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Post by BeesNVMe on Mar 4, 2010 18:49:32 GMT -5
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Mar 4, 2010 21:11:51 GMT -5
May he rest in peace! This is really shocking. I'm sadden that these folks are leaving us at such young ages. Wow! Very sad!
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Post by Brandy on Mar 5, 2010 18:53:41 GMT -5
 condolences to his family,friends and fans. my father loves the dramatics that's one of his favorite groups. sad to hear of his passing.
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Post by Duchess on Mar 11, 2010 19:14:18 GMT -5
I'm still trippin' off this one! Ron wasn't even that old. Ron is in my top 5 of all-time best falsetto voices. You know EJK is #1, followed by Phillip Bailey...and Ron fits in there at around #4 or #5. I need to go watch "Original Leads" so I can see Ron sing "Dream Come True," then listen to "Just Shopping Not Buying Anything." This is too too sad!  |
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Mar 11, 2010 20:24:52 GMT -5
I feel the same way, Duchess. He was just too young. I wish these singers would take better care of themselves. I know they can't live forever but at least, go the doctor to extend your life if you can. I don't know if I could deal with the day that Aretha leaves this earth. I find it hard to deal with but I know that day will come inevitably.
I never heard 'Just Shopping' so I will check that out. Ironically, before Ron's passing, I was listening to some Dramatics' on youtube last week. It's interesting that you considered him in the top five of falsetto singers. What do you think of Russell Thompkins, Harry Ray of the Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown, the late Johnny Carter of the Dells, William Hart of the Delfonics and Ted Mills of Blue Magic? For me, I would expand that list to ten.
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Post by Queenie on Mar 15, 2010 19:59:32 GMT -5
Dang, I am sorry to hear of this. Common and Duchess, I co-sign our superstars need to start taking care of themselves and go get yearly check-ups. I hate hearing someone dying so young.
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Post by Duchess on Mar 17, 2010 19:52:07 GMT -5
I never heard 'Just Shopping' so I will check that out. Ironically, before Ron's passing, I was listening to some Dramatics' on youtube last week. It's interesting that you considered him in the top five of falsetto singers. What do you think of Russell Thompkins, Harry Ray of the Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown, the late Johnny Carter of the Dells, William Hart of the Delfonics and Ted Mills of Blue Magic? For me, I would expand that list to ten. I can't believe the great music scholar hasn't heard "Just Shopping (Not Buying Anything)"  LOL! I am very picky about my falsettos! I like Smokey, but I can only tolerate a few of his songs at one sitting (he's too shaky and whiney...sorry, Molly, don't beat me  ). The Dells', Blue Magic's and The Delfonics' falsettos are a little too high, kinda too girlie sounding, and have weird accents (like William Hart has a weird sounding accent/tone) for my taste...it's all a matter of personal preferences and one's ear (but out of the one's you mentioned, Ted Mills is closest to my taste). I'm not familiar with Russell Thompkins and Harry Ray off the top of my head...I gotta go look them up and see if they could possibly make my list  . |
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Mar 17, 2010 20:57:25 GMT -5
I never heard 'Just Shopping' so I will check that out. Ironically, before Ron's passing, I was listening to some Dramatics' on youtube last week. It's interesting that you considered him in the top five of falsetto singers. What do you think of Russell Thompkins, Harry Ray of the Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown, the late Johnny Carter of the Dells, William Hart of the Delfonics and Ted Mills of Blue Magic? For me, I would expand that list to ten. I can't believe the great music scholar hasn't heard "Just Shopping (Not Buying Anything)" LOL! I am very picky about my falsettos! I like Smokey, but I can only tolerate a few of his songs at one sitting (he's too shaky and whiney...sorry, Molly, don't beat me ). The Dells', Blue Magic's and The Delfonics' falsettos are a little too high, kinda too girlie sounding, and have weird accents (like William Hart has a weird sounding accent/tone) for my taste...it's all a matter of personal preferences and one's ear (but out of the one's you mentioned, Ted