Tank" died 3-28-14. His funeral will be in Texas March 30, 2014. If anyone need to call me I can be reached at 225-733-0121
Sorry to hear of your loss, Ino Ino.
Best wishes to your family.
I heard Louisiana Purchase play in Louisville several times
I heard Louisiana Purchase play in Louisville several times
I heard Louisiana Purchase play in Louisville several times
Mr. Phillips thanks so much for your interest about our group
My name is Warner Williams and I was the founder of the group in the early 60's while in high school at Xavier Prep.
While attending Xavier University I met Melvin Pierre who was majoring in Business as I was majoring in Music. We both had the same views about the group so we joined forces and to make a long long story a little bit shorter:
We auditioned for Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and Cornelius Grant of the Temptations. We moved to Detroit and they ended up managing the group. We toured with them as their opening act for almost ten years. At the height of their popularity, we even served as their house band on several occasions. We had great,great times.
My brother Brennan and I are still playing with several guys from the LOUISIANA PURCHASE under the Name:The
Just Right Band featuring Ve-Al. As a matter of fact, we just released a new cd.
Thanks so much for your continued acknowledgments and I will keep in touch.
The Louisiana Purchase comments just keep on growing, over a dozen years! Thanks to you, Mr Warner Williams for your comments. Now I know how the band wound up in Detroit and toured for so long. That Temps connection!
I've played some of the funkier cuts from that one LP on my current radio show on KRVS in Lafayette and am intrigued that your current group has a new CD. I'll look for it when I am in nola next time.
Feel free to contact me at the email address shown on the left sidebar of this page. Appreciate your input.
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