Eddie Parker, Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler, what a combination!
Eddie Parker was born in Saginaw, Michigan and moved to Detroit as a teenager where he teamed up with Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler. Together, they produced the quintessential northern soul record – Love You Baby.
Jack Ashford is most famous as a percussionist in the Motown backing band The Funk Brothers. He collaborated with Lorraine Chandler, establishing Pied Piper Productions and working with Detroit based musicians.
Lorraine Chandler was born in Detroit on April 29th 1946 and was one of the first female singer / songwriters of the time. Whilst her own recordings didn’t reach the charts three of her records I Can’t Hold On, What Can I Do and I Can’t Change have always been popular on the northern soul circuit.
It would be remiss not to mention the backing band featured on Love You Baby. Billy Rae was a singer, originally from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He relocated to Detroit, Michigan in 1967 and recorded several sides for Jack Ashford’s Just Productions. The frantic pace of the record, the guitar riffs and drumming are just sublime.
Did you know?
The Ashford label only had one release before going bankrupt. Fortunately, that record was and remains one of the greatest ever made. Original copies are very rare but reissues on various labels are affordable and readily available.
HEAL 