Mills is closest to my taste). I'm not familiar with Russell Thompkins and Harry Ray off the top of my head...I gotta go look them up and see if they could possibly make my list . LOL! I'm guilty as charged! Honestly, I was never too interested in them because well, they reminded me of Temptations lite. After all, they did model themselves after the Tempts. I'm gonna check out that cut. I think falsettos have a 'girly' quality to their voice to begin with. Isn't that what attracts women to them in the first place? But I definitely feel you about certain ones that are pleasing to the ear vs. ones that can be pretty annoying after listening to them for too long. Now, of course, Eddie K was one of the best, even though he really was a 'counter tenor'. It was just natural with him having 'switch' from one register to the other. His voice 'flowed' effortlessly. Now these guys also remind me a little of Eddie: the late Donald McPherson of the Main Ingredient (pre-Cuba Gooding). Listen to 'Spinning Around', 'I Can't See Myself Without You', 'Black Seeds Keep On Growing', among a couple of others that escape me right now. Some of McPherson's songs have been sampled (of course!). I can easily see Eddie K singing some of McPherson's songs (he was the main songwriter for the group). You can easily see that Eddie might have been one of McPherson's influences. Cuba wasn't as good as McPherson but people are more familiar with Gooding than with McPherson because of the popularity of 'Everybody Plays The Fool' and 'Just Don't Want To Be Lonely' (actually, Ronnie Dyson's version is much better). And who can forget Black Ivory? 'Don't Turn Around' and 'Baby Wouldn't You Change Your Mind'. The lead singer's name escapes right now but he wasn't too bad himself and NY ADORED this group to pieces. It had alot to do with that they were from the tristate area (I think they were from Harlem, if I'm not mistaken). Check them out on youtube singing 'Don't Turn Around' live on Soul!. It's pretty good! When you brought up Smokey, it reminded me about how folks always called him a falsetto. I never considered him in this category for some reason. He always struck me a breathy second tenor. I don't know why I've always felt this way about Smokey. I'm glad you brought him up. Ted Mills, I can see came through the Eddie K. school. Like McPherson, he's mellow, smooth and his falsetto does not sound 'forced'. His voice is steady and consistent. I hope you get to check out Harry Ray. I would put him under the Eddie K category, too. Russell Thompkins is more like the Johnny Carter school of Falsettos (at least that's who he reminds me of). Listen to Johnny Carter's part in 'Stay In My Corner' and then listen to Russel Thompkins of the Stylistics and tell me what you think. |
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Post by Duchess on Mar 17, 2010 21:50:10 GMT -5
Just click that link above to hear the song. I feel you about The Dramatics being a "Temptations lite," and I never really gave a thought about them either. But then I heard that song "Treat Me Like A Man" on the radio about 9 or 10 years back, and I didn't know who sang it or what the title of the song was until I asked you, Bees, and Evita who sang that song that keeps going "Baby, don't hurt me" and Evita knew what I was talking about and told me it was The Dramatics' "Treat Me Like A Man." I went out and bought The Dramatics compilation CD "Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs" just for that one song and ended up liking basically the whole CD, and gained a respect for The Dramatics. I still feel like they are a knock-off Temps, but they captured that 70's sound and feel way better than The Temps did, so The Dramatics do deserve some respect and recognition (in my book anyway). EJK is probably the one mainly all falsetto (or counter tenor) voice that I really love and can listen to on end. I really like my falsetto mixed in with other ranges, like Marvin and Al Green...they mixed their falsetto and natural ranges very well. I love Philip Bailey's falsetto too, but his natural range is as good as his falsetto (to me anyway). I love me some EJK, but his natural voice is not pleasing to me and that is why I pin him as "all falsetto," and he's the only "all falsetto" that I really dig (I usually like cats with more range). Okay, yeah I know who Russell Thompkins is now and he does sound like Johnny Carter...it's that really high, almost squirrelly and helium-like kind of falsetto that I really don't care for but can sound okay in some songs and in moderation. I told you I'm picky about my falsettos lol. It's weird that I even like any man singing that high because I can't stand girlie men lol! I guess it's something about a man just going up that high, pleading & begging for my love or my forgiveness...get up there and hit that note, daddy! Beg me! LOL! P.S.[/u] I forgot to mention Ron Isley...he's probably #3 on my top 5 All-Star falsettos. |
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Mar 18, 2010 8:13:33 GMT -5
Just click that link above to hear the song. I feel you about The Dramatics being a "Temptations lite," and I never really gave a thought about them either. But then I heard that song "Treat Me Like A Man" on the radio about 9 or 10 years back, and I didn't know who sang it or what the title of the song was until I asked you, Bees, and Evita who sang that song that keeps going "Baby, don't hurt me" and Evita knew what I was talking about and told me it was The Dramatics' "Treat Me Like A Man." I went out and bought The Dramatics compilation CD "Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs" just for that one song and ended up liking basically the whole CD, and gained a respect for The Dramatics. I still feel like they are a knock-off Temps, but they captured that 70's sound and feel way better than The Temps did, so The Dramatics do deserve some respect and recognition (in my book anyway). EJK is probably the one mainly all falsetto (or counter tenor) voice that I really love and can listen to on end. I really like my falsetto mixed in with other ranges, like Marvin and Al Green...they mixed their falsetto and natural ranges very well. I love Philip Bailey's falsetto too, but his natural range is as good as his falsetto (to me anyway). I love me some EJK, but his natural voice is not pleasing to me and that is why I pin him as "all falsetto," and he's the only "all falsetto" that I really dig (I usually like cats with more range). Okay, yeah I know who Russell Thompkins is now and he does sound like Johnny Carter...it's that really high, almost squirrelly and helium-like kind of falsetto that I really don't care for but can sound okay in some songs and in moderation. I told you I'm picky about my falsettos lol. It's weird that I even like any man singing that high because I can't stand girlie men lol! I guess it's something about a man just going up that high, pleading & begging for my love or my forgiveness...get up there and hit that note, daddy! Beg me! LOL! P.S.[/u] I forgot to mention Ron Isley...he's probably #3 on my top 5 All-Star falsettos.[/quote] Yes, 'Be My Girl' is a nice cut. Perhaps, I will pick up the Dramatics CD compliation as well. And it's interesting that you say that they did the seventies sound better than the Tempts did. I find that fascinating because I never thought of it that way. Would say because of the whole 'Psychedelic ' era made the Tempts kinda lose their footing as balladeers? I think it could be Dennis' voice could be the culprit because he's very raw and rugged. His voice is perfect for Funk and upbeat R&B tunes. I think he can do slow jam but there shouldn't be any string arrangements. Motown loved to drown their singers in strings. lol. Somebody like Dennis does well with a basic rhythm section and some horns, IMO. So I see where you're coming from with that statement. Now, I made a big boo boo. LOL. I stated that Donald McPherson is a falsetto. He is not. lol. He is more of 1st tenor but he does remind one of a falsetto. He just has those qualities in his voice. It's probably why I don't see Smokey as a falsetto because he has those qualities of a 1st tenor. I don't know if that makes sense but there are singers who can straddle the fence between voice ranges. You're right on target about Thompkins & Carter. Voices like that I have to listen to in moderation as well. LOL @ girlie men. I feel the same way but it's interesting that there are men who can sing like women. As for Bailey, I enjoy listening to him but for some reason, I can't listen to him on end like Eddie. I don't know why.I agree with you that variety of ranges in a singer (Marvin and Al are the best examples) gives you something more. And how in heavens name did we forget Mr. Ronald Isley? I can listen to him all day."Footsteps In The Dark", "Don't Say Good night", "For The Love Of You", etc., etc. And the most ironic thing is that his voice has held up really well over the years. |
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molly
Ultimate Ruffness
Posts: 7,446
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Post by molly on Mar 18, 2010 9:55:07 GMT -5
This news was both shocking and sad.
RIP Ron.
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Post by Happiness on Oct 22, 2016 1:52:18 GMT -5
Just click that link above to hear the song. I feel you about The Dramatics being a "Temptations lite," and I never really gave a thought about them either. But then I heard that song "Treat Me Like A Man" on the radio about 9 or 10 years back, and I didn't know who sang it or what the title of the song was until I asked you, Bees, and Evita who sang that song that keeps going "Baby, don't hurt me" and Evita knew what I was talking about and told me it was The Dramatics' "Treat Me Like A Man." I went out and bought The Dramatics compilation CD "Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs" just for that one song and ended up liking basically the whole CD, and gained a respect for The Dramatics. I still feel like they are a knock-off Temps, but they captured that 70's sound and feel way better than The Temps did, so The Dramatics do deserve some respect and recognition (in my book anyway). EJK is probably the one mainly all falsetto (or counter tenor) voice that I really love and can listen to on end. I really like my falsetto mixed in with other ranges, like Marvin and Al Green...they mixed their falsetto and natural ranges very well. I love Philip Bailey's falsetto too, but his natural range is as good as his falsetto (to me anyway). I love me some EJK, but his natural voice is not pleasing to me and that is why I pin him as "all falsetto," and he's the only "all falsetto" that I really dig (I usually like cats with more range). Okay, yeah I know who Russell Thompkins is now and he does sound like Johnny Carter...it's that really high, almost squirrelly and helium-like kind of falsetto that I really don't care for but can sound okay in some songs and in moderation. I told you I'm picky about my falsettos lol. It's weird that I even like any man singing that high because I can't stand girlie men lol! I guess it's something about a man just going up that high, pleading & begging for my love or my forgiveness...get up there and hit that note, daddy! Beg me! LOL! P.S.[/u] I forgot to mention Ron Isley...he's probably #3 on my top 5 All-Star falsettos.[/quote] Yes, 'Be My Girl' is a nice cut. Perhaps, I will pick up the Dramatics CD compliation as well. And it's interesting that you say that they did the seventies sound better than the Tempts did. I find that fascinating because I never thought of it that way. Would say because of the whole 'Psychedelic ' era made the Tempts kinda lose their footing as balladeers? I think it could be Dennis' voice could be the culprit because he's very raw and rugged. His voice is perfect for Funk and upbeat R&B tunes. I think he can do slow jam but there shouldn't be any string arrangements. Motown loved to drown their singers in strings. lol. Somebody like Dennis does well with a basic rhythm section and some horns, IMO. So I see where you're coming from with that statement. Now, I made a big boo boo. LOL. I stated that Donald McPherson is a falsetto. He is not. lol. He is more of 1st tenor but he does remind one of a falsetto. He just has those qualities in his voice. It's probably why I don't see Smokey as a falsetto because he has those qualities of a 1st tenor. I don't know if that makes sense but there are singers who can straddle the fence between voice ranges. You're right on target about Thompkins & Carter. Voices like that I have to listen to in moderation as well. LOL @ girlie men. I feel the same way but it's interesting that there are men who can sing like women. As for Bailey, I enjoy listening to him but for some reason, I can't listen to him on end like Eddie. I don't know why.I agree with you that variety of ranges in a singer (Marvin and Al are the best examples) gives you something more. And how in heavens name did we forget Mr. Ronald Isley? I can listen to him all day."Footsteps In The Dark", "Don't Say Good night", "For The Love Of You", etc., etc. And the most ironic thing is that his voice has held up really well over the years.[/quote] |
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LOL!
). The Dells', Blue Magic's and The Delfonics' falsettos are a little too high, kinda too girlie sounding, and have weird accents (like William Hart has a weird sounding accent/tone) for my taste...it's all a matter of personal preferences and one's ear (but out of the one's you mentioned, Ted Mills is closest to my taste). I'm not familiar with Russell Thompkins and Harry Ray off the top of my head...I gotta go look them up and see if they could possibly make my list 
.